By: Barbara A. Schmitz
Most EAA members know that Paul Poberezny founded EAA. But did you know that when he bought his new brick home in 1988 just down the road from the AirVenture grounds that the house was in such bad repair that the EAA maintenance manager at the time told him to fix it with two sticks of dynamite and start all over? Or that after the renovation was done, he decided the basement was too small so workers had to dig out the new basement area with shovels?
Did you know that Paul was a prolific reader of westerns and aviation books, and that he signed his name, date, and time to most books he finished reading? Or that when his wife, Audrey, went to the hospital to deliver their first child, Bonnie, he offered to pack up her typewriter and bring it along so she could keep up with her EAA correspondence? (She said no.)
You can learn interesting stories about Paul and Audrey, as well as see the 9-acre grounds that they once called home as part of the Poberezny Legacy Tour. Paul renovated the main home, which they moved into in 1991, and built additions and buildings on the property, as well as a pond, memorial garden, and more. The tour includes access to the West Wing, The Annex, and the Memorial Garden and nature area, and visitors will see thousands of personal memorabilia and photos from his time in aviation.
Paul spent a lot of time writing to chapters and EAA members so it’s no surprise that he has offices throughout the property. He had a logbook that visitors were asked to sign when they came to see him, but he also signed in every time he entered that office. His favorite office was likely the one built on top of the garage. When that addition was built, the trees were small enough that he could see the north-south runway.
You’ll see photos of Paul and Audrey with country singer John Denver, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, radio host Paul Harvey and many aviation legends. Plus you’ll see the iconic Red One, Paul’s Volkswagen that he drove around the convention grounds during earlier conventions, as well as Red 3, son Tom’s Volkswagen used for the same purpose.
There’s a shelf of failed parts from the various airplanes that he had to do emergency landings in. And his parking area is accentuated with props that once were on Paul’s P-64 and damaged after he forgot to put his landing gear down.
You’ll learn lots of little trivia about the man who started EAA, such as his nicknames because people couldn’t pronounce Poberezny, how he finally get his wings, or why all the pine trees that Paul planted on the property were later moved by EAA maintenance.
To purchase tickets during AirVenture, call 800-564-6322 or stop at Forum Stage 7, across from the EAA Blue Barn. The 90-minute tours will take place daily through Saturday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., and a bus will take you to and from the convention grounds to the home.
The home is now owned by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. and the Irwin family, although EAA maintains the property.