This piece originally ran in the October 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
For 32 years Gary Baker, EAA Lifetime 251742, has given his time and expertise to EAA and Chapter 846.
As a young boy, Gary knew he wanted to become a pilot. Although no one in his family knew how to fly, his interest was still piqued. He took his first flight when he was 18 years old and soloed at 19, earning his private pilot certificate shortly after. While in college he balanced his accounting studies with working as a flight instructor, continually adding new ratings and certificates.
After college, Gary worked as a corporate accountant and pilot. In 1988, despite doubts from others, he achieved his dream of becoming an airline pilot, eventually retiring with 34 years of experience under his belt.
Gary began attending EAA Oshkosh in 1980 and started volunteering with EAA in 1993 when Chapter 846 needed volunteers for the newly established Young Eagles program. He has since coordinated Young Eagles rallies and flown more than 175 kids. He has also encouraged young people to join the chapter, supported Ray scholars, and managed the EAA Air Academy Scholarship application and selection process.
Despite being a member for less than two years, Gary stepped up to serve as his chapter’s president from 1994 to 1998, and again from 2010 to 2019, transitioning to treasurer in 2020. While he valued his time as president, it was his connection with the kids that allowed him to make lasting impacts on inspiring young people to pursue aviation.
“I was helping at a local air show at Akron, moving airplanes around during the air show, and some dad called me over to the fence, and he said that he had introduced me to his son,” Gary said. “And it turns out I had flown his son five years earlier in the Young Eagles program, and that son was old enough now to take lessons.”
Gary helped Chapter 846 achieve gold status in 2019 and actively participates in every chapter activity. He is truly the keystone of Chapter 846. His volunteer efforts extend beyond the chapter, as he is a Ford Tri-Motor pilot for EAA and an EAA flight advisor and technical counselor. He’s also presented at AirVenture and during Homebuilders Week and has presented webinars on flight testing basics.
His passion for flying and sharing the joy of aviation with others is evident in his work flying the classic airliner.
“Being able to fly the Tri-Motor and seeing all the smiles of everybody is [incredible]. Having a passenger in the right seat … sitting there, and you’re actually letting [them] fly for a few minutes, putting their hands on the controls, and they can’t believe they’re flying a 95-year-old airplane. Everybody gets off the airplane with a smile on their face.”
Gary’s unwavering commitment to aviation and his community has left a mark on EAA Chapter 846 and beyond. His efforts have inspired countless young people to pursue their dreams in aviation, fostering a new generation of pilots and enthusiasts.
Volunteers make EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — and just about everything else EAA does — possible. This space in EAA Sport Aviation is dedicated to thanking and shining the spotlight on volunteers from the community. Sadly, it cannot capture all of the thousands of volunteers who give so much to the community every year. So, next time you see a volunteer at AirVenture or elsewhere, however they are pitching in to make EAA better, be sure to thank them for it. It’s the least we can do. Do you know a volunteer you’d like to nominate for Volunteer Spotlight? Visit EAA.org/Submissions.