By Angela Satterlee
At just 19 years old, Aerin Hubbell, EAA 1591418, is the youngest experimental aircraft judge at AirVenture. Aviation has been part of her life from the very beginning. She grew up helping her father build Van’s RV aircraft and has attended AirVenture since she was born, making this year’s convention her 18th trip to Oshkosh.
“There was no actual start into aviation [for me]. My dad’s a pilot. He’s been coming to AirVenture since he was 18 years old,” Aerin said. “So it was a family adventure going to Oshkosh each year. I never really thought of aviation as something different.”
Although she didn’t always expect aviation to become her career, that’s exactly where her path has led. Aerin is enrolled in Purdue University’s professional flight program; earned her private pilot certificate in April 2025 through Sweet Aviation in Fort Wayne, Indiana; completed her instrument rating in February; and has already submitted for her commercial pilot checkride.
“I never really did a true discovery flight since I had always grown up in it,” she explained. “I always knew how to talk on the radio. And so I got my [private pilot certificate] really early on.”
Her interest in experimental aircraft stems directly from her family’s building projects. Her father built a Lindy Award-winning RV-10 in 2011, and Aerin helped where she could. Today, the pair is working with a family friend on an RV-14A, continuing a tradition that started long before she was old enough to drive.
Her introduction to judging came through family friend and homebuilt judge Mark Gilmore, EAA Lifetime 322796, who, along with Homebuilt Judging Chairman David Juckem, EAA Lifetime 135899, invited her to shadow the judging team, beginning when she was just 15 years old. After more than two years of observing and learning the process, she officially became a judge last year at age 18.
“My favorite part of the whole thing is just honestly getting to talk to the different aircraft owners,” Aerin said. “They all have such different stories, whether they built it with their family or they built it for their deceased family member or they spent 20 years building an airplane. Those are some of the really best stories that you’re really never going to hear otherwise.”
Aerin has learned so much from before she became a judge to now. She says judging goes far beyond first impressions.
“Just seeing the actual hard work and craftsmanship they put in their aircraft is just really awesome to see. Judging is not just who has the prettiest paint job,” she said. “It’s actually looking at, did you have the right rivets? Did you make a mistake with that? Are your cotter pins going correctly? All the little minute details what … makes that true grand champion aircraft.”
While she’s the youngest member of the judging team, Aerin says the experience is a two-way street. She learns from judges with decades of experience, while they also gain a fresh perspective from someone who represents the next generation of homebuilders and pilots.
