September 26, 2019November 5, 2025

Soul Sisters — Jill Manka and her Champ called Lucy

Member Stories, Vintage

The Champ was far from a flyer, and even though the skeletal remains were covered in a fine coating of dust, Jill Manka saw the potential beauty of what could ... Read more

September 18, 2019November 5, 2025

Better-Than-New Skywagon — Texas Cessna 180

From The Hangar Floor, Member Stories, Vintage

I purchased N9177C, my 1955 Cessna 180, in November 2012 in San Diego, California. It was a mostly original aircraft with logbooks showing about 5,700 hours’ total time. My father ... Read more

August 22, 2019October 28, 2025

Heather Penney Discusses 9/11 Experience, Beliefs in TEDx Talk

Member Stories, Why We Fly

EAA board member Heather Penney, EAA 1266991, told her story of being scrambled on September 11, 2001, to protect Washington, D.C., and more in this TEDx talk given in Chelsea ... Read more

August 15, 2019October 28, 2025

(Where the Fun Is) Creampuff: Debbie Cheney’s Cessna 140

Member Stories, Vintage

Well, you’re finally there. After wanting to fly all your life, and having to delay your dream for your career and family, you finally found yourself with enough time and ... Read more

August 15, 2019November 5, 2025

What Our Members Are Building/Restoring: Arkansas Piper J-3 Cub

Member Stories, Vintage

This story started in August 1938 on a 40-acre cotton field near the Hempstead County line in Southwest Arkansas.

August 14, 2019November 7, 2025

Visiting the Museum of Flight

Member Stories

EAA staffer Christina Basken recently visited one of the world’s largest aviation museums, and came back with a great story and a lot of photos.

August 14, 2019October 28, 2025

Our Hike Into the British Columbia Bush to the Canso Bomber Wreckage

EAA Canada, Member Stories

At 2300 on the night of February 10, 1945, a Royal Canadian Air Force Consolidated PBV-1A* Catalina serial No. 11007, also known as the Canso, took off from RCAF Tofino ... Read more

August 14, 2019October 17, 2025

A Non-Pilot Spouse’s Perspective on Oshkosh

AirVenture, Member Stories

It has been more than 15 years since my husband, Jack, started attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — the largest air show in the world!

August 8, 2019October 20, 2025

Bob Became a Private Pilot at 55 Years Old

Homebuilding, Member Stories

Bob and Jean Porter came into aviation a bit later in life. At 55, Bob decided to become a private pilot.

July 27, 2019October 20, 2025

An RV-7 Love Story ⁠⁠— Douglas Taylor’s N610TW

Member Stories

“It’s painted by John Stahr. I provided the canvas, the bodywork, and my life with my wife, Nan Wu, provided the inspiration,” Douglas Taylor said. “It’s based on our past ... Read more

July 27, 2019October 20, 2025

Championship Drone Racer — From Learning RC at Oshkosh to Professional Drone Racing

Member Stories, Youth Outreach

19-year-old Alex Vanover got his start in RC here at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and is now winning world championships racing drones. “It’s a dream come true . ... Read more

July 26, 2019October 20, 2025

Back in the Family ⁠— A Glasair With History Returns to the Fold

Member Stories, Why We Fly

By Barbara A. Schmitz Austin Bowman, then 14, recalled being upset, even mad, when his parents sold the family’s Glasair in 2000 that his dad, Skip, had built soon after ... Read more

July 26, 2019October 17, 2025

Here for Them All ⁠— 50 Years of Volunteering in Oshkosh

Member Stories, Volunteers

By Barbara A. Schmitz Bob Herman has been attending the EAA fly-in convention for 51 years, and volunteering for 50 of those years. “But I didn’t realize I was volunteering ... Read more

July 25, 2019October 20, 2025

Bowers Fly Baby Makes First Oshkosh Trip Since 1970

AirVenture, Member Stories

Charlie and Steve Gay’s 1965 Bowers Fly Baby 608X has returned to Oshkosh for the first time since 1970. The Fly Baby is a single-seat, folding-wing monoplane, originally designed in ... Read more

July 25, 2019October 20, 2025

Whirling Around the World — Taking a Gyroplane on a Worldwide Journey

Member Stories, Why We Fly

In 2003, Norman Surplus, then 40, was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good. “They gave me a 40 percent chance to live 18 months,” he recalled. As he ... Read more

July 24, 2019October 17, 2025

A Special AirVenture Surprise — A South African T-6 With Family Ties

AirVenture, Member Stories

By Kayla Floyd Johan Guyt stood along the flightline on Sunday, July 21, when an airplane in the markings of his homeland, South Africa, touched down on the runway. As ... Read more

July 24, 2019November 5, 2025

Ercoupe Couple Shows Spirit of AirVenture

Member Stories, Vintage, Youth Outreach

By John W. Conrad When Bob and Jean Porter of Batavia, Illinois, attended their first EAA air show at Oshkosh, they didn’t have an airplane, but they had a dream. ... Read more

July 23, 2019November 3, 2025

A Homebuilder’s Dream Flight: From Germany to Oshkosh — Meet Hermann Schiele

AirVenture, Member Stories

By Kayla Floyd Over in homebuilt camping, a grey RV-8 might have caught some attention. Whether it was the German registration, the German flag on the tail, or the combination ... Read more

July 22, 2019October 20, 2025

Sneaking in, Safely — A Soggy Saturday Didn’t Stop One Cirrus From Arriving

AirVenture, Member Stories

By John W. Conrad The skies had barely lifted and thunder still rumbled in the distance when the Cirrus SR22, piloted by 22-year-old Steven Noonan of Western Michigan University, entered ... Read more

July 17, 2019November 3, 2025

Stories of Oshkosh — Nicole Pierce

AirVenture, Member Stories, Volunteers

Nicole Pierce, EAA 559033, shares her Story of Oshkosh.