May 10, 2017November 6, 2025

Jack Maechtle – Private Pilot Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones, Youth Outreach

Congratulations to 18-year-old Jack Maechtle, EAA 1120742, who transitioned from sport pilot to private pilot on May 2.

May 9, 2017November 4, 2025

Handmade and Hammered Out

Honoring The Past, Member Stories, Vintage

This splendid 1936 Ryan Sport Trainer stopped countless passersby in their tracks as it shimmered under the sun in front of the VAA Red Barn at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016. ... Read more

May 9, 2017October 16, 2025

Gearing Up for my Glider Solo

Member Stories, Milestones, Youth Outreach

Ryan Elliott, son of EAA staffer Sean Elliott, EAA 520528, recounts accomplishing his first glider solo May 1.

May 8, 2017November 6, 2025

Spread the Word

Member Stories, Youth Outreach

Growing up in Tampa, Florida, Judd Hill’s earliest experiences with aviation were with the SUN ’n FUN International Fly-In & Expo in nearby Lakeland, which is where he eventually received ... Read more

May 3, 2017November 6, 2025

Overcoming Fear

Member Stories, Why We Fly, Youth Outreach

EAA’s Young Eagles program helped Brandon Brown, EAA 1229004, overcome fears and set career goals.

May 2, 2017November 7, 2025

Someone You Should Know

Member Stories

An EAA member recounts one of the very special people he helped introduce to aviation.

April 27, 2017October 28, 2025

My First Aerobatic Competition

Aerobatics, Member Stories

EAA and IAC member Karl Gashler shares what it’s like to prepare for and participate in an aerobatics competition.

April 25, 2017October 16, 2025

Madison Malcomb – Solo Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones, Youth Outreach

Congratulations to Young Eagle Madison Malcomb, EAA 1207213, who soloed on her 16th birthday on April 19 in an experimental RV-12 after just 10 hours of instruction.

April 24, 2017November 6, 2025

It Runs in the Family

Member Stories, Why We Fly, Youth Outreach

Twenty-two-year-old William C. Buck III got more from his father and grandfather than a family name, he also got a love of aviation.

April 20, 2017November 5, 2025

What Our Members Are Building/Restoring – Cross-Country to Canada: New Jersey Van’s RV-12

Homebuilding, Member Stories

By Brent Connelly, EAA 874578 For many of us, building and then flying our own homebuilt aircraft is one of those life-changing events that ranks up there with the birth of ... Read more

April 18, 2017November 6, 2025

Airline Pilot Thanks Young Eagles Mentors

Member Stories, Why We Fly, Youth Outreach

Joe Coraggio, EAA Lifetime 563242, got his first ride in a general aviation aircraft just one year after the Young Eagles program began.

April 13, 2017November 6, 2025

Then and Now: Celebrating 30 Years as a Pilot

Member Stories, Milestones, Why We Fly, Youth Outreach

Hal Bryan remembers his first passengers after flying Young Eagles on the 30th anniversary of his private checkride.

April 13, 2017November 7, 2025

Russell Swartzfager – Private Pilot Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones

Congratulations to Russell Swartzfager, EAA 1161378, who passed his private pilot checkride on February 28 out of the Crystal River Airport (KCGC) in Florida.

April 11, 2017November 6, 2025

From Young Eagle to the Pylons at Reno

Member Stories, Why We Fly, Youth Outreach

Tom McNerney’s introduction to aviation was much more humble than one might expect looking at his race plane Unleashed.

April 8, 2017November 6, 2025

Hal Bryan – First Pilots N Paws Flight Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones, Why We Fly

Congratulations to EAA staffer Hal Bryan, EAA 638979, for completing his first Pilots N Paws rescue flight on November 12 with his wife, Muffy. Hal flew from Oshkosh to Jasper ... Read more

April 4, 2017November 6, 2025

A Pillar of Our Chapter

Chapters, Member Stories, Why We Fly

At the heart of this story is aviator Dick Pingrey, a force of nature from Selah, Washington, and his last two airplane projects he whipped into completion.

March 31, 2017October 17, 2025

Brad Hahn – Solo Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones

Congratulations to Chapter 444 President Brad Hahn, EAA 1098593, who successfully completed his first solo March 28 at the Waupaca County Airport. “Thanks to everyone that has helped me along this ... Read more

March 30, 2017November 6, 2025

The Ups and Downs of First Flights

Homebuilding, Member Stories

By Justin Inman, EAA 1057655 Flying the first flight in an experimental airplane is unlike anything else in the world. The mix of emotions, physical senses, extreme focus, and heightened ... Read more

March 22, 2017October 28, 2025

Two Flight Jackets and One Twist of Fate

Honoring The Past, Member Stories

By John Slemp, EAA 837033 Coincidence: a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. This definition is restated here as it is central to the story I’m ... Read more

March 16, 2017November 7, 2025

Edward L. Hasch Jr. – Master Mechanic Award Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones

Congratulations to Edward L. Hasch Jr., EAA 237979, who was presented with the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award on March 8 at the Nashville FSDO. Ed spent 46 years ... Read more