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Member Stories

Home » Member Stories

May 22, 2017November 6, 2025

Brian Jones – Solo Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones

Brian Jones, EAA 1216827, soloed April 9 after being inspired to pursue his pilot certificate at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.

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May 18, 2017November 6, 2025

Is an EAA Lifetime Member Pilot a Hero?

Member Stories, Why We Fly

Mark Hanson recounts his life changing experience volunteering as a pilot on one special and critical Patient Airlift Services trip.

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May 18, 2017November 6, 2025

Adventurous AirCam

Member Stories
The Lockwood AirCam was purpose-built to be a camera platform to capture photos and video over some of the harshest terrain in the world, and now it’s a popular kit-built ... Read more
May 15, 2017October 17, 2025

Sophia Shay – Solo Milestone

Member Stories, Milestones

Young Eagle and EAA volunteer Sophia Shay, EAA 292424, recently completed her first solo on her 16th birthday.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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