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Member Stories

Home » Member Stories

July 27, 2024October 20, 2025

Saudi Pilot Stops in Oshkosh

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz Mishaal AlSudairy is flying around the world, but he made sure that one of his stops was at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Flying a Diamond 42, Mishaal ... Read more
July 27, 2024October 20, 2025

Making Dreams Come True One New Year’s Resolution at a Time

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Angela Satterlee Flying from his home in Aberdeen, Scotland, to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time in his Bristell NG5 was the longest trip Bill Miazek, EAA 1601589, ... Read more
July 27, 2024October 20, 2025

Ballet and Airplanes, Grace and Discipline

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Robbie Culver Ballet, airplanes, grace, discipline. For Mary Elizabeth Kurek, EAA 1333410 and current Ray Aviation scholar for EAA Chapter 461 in Bolingbrook, Illinois, these ideas fit well together. ... Read more
July 27, 2024October 20, 2025

Teen Brothers Fly Into Oshkosh

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz The saying may be “A family that prays together stays together.” But for the Smith family, it’s a family that flies together. After getting stuck in ... Read more
July 26, 2024October 20, 2025

German Pilot and Author Revisits AirVenture

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz Kathrin Kaiser isn’t sure why she loves flying. But growing up in East Germany with its barbed wire and secret police, she felt like she was ... Read more
July 26, 2024October 17, 2025

The First of Many AirVentures

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Angela Satterlee Julio Julia, a Puerto Rican native, flew his 2021 SeaRey Elite (N287PY) across the country from Florida to Oshkosh, which is believed to be the longest seaplane ... Read more
July 26, 2024October 20, 2025

What Makes a Family

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Emme Hornung When Len Perry decided to learn to fly at 35 years old, his wife, Helena, figured it was a midlife crisis. But it was never a phase ... Read more
July 26, 2024October 20, 2025

One Pilot’s Journey to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Robbie Culver Like many of you reading these words, I have been to Oshkosh often. It’s my annual summer aviation addiction — I see it’s yours, too. For those ... Read more
July 25, 2024October 20, 2025

Young Oshkosh Camper Rides the Red Tram Despite Emergency Surgery

AirVenture, Member Stories
If anybody needs more excitement at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, ask one determined Illinois youngster who will be on the flightline this week. She not only survived a medical emergency ... Read more
July 24, 2024October 17, 2025

Cox Advocates for Disabilities While Encouraging Fearlessness, Adaptability

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz To say Jessica Cox, of Tucson, Arizonia, has a can-do attitude is a massive understatement. She was born without arms and learned to do things with ... Read more
July 24, 2024October 20, 2025

From Adversity to Purpose

AirVenture, Member Stories
Last summer, Paul Barnett nearly lost his right leg. A little more than a year later, he’s helping folks climb up into the cockpit of the Corsair he flew in ... Read more
July 24, 2024October 20, 2025

2024 August Raspet Winner Awarded

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Angela Satterlee Mike Blyth — a test pilot, entrepreneur, and aircraft lover who founded Sling Aircraft — is the winner of the Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award this year. ... Read more
July 24, 2024October 16, 2025

You’d Be ‘Plum Crazy’ Not to Fall in Love With Benzing’s P-51

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz Vicky Benzing wanted to fly a P-51 so bad that she took the training course to get qualified in the Mustang in hopes that someone would ... Read more
July 23, 2024October 20, 2025

Kaleidoscope Airplane Aims to Make Flying Fun

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Barbara A. Schmitz Liam Hawkins, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was so afraid of flying that he had to take more than 1,000 commercial flights before he could get over ... Read more
July 23, 2024October 20, 2025

From Massachusetts to Oshkosh

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Angela Satterlee You could call it a gyro-dynamic experience, but for Sue Benua, EAA Lifetime 1262570, it was an unforgettable trip. Sue arrived Thursday in Oshkosh after a weather ... Read more
July 23, 2024October 20, 2025

Flying in the Air Race Classic and Then to Oshkosh — What a Summer!

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Robbie Culver Pilots are a particular bunch. We are our own worst critics, overanalyze every flight we make, and are constantly striving for perfection. I’m still waiting to make ... Read more
July 22, 2024October 20, 2025

EAA Member Helps Preserve History at National Air and Space Museum

Honoring The Past, Member Stories
By Robbie Culver Have you ever wondered what it is like to work with some of our nation’s most precious and unique aviation artifacts? Imagine what it is like to ... Read more
July 22, 2024October 20, 2025

It Was All an Adventure!

AirVenture, Member Stories
By Robbie Culver Part of the allure of aviation is getting out of your comfort zone, embracing the adventure of every flight, and expanding your knowledge — the operative phrase ... Read more
July 21, 2024October 16, 2025

Distinct ‘Recall’ Stearman Comes to Oshkosh

AirVenture, Member Stories, Warbirds
Story and photography by Robbie Culver Flying to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is a rite of passage for pilots. Months of planning, sacrifices for good weather, and no small amount of ... Read more
July 17, 2024October 20, 2025

What Our Members Are Building/Restoring — California Cessna 182

Member Stories, Vintage
By Michael Haney, EAA Lifetime 1133354 This piece originally ran in the June 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. The story begins June 2021 in Mojave, California. I bought ... Read more

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