Established in 1953, a group of aviation enthusiasts formed the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and they frequently seek their thrills by engaging in recreational aviation activities, such as constructing their own aircraft for piloting. Since then, the organization's interest and types of activities have grown. So what does the EAA offer aviation enthusiasts today? Let's find out.

The Experimental Aircraft Association is all about aviation

Before diving into what the organization currently offers, let's discuss what it offered when it was first founded seven decades ago. While the original founding members built their own aircraft, they did other recreational activities, such as collecting antique aircraft, classic aircraft, retired warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralight, helicopters, and contemporary manufactured aircraft.

Eventually, the EAA became more than just the founding members as more like-minded people with similar interests started joining. As the organization's network began expanding, the main driving force of the EAA became the overall association of aircraft and aviation enthusiasts coming from varying backgrounds and different aviation interests.

While the EAA specializes in housing all sorts of smaller aircraft ranging from rare to unique in various backgrounds, the organization's primary activity offerings also continue to include recreational piloting, aircraft building, maintenance, and restoration. The Milwaukee-based organization also consistently engages with the community to spread the love of aviation and increase its outreach to the public.

Plenty of things to do with the Experimental Aircraft Association

Aircraft building

If you've ever dreamt of constructing your own aircraft, look no further for help than the EAA, as the organization provides many resources to support aircraft homebuilding. These resources include online tutorials, courses, and in-person workshops if convenient. For example, the EAA's SportAir Workshops provide members with material basics, avionics, electronics, wielding tools, aircraft designs, and much more.

The EAA also has volunteer positions available for experts in the community who wish to share their knowledge and help junior homebuilders. Community members can sign up as EAA Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors and sit on the Homebuilt Aircraft Council to plan out programs for the benefit of current and future homebuilders.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here!

Learning to fly

While applying for flight school for your Private Pilot's License can be pretty costly, the EAA offers basic flight training and knowledge to give you a headstart. Aspiring pilots are offered free introductory flights to introduce them to what it’s like to fly a plane, as youth between the ages of 8-17 are eligible for the EAA Young Eagles program.

Under the program, youths are entitled to free rides on aircraft and the chance to interact with volunteer pilots. There's also the EAA Eagle Flight program for those aged 18 and up, as it provides a free introductory flight and a basic introduction to flight controls. These elementary flight programs allow the community to foster their love of flying and introduce them to what it’s like to fly a plane.

And to help with the actual cost of training in flight schools, the EAA offers aviation scholarships to help these aspiring pilots. The organization also has a Sport Pilot Academy to certify aspiring pilots with the Sport Pilot Certificate, which is easier to obtain than a Private Pilot's License and is still a milestone in their future aviation careers.

Connecting with the Experimental Aircraft Association

Lying at the heart of the EAA is its diverse and large community of aviation lovers, as the organization houses multiple communities of aviation experts, technical experts, experienced pilots, and novices. Altogether, these communities consistently give back to the organization's community of enthusiasts of all ages, sharing their knowledge through interactive webinars.

The EAA also hosts its annual AirVenture meeting at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, which is coincidentally the world's largest fly-in convention that typically welcomes more than 10,000 aircraft alongside an attendance of more than 600,000. Scheduled for July 24th till the 30th, this year's AirVenture will mark the organization's 70th edition and is themed 'Celebrate 70 Years of Dreamers and Doers.'