I agree with one caveat. There is nothing wrong inherently wrong with columns as long as they focus on homebuilding or vintage/warbird restoration or aerobatics or ultralights. Look at the incredible legacy that Tony Bingelis left behind, for example, or John Thorp's series of articles on building the T-18, or Bob Whittier's columns over the years. Yes, we could do with more in-depth looks at particular planes and projects focused on the person/people who actually did the building/restoration/design work (not just paid for it), but the right columns can also have an important place.
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Matthew Long, Editor
cluttonfred.info
A site for builders, owners and fans of Eric Clutton's FRED
and other safe, simple, affordable homebuilt aircraft
Interesting topic and I've enjoyed reading people's different takes. When I think of EAA, I think of community, encouragement, innovation, education, brotherhood and some of the best memories I have with my family. My Dad and I have been coming since 1990. In all that time I don't think the purpose has changed- it's all about family. Everyone who walks through the Brown Arch has aviation running through their blood. Whether you have 30,000 hours under your belt or you're being pushed in a stroller- we all have a common interest. EAA has worked extremely hard to support, protect, nurture and foster that interest. That was true when I first attended Oshkosh and it's still true today. It's our role as community members to continue to spread the word, take kids flying, share our experiences and do whatever we can to grow aviation. EAA is truly a magical organization. I'm proud to be a part of it.
I agree with Kyle, monthly staff columns and no member or outsider technical articles is a big problem.
A columnist cannot reasearch a highly technical subject every month.
Bob Whittier probably took a year to reasearch his fabulous three part series on the "The Engine Situation". Bob Whittier was a manager that wrote occasional well reasearched articles based on actual experience as an aircraft mechanic.
Bingelis had a monthly column but he was an exception. Tough to find anyone like him.
Both solicited letters from members for ideas and input. Especially Bob, who was deaf and loved letters. (I wrote to him)
Paying staff columnists to make up flying stories each month is the sign of a lazy publisher.
The articles should be aircraft centered, not flying centered. Other magazines are pilot centered.
People that buy airplanes can read Flying magazine for flying articles.
People with no airplane need airplane design articles and the how to build or restore articles. DIY articles.
There is only about 100,000 private airplanes left in the U.S. and shrinking. Something must be done soon.
Last edited by Bill Berson; 05-20-2017 at 09:22 AM.
If EAA were ONLY for people who actually build experimental aircraft, I'd drop it in a heartbeat. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy articles about construction techniques, about the aircraft folks have built and want to show off, about PIREPS on homebuilts, and more, but I don't have the patience to build such an aircraft even though I love the aircraft themselves, and I'd certainly not trust going up in something I'd built. But when you build an airplane, it's likely you'll want to fly it, too, and articles about flying technique, political shenanigans related to aviation, new equipment available for pilots, as well as aircraft, and much more should also be appropriate. Renovating older aircraft should be just as welcome as scratch, plans and/or kit-built craft.
So the current balance of articles I see in SA isn't bad, though it's certainly not the kind of publication that has EVERY article appealing to EVERY reader -- a compromise, in other words, trying to cover a broad range of interests. For those who think SA is "just like Flying" note that the recent changes in Flying have me debating about dropping my subscription because they've gone more and more in the direction of making it difficult to tell the articles from the ads, unless you carefully scrutinize each page -- they seem to want pretty instead of functional.
So though I have very little actual flying time in a homebuilt (lots of time in Cubs, Stearmans, Citabrias, gliders, etc.), I'm one who is thankful that EAA welcomes a broad spectrum of aviation afficianados, whether pilot, builder, on-looker or...
And OSH is a great place to go, lots to admire and learn about and enjoy.
Larry N.
As discussed earlier, a troubling sign that EAA is still short volunteers for AirVenture and looking to hire.
http://fox6now.com/2017/05/18/eaa-lo...-oshkosh-2017/
Dennis Jenders, EAA #300475
Dennis, not every available job or job title is or is meant to be a volunteer position. The jobs in your attachment are clearly NOT volunteer roles. The line up for interviews will be around the block.
Local young adults (probably some summer college students too) have filled the types of jobs listed every year that I've been to OSH. That's not concerning.