Quote Originally Posted by PaulDow View Post
That question was answered a long time ago when the flightline was opened to everyone.
Since the dues have stayed at $40 for many years, I guess it's not a bad tradeoff.
I've often wondered why that decision was made.

At our first OSH fly-in, 32 years ago, as non-members we were kept from the flight line where all the cool planes were. So, despite the fact that we didn't have a pot to pee in, Mary and I anteed up, and joined EAA.

The rest is history, and I thank my lucky stars for that decision -- but I often wonder what would have happened had we just been able to walk out to the flight line, the way we do now.

Would I have joined EAA? Probably not, meaning that I would have missed out on the chapter experience, and all of the subtle (and not so subtle) influences that ultimately convinced me to take flight lessons, despite the financial hardships. (Even with all those influences, it would be another 11 years before I could do it.)

Or maybe I would have found another way. We will never know, of course -- but I wonder if EAA is doing themselves a disservice by allowing non-members on the flight line at OSH.