Thomas,
   If you feel this post has any merit please feel free to use it in whole or any part you want to use.
   My only qualifications for writing are the fact that I have built 2 V-8 powered SkyBolts, 1 IO-560 powered Star Duster too and am currently working on an RX-8 powered Acro Sport 1, all built from scratch. I knew absolutely nothing about building airplanes when I started, had never taken a flying lesson. I am proud of the education I got and what I have accomplished to this point in aviation. The EAA totally made this possible for me.
   I agree with both you and Bob. I joined in 1971 and have attended 33 Oshkosh gatherings. Anyone joining in the last 15 years or so have no idea what a gold mine Oshkosh was for information. I too would stop everything I was doing when Sport Aviation arrived and read it from cover to cover. Now I glance down the contents page and sometimes read an article but most of the time there is nothing there for me. Things have changed immensely in those years. I use to feel exactly as you guys do, that the EAA has abandoned us. I just got home from my annual "Oshkosh walk." I saw many booths/displays for VLJ's (very light jets) 4-8 passenger turbines, $3-$4,000 glass cockpit displays, pressurized planes that fly at 20-30,000 feet at 250 mph, quick build kits, build a 160 mph folding wing aircraft in 2 weeks and fly as an experimental - with full FAA approval that the 51% rule was not violated :(((
   I don't think the EAA abandoned us. I think they just passed us by. Americans are known around the world as a nation of "instant gratification." We want what we want and we want it now. The desire to spend several years building an airplane and putting our own mark of quality on it has pretty much disappeared. Now we want to write a check, get a big box in the mail, open it, insert wings, blow up tires and go fly our experimental aircraft that "we built ourselves." I think true homebuilders are going to become a very small elite group of people similar to the soaring society or ultra lite society. They do their thing outside the mainstream of aviation.
   I have been very disappointed the last couple years on the lack of rotary attendance at Oshkosh. I had great hopes of getting installation pictures and having owner/builder discussions to help me learn about the rotary. I cannot blame you guys for not going but I am disappointed. It is a two edge sword. We want to get the word out on the rotary engine we just don't want to suffer the conditions to do it.
   I presently do not have a plane and I live in Michigan. I decided on the drive home from Oshkosh that I need to be where you guys meet and I am willing to drive there just to learn what you know. Shady Bend sounds really good, just a long way. It would be real nice if a rotary meet could appear more centralized in the country but I will do what I have to do.
   EAA and experimental are not what they were and they will never be again. Aviation has become BIG $$$$  and the EAA has went with it. We are on our own. I would love to see a new organization start up for homebuilders. Unfortunately, there are not very many Paul Poberezny's around but I keep my fingers crossed. In my opinion we should at least be able to start an EAA splinter group for true homebuilders such as the Warbirds, Ultra-lite's, IAC. etc. with our own publication. The EAA is not going to promote us, we have to find a way to promote ourselves. Until then this web site is the best source of information I have and I really appreciate the education I am getting. Someday, hopefully, I will be able to pass it on.
   As far as EAA is concerned I will continue to mail in my dues with the total understanding that they have next to nothing to offer me anymore. My aircraft building ventures will not include them. I continue as a member only because I love Oshkosh and airplane noise and I still learn a little in some of the forum's.
Thank you,
Randy


On Jul 30, 2006, at 2:10 AM, Thomas Phy wrote:

Hi all,
I was just going to forward these messages to EAA National, but I thought I should first ask for permission. I did not get to Oshkosh this year. In fact, I have not attended for various reasons for over 18 years! I do attend Arlington, and I certainly do enjoy the atmosphere there.

I've also just finished reading the EAA eHotline, volume 6 Number 36, (no I don't follow every link) and accept for the article labeled "Largest kit builder working on LSA" (and then they started off talking about Cessna's LSA) there was not too much about Experimental A/C at all. (oh yea, some gentleman flew his Pelican from Brazil, A better man then me) Even the LSA Mall, was all abuzz about the advent of "CERTIFIED", buy and fly, Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) . Look Ma, Ya don't even have to build it!
I to, have been a member for a long, long time. (EAA # 115635). For the most part, I don't read the magazine anymore. At best, I just page through it and recycle it to the library. Used to be I read it cover to cover, as soon as it arrived. I was also an A/P, working in the small FBO's of PA. & NJ., then working for regional airlines. I learned allot, about allot of things back then, through the magazine.
So, do I have your blessings to forward these comments, and anyone else that may have had similar experiences? If your a better word smith then I (or not), and your able to put your thoughts onto the backs of some electrons, send them to me and I'll forward "OUR" thoughts to every email address I can find in the Sport Aviation.
I know, this is a rotary group. But this is our organization that has moved to the dark side. Thanks for letting me vent.
Thomas Phy
RV-7, Renesis on a boat (I hope)
EAA # 115635
V.P. EAA Chapter 1345
Bend Or. 97756
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Perkinson
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 8:34 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Oshkosh

I think the only reason that I keep My membership in the EAA is the relatively low member number,below 150,000.  Joined in 1977 when the magazine contained articles about home built airplanes, and the adds were segregated in the back of the book.  Jack Cox was my hero, he could paint a verbal picture of an airplane that left you wanting more.  Those days are gone.  I could see it coming when the magazine first came out with the back of the front page , which was always reserved for an article from President Paul, sold to advertise someone's commercial product.  It's hard to tell Sports Aviation from People magazine now.

Bob Perkinson
Hendersonville, TN.
RV9 N658RP Reserved
If nothing changes
Nothing changes



-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On Behalf Of Tracy Crook
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 11:53 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Oshkosh

Hi all  - this is Laura Crook (Tracy's wife).  Tracy arrived at Oshkosh on 7/27 (Thursday) about 1:30 pm local time.  He didn't mention how many planes were on the field, but he did recount this story:

Every year for the past 9 years the EAA has graciously mailed Tracy a special arrival sign to display upon landing, to indicate that he is an auto powered plane.  The sign is always accompanied by a letter going on and on about how the auto engine pilots exemplify the "true spirit" of Experimental Aviation   blah  blah   blah.  For almost as many years, upon arrival,  the ground crew either has absolutely zero idea what an "auto powered" plane is and leads him to a random parking spot and/or after landing, it they  know where the auto powered row is, they taxi him for 1.5 HOURS, usually in the 95 degree heat (translation: 110 degrees in an RV cockpit).

This year was no exception - they did park him on the auto powered row after a 1.5 hour taxi.  He was NOT a happy person when he called me.  He is not sure that he will ever attend again - it is just inexcusable year after year after year.

Laura
----- Original Message -----
From: John Downing
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 10:06 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Oshkosh

Buly;  I just returned from Oshkosh, not sure if there were 50 homebuilts on the field.  Every where you looked you could see planes that qualified if you could sign 51% of your name.  The main theme of conversation on home building by folks looking at The Wittman Tailwinds, was, what has happened.  At SAA two years ago, Paul mentioned at the banquet that a young couple came to camp and didn't have the money to get on the flight line, he said they were escorted out and shown the road and most of the gathering applauded.  The only reason I stopped by, was my daughter was there with my grandson working on a Boy Scout Badge.  I could go on and tell how we were treated like %#@&, but I won't.  I don't care if I never make it to Oshkosh with my home built.  JohnD

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