Bill,
Complete agreement.  In its most basic function -- promotion of individual edxperim entation with aircraft design to improve it -- the EAA has obviously been diverted to the general promotion of general aviation in all recreational and educational aspects.  These aspects are good, but they are not the primary purpose of the EAA.  Imho we should be having competition every year for a general aerodynamic design improvement, engine reliability improvement, safety of flight improvement, with significant awards.  After that ther can be plenty of time for honoring the warbirds, the antiquers wo remind us of from whence we came, the ultralighters who remind us of how much improvement we can accomplish is the government just gets completely out of the way, and so on.
Terrence O'Neill, EA 5572
member of the EAA 1960s FAA Rules Proposal Committee
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