About EAA

EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, is a growing and diverse organization of members with a wide range of aviation interests and backgrounds. EAA was founded in 1953 by a group of individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who were interested in building their own airplanes. Through the decades, the organization expanded its mission to include antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters and contemporary manufactured aircraft.

More importantly, the organization focused on people, offering the opportunity to make new aviation friends and form relationships while encouraging the sharing of information, stories and enthusiasm. The focus of EAA is communication, through our publications, Chapter network, websites, AirVenture and numerous other programs. There is literally something for everyone.

You don't have to be a pilot or aircraft owner to be a member of EAA.  You can find different ways to fulfill your aviation interest, whether it's participating in EAA's Young Eagles (with a goal of giving one million kids an airplane ride) or visiting the world's premier aviation event . . . EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

For the long-time aviation enthusiast and pilot, EAA has programs and activities that allow you to meet others with the same interests. If you have dreamed of flying, but didn't realize you could participate, I invite you to join EAA.

Today, aviation is competing with other recreational activities. Therefore, we want you to feel welcome. We must share the opportunities available and invite you to the multitude of EAA events that showcase aviation at its best. Whether you are interested in building, buying or owning an airplane; seeing the world's greatest air show performers; meeting aviation personalities; or just enjoy being around airplanes . . . EAA is the place for you.


What EAA Has for YOU

Every EAA Chapter is unique. The specific interests of each Chapter's membership tailor its activities and personality as an organization. However, every Chapter will deliver the following sources of value and enjoyment to its Members:

• FRIENDSHIP EAA members are aviation enthusiasts. An EAA Chapter provides a forum for Members to come together at a local, personal level and share their interests and common love for aviation. This social interaction with kindred spirits is one of the most fundamental and rewarding reasons EAA Members join a Chapter.
  
  
  
  
• CONNECTIONS A Chapter's membership represents a wealth of aviation knowledge, skills and resources. The Chapter enables a network to develop where EAA Members may assist each other and share their expertise. This typically includes homebuilders working together, Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors providing their support. But, it also involves people with many other common aviation interests sharing their experiences and helping each other. Sharing of the skills, knowledge and experience of other EAA Members was one of the original, founding tenants of the EAA.
  
  
  
  
• FUN & FLYING A Chapter provides a local, on-going activity base for EAA Members. Every EAA meeting is an aviation activity. In addition, the guest speakers, fly-ins, fly-outs, forums, workshops and a multitude of other activities EAA Chapters sponsor add to the count. One of the most popular Chapter activities is flying Young Eagles. Some activities are primarily for the benefit the local EAA Chapter Members, but frequently the larger aviation community is served as well. Chapters are the organizers of literally thousands of aviation activities and events annually - more aviation related activities than any other organization in the world.
  
  

EAA Chapter Members have access to people, services and activities they could never enjoy or accomplish on their own. Your EAA Membership is the invitation, so join your local Chapter and discover what other EAA Members in your area are already enjoying.

Brief Club History by Brad Striplin

I accepted a position flying out of KRWI in the spring of 1981. Later that year, I befriended Donald Ray Parker(AKA Parker Speaking)at Air Care. Neither of us having attended Sun-N-Fun, we formulated a haphazard plan to invade Lakeland . We departed KRWI after Parker clocked out from work one evening and struck out for Florida in my minivan with a borrowed tent, a loaf of bread, and a jar of peanut butter. We enjoyed the event so much, we invited all of our aviation friends back each year. What started as just two aviation nuts, turned into over a dozen campers and growing. One year after the daily air show, Louis Smith Jr. and I discussed the organizing and adding structure to our group. That night we all decided that the future of our group was destined to be an EAA chapter. On our return from Lakeland , the Chapter 1047 was chartered and articles of incorporation were documented. The original charter lists all the original leadership and members.

I relocated to the Charlotte area seeking employment over ten years ago, and still miss the camaraderie of the Chapter 1047 group (except Hunter Sullivan--I don't miss him at all).


More Information

For information on attending a EAA Chapter 1047 meeting or joining, please see our meeting schedule and contact information.