A Quick Plug for the EAA

Of all the many alphabet groups in aviation (EAA, AOPA, NATA, GAMA, etc.), I support the EAA the most.  The other groups have useful functions but are mostly specialized pressure groups boosting aviation and lobbying Congress.  The EAA focuses on the real grassroots in aviation:  homebuilders and experimenters, restorers of antiques and classic aircraft, air racers and aerobatics contents.  They actively support these groups and sponsor the biggest fly-in in the world at Oshkosh.  The EAA promotes the craftsmanship of building and love of flying more than politics.

Although the EAA's contribution has been vast, I think the biggest thing that the EAA contributes is promotion of aviation programs for youth.  The broadest reach is the Young Eagles program which promotes airplane rides for youth of all ages, and more recently with residence programs and camps.  This is the future of flying in America and it is crucial to keep public interest in aviation alive.

Although the EAA isn't the only group out there preserving aviation and helping is stay alive in the future, I think it is the most sincere and worthwhile.  I wholeheartedly support the organization.

Website

The EAA's website is at http://www.eaa.org.

Getting There

The EAA Museum is adjacent to but not on the Whitman Airport in Oshkosh, so if you fly in I'd imagine one of the FBOs would shuttle you over to the museum.  Getting to Oshkosh if you're not flying takes a bit of doing.  I drove up from Chicago.  Once north of Milwaukee the countryside was very pretty rolling hills of farm and pastureland.  As you enter Oshkosh the museum is reasonably signed and located off the main highway through town.