Today's Message Index:
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1. 09:31 AM - Re: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! (glen matejcek)
2. 11:34 AM - Re: Re: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! (Don McNamara)
3. 11:36 AM - Re: Re: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! (Mickey Coggins)
Message 1
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| Subject: | RE: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! |
Hi All-
Well. It's going to be tough for me to keep this terse.
A couple of observations:
I agree with the sentiments expressed by all so far. The big problem is keeping
them all in balance, and within an economically viable structure.
I think a successful homebuilt convention could well be the beginning (continuing?)
of the end of OSH, or at least it's diminishing by an order of magnitude.
I wouldn't like that. Rather, I would like to see a re-emphasis of aviation and
aviators at OSH, and a de-emphasis on making money.
We are reasonably financially successful and happy individuals in large part because
we live within our means, whatever those means might be. EAA needs to be
reacquainted with that concept, and needs to stop the money grubbing and pandering
to the likes of Ford. Geez, what's the min alt over an open air assembly
of people? How high was the Ford over the square / Beach boys? Just what will
they do for cash? And what the hell was up with the Beach Boys anyway? Are they
having such a hard time getting AeroShell Square displays these days that
they have to prop it up with that kind of dog and pony show? But I digress. I
warned you this was going to be hard for me-
Paul would be a tough act for anyone to follow, and I surely couldn't do the job.
But I think Tom is destroying our organization. Yeah, there were mitigators
this year, but the exhibit bldgs weren't full, the flight line was looking relatively
sparse, the crowds were thinner than I recall seeing for a long time,
and the gate was just about as low as I can remember for many years. This is
not an isolated situation, either.
Also, there are an awful lot of dedicated, passionate volunteers that make our
convention happen. Without them, there would be no convention. As these people
cease participating with the passage of time, and with Paul's charismatic leadership
replaced with a cash centered style, I'm afraid that volunteer pool will
dry up.
My last observation comes from many years of daily association with a whole lot
of pilots. As a group, we will congregate and grouse ad infinitum. However, very
few people will actually get off their butts and DO something about their
pet peeves. If this proposed new convention starts coming together, the brain
trust up north might just get the picture and get realigned with their constituency.
By the same token, if all the folks who are dissatisfied with our current
direction would forward those thoughts to tomp@eaa.org, perhaps we could achieve
our goals without starting a separate convention.
glen matejcek
aerobubba@earthlink.net
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: RE: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! |
Several years ago, I voiced the same concerns in a letter to Tom
Poberezny. Remembering the days when the entirety of the exhibition
halls were contained in a couple of small, hot, rickety old hangar
buildings that now have stuff that nobody even bothers to see anymore
... and the food choices being limited to Zaug's cold hamburgers,
cheeseburgers, onion burgers and the delicious $.35 ice cream cones ...
and you could wander the grounds without fear of being run over by a
scooter, car, truck or gator ... I've watched it bloat over the years
into the biggest, baddest airshow in the world. All in a decade or so.
I received a polite thanks for my concerns.
Some of you may recall that, after handing over the reigns of AirVulture
to his beloved son, Paul started the Sport Aviation Association (SAA).
It was ostensibly devoted to small, homebuilt and home-designed aircraft
-- even our RVs would be too sophisticated for their tastes. I've heard
nothing from or about the SAA since the first year or two.
If Paul himself can't compete with the EAA, I doubt that any of us can
reinvent the wheel and succeed. However -- if I EVER have a plane to
fly -- I'll gladly fly to any RV or homebuilt gathering and avoid
AirVulture ... and won't lose any sleep over it.
-- Don McNamara
N8RV "90% done ... 90% to go."
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Homebuilt/Experimental Convention Only! |
--> RV8-List message posted by: Mickey Coggins <mick-matronics@rv8.ch>
I've only been to Oshkosh once, and that was 2005. I thought it was a
great event, and I really enjoyed it.
I have also been to SNF twice, and it was much smaller, but also very
enjoyable.
I have not been to any of the regional events, like SWRFI or LOE, but
I'm sure they are more like what the original poster is looking for.
I know that Oshkosh is about more than experimental aviation, but I'm
not sure how that fact is hurting experimental aviation.
If you've been in marketing at all, then you know the 25+ year old male
is one of the most difficult markets for advertisers to reach. I think
we'd be accusing Tom P. of incompetence if he rejected all those offers
from people like Ford to pump money into the EAA.
Additionally, any event that attracts the general public and gives them
a fun introduction to our hobby seems like a good thing.
I personally feel like I have the best of both worlds - a truly awesome
huge event with everyone and their dog pitching a tent and their
products, and smaller, more "homey" regional events where we can just
talk RVs.
Mickey
--
Mickey Coggins
http://www.rv8.ch/
#82007 finishing
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