The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
EAA was founded by Paul Poberezny. Today the organization is run by his son, Tom Poberezny . Paul still works with EAA as its Chairman of the Board. On January 26, 1953, Paul and 35 other aviation enthusiasts created the EAA in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a club for people who were constructing their own homebuilt aircraft. Homebuilding is still a large part of EAA, but the organization has grown immensely over the years to include almost every aspect of aviation and aeronautics.
Each summer EAA presents the largest annual aviation event in the world, 'AirVenture Oshkosh', also known as the Oshkosh Airshow. During the airshow, the city's airport, Wittman Regional, is the busiest airport in the world. The week long event annually attracts around 12,000 planes and about 800,000 visitors to the region. The EAA also sponsors the Young Eagles program, dedicated to giving one million children an airplane ride by December 17th, 2003, the Centennial of Flight. The program reached that goal, and still continues to bring aviation to the youth of America. In 2004, actor Harrison Ford was named chairman of the Young Eagles.
The main attraction of AirVenture Oshkosh in 2005 will be the visit of SpaceShipOne and White Knight.
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