WIX Archives

Re: Follow the money... (What, me a cynic?)

Posted by Adam Smith on Tue Jan 28, 2003 12:08:44 PM

In reply top Follow the money... (What, me a cynic?) posted by bdk on Mon Jan 27, 2003 11:34:25 PM

Jim, neither the EAA or the EAA Aviation Foundation (which operates the flying airplanes) is a corporation as most people understand the word. They are both 501c3 non-profit organizations with a non-profit mission and structure.

You are correct that EAA is a broad-based organization with many different aviation interests across its 170,000 members, and lots of things on its mind. I think your characterization of the organization is very narrow and would encourage others to visit www.eaa.org to form their own conclusions about what EAA is and does, and whether or not the organization performs a valuable service to aviation.

Flying historic airplanes - and giving ordinary people the chance to ride in them - is a very important part of the mission of the EAA AirVenture Museum. However it is not something that can be done without regard to cost. Believe me, flying old airplanes is not a profitable business, it requires a subsidy. If insurance costs rocket and the economy takes a downturn, this is not something a non-profit is immune from.

I would like to know more about this 'inner circle'. The EAA that I know welcomes volunteers in all aspects of its flight operations, and regularly puts out the call for new volunteers.


: Well, I suppose that there isn't exactly a shortage of P-5
: 1's around, especially during the airshow. it seems that a
: ny flying airplane would be a bother to the EAA (or most m
: useums for that matter) unless they can generate revenue i
: n excess of expenses (like selling lots of seats on each B
: -17 flight and corporate sponsorship). Remember, the EAA i
: s a corporation, not (supposedly) a playground for the inn
: er circle to enjoy flying warbirds at the members' expense
: . Warbirds are only a small part of what EAA is about. Ver
: y few of EAA's planes fly, other than those that produce r
: evenue or can be justified through exposure (advertising).
: The EAA has other things on their mind like Sport Pilot C
: ertification and collecting revenue from all those new bus
: iness jet startups they are hawking (publicizing) incessan
: tly...
:
: EAA is no longer a labor of love to the founders (in my op
: inion), it has gone corporate (big time). EAA used to be a
: bout experimenting, now it is about building mass produced
: unassembled aircraft (kits). EAA has its place in history
: and still does much for general aviation, but it has lost
: much of its charm.
:
: That being said, it is indeed a shame that P-51 may never
: fly again. Maybe they wouldn't notice if I substituted a f
: iberglass replica???? :-)
:
:
: : : What happened to "Keep 'em Flying"
: :
: : The XP-51 I can understand...but the others?

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