Paul Poberezny
| Paul Poberezny | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1921 Leavenworth County, Kansas |
| Residence | Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
| Known for | Founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association |
| Children | Tom Poberezny |
Paul Howard Poberezny (b. September 14, 1921 in Leavenworth County/Kansas) is a US aviator and aircraft designer famous for his work in establishing the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1953 and promoting homebuilt aircraft.
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[edit] EAA
He started the EAA out of his Hales Corners, Wisconsin home in 1953. He retired as president of the EAA in 1989. The organization now has approximately 170,000 members in more than 100 countries. Meanwhile, EAA's annual convention, known as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, attracts a total attendance in excess of 500,000 people annually.
Paul's son Tom Poberezny has been the Chairman of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association annual Fly-In Convention since 1977, and president of EAA from 1989 to September 7, 2010.
In March 2009, Paul Poberezny stepped down as Chairman of EAA and Tom Poberezny took on these duties as well.
[edit] Military career
He served for 30 years in the United States Air Force, including active duty during World War II and the Korean War. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He attained all seven aviation wings offered by the military: glider pilot, service pilot, rated pilot, liaison pilot, senior pilot, Army aviator and command pilot.
[edit] Aircraft experience
Poberezny has flown over 400 aircraft types, including over 170 home-built planes.[1] He started flying at the age of 16 with the gift of a WACO Primary Glider that he rebuilt and taught himself to fly in. [2] He has designed, modified, and built several homebuilt aircraft and has more than 30,000 hours of flight time in his career.
[edit] Awards
In 1986 he was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame,[3] 1999 he was inducted to the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, and is a recipient of the National Business Aviation Association's Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation (2001) and the Wright Memorial Award Trophy (2002).
[edit] References
- ^ Don Berliner (Winter 1971). "Flying more than 100 different homebuilts". Air Trails.
- ^ Jeffrey L. Ethell. Warbirds of America.
- ^ "Paul Poberezny". http://www.aviationhalloffamewisconsin.com/inductees/poberezny_p.htm. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
[edit] External links
- Official EAA biography
- Complete Biography at National Aviation HOF (verified 3/2006)
- Biography at FirstFlight.org (verified 3/2006)
- Wright Award announcement (verified 3/2006)
- Biography at aviationhalloffamewisconsin.com (verified 3/2006)
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