"Smitty" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"RST Engineering" wrote:

John ...

That's a question that I've been mentally rasslin' with for a few years
now.
Who **is** the reason for the EAA? Is it JUST Experimentals as the name
of
the organization implies? Are the warbirds a part of it only because
the
founder of EAA flew warbirds or are they an intrinsic part of it due to
the
nature of keeping a beast flying for which there are no readily
available
parts?


No need to wrestle with that question. The EAA, like all good
organizations everywhere, has a mission statement:

"EAA - the Experimental Aircraft Association - is dedicated to serving
all of aviation by fostering and encouraging individual participation,
high standards and access to the world of flight in an environment that
promotes freedom, safety, family and personal fulfillment."

"all of aviation" pretty much answers the question.

I'd personally rather have an organization that is restricted to
homebuilding. I joined my local chapter, found it attended by about 50
members, and learned that none of them are building an airplane. I'd
rather sit on a park bench and chat with two actual builders than sit
around listening to WWII stories. But, I wasn't around to vote when EAA
drafted its mission statement.

FWIW: I've been to three different EAA chapters. One had about 20 people
in attendance, and probably 8 planes under construction. Another had
probably 40 people with zero planes under construction. The third had at
least 60 people, and at least 20 planes under construction.