EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (Sept. 30, 2016) — Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) CEO/chairman Jack Pelton issued the following statement today in conjunction with the October 1 induction of former EAA president/CEO Tom Poberezny into the National Aviation Hall of Fame:
“We heartily congratulate Tom Poberezny on receiving this singular honor of being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, where he joins the nation’s most legendary aviation figures. We at EAA are overjoyed at the recognition for Tom in respect to his long and varied career in the flying community. That includes his aerobatic skill as U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, a member of the American world championship team in 1972, and dazzling air show audiences as a member of the Red Devils and Eagles aerobatic teams for 25 years.
“His leadership as president of EAA also left an indelible mark, including the construction of the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, the growth of the annual EAA fly-in convention as a world-class event, the creation of the Young Eagles program that has flown more than 2 million young people since 1992, and his leadership that led to the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft category in 2004. Tom is well deserving of this honor, as his vision and dedication made the sport aviation community a better place for all of us.”
Tom Poberezny’s induction also marks the first father-son tandem as part of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Tom’s father, EAA’s late founder Paul Poberezny, was inducted in 1999.
Also to be inducted on Saturday, October 1, in Dayton Ohio, are Capt. Robert Crippen, the first Space Shuttle pilot; NASA’s first flight director, Christopher Kraft; and the late Medal of Honor recipient Col. George “Bud” Day.
More information on the event is available at the National Aviation Hall of Fame website: http://www.nationalaviation.org/.
EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 200,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org.
