By Henry M. Ogrodzinski
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BtWSftMfi* •«*,-,. i«. (Phot Mariay ob n Cavadias) HenryBy OgrodzinskiM. This article is meant to convey some of the color and Center's Goldwater Conference area. world-renownedThe emotion at the dedication ceremonies of the EAA Aviation actor graciouslywas signing autographs numbera for of membersEAA Centerwere ablethe who attend.not to for young EAA volunteers who had helped to make the dedica- To fully cover all of the events of July 30 would take an tion ceremonies a success. Robertson looked up and gazed entire issue of SPORT AVIATION. All of us who were across the beautiful, new facility andsaid, "Isn 't thisgreat!" fortunate enoughparta be dedication ofthe to have very Future articles in SPORT A VIATION will describe, in special memories of that very special day.willWe always detail, both museumconferencethe the and areas ofthe recall brief interludes which lent themselves signifi-the to Aviation Center. CenterThe of is, home course,new the cance of the occasion. For instance, one EAA member viv- of the EAA International Headquarters; and that, too, will idly remembers meeting Cliff Robertson in the Aviation be described in the near future. SPORT AVIATION9 ical personal aviation throughout the world. Once again, con- gratulations on this milestone in the history of EAA; and may you have even greater success in the future." ± HIRTY-ONE YEARS ago, Paul H. Poberezny dramatically Master of Ceremonies, Cliff Robertson, noted that, "This is the influence e coursth d f aviatioeo n history whe e foundenh e th d day we get to the top of Mount Everest. This is the Walden Pond Experimental Aircraft Association. For those of us who did not of aviation ... a place to come and reflect. All migratory birds attend that first, pivotal EAA meeting at Curtiss-Wright Field nee dplaca rest o thiet d Academ e it.s ,an i "Th y Award-winning in Milwaukee ease b yy enougma t i , imagino ht e elementeth s actor is also a writer and poet. During the dedication, he faced involve than di t charter gathering. Ther certainls ewa y some good the crowd of fellow EAA members gathered around the replica of humor momentw fe a , solemnityf so quiea d tan , confidencn a n ei Wrighe th t Flyer displaye sann do d actually brough fron ti m Kitty unlimited futur whan i e t Pau s ofteha l n referre "this a o sdt vast Hawk read an a dpoe, m he'd written enrout Oshkosho et e H . oceaabovr ai f no e us" participante .Th than si meetint A firsEA t g dedicate "tho t t ei d museudreamere th d man s behin. .. t di coul t havno d e known that they were settin e pattergth d nan particularly Paul and Tom Poberezny". standard for thousands of similar meetings around the world. Nor, did Paul Poberezny fully realize the impact that the EAA would It's your thirteenth summer freedod an , m lies ahead: have on the world of sport and recreational aviation. Freedom from grammar and math, teachers and rules, Jul , 198 anothes y30 3wa r such histori ..y milestona .cda e schoold an . chroniclee th n i aviatiof so beginningnw ..ne a . dedicatioe Th . n Ninety day unbridlef so d joy. and preview opening of the EAA Aviation Center attracted many Freedo rism to daweat pilonand t your Iver-Johnson bicycle people from many l walkplaceal f lifed o s an s. They gathered O n12-mila e journe boyhooo yt d gladness. hourw togethefe sa durinr fo r e 31sgth t Annua InternaA EA l - That expectation carves a smile on your young face tional Fly-In Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition to pay a And the cold morning air brings tears to your eyes and very special tribut personao et lcelebrat o flight d an t complee eth - stings your teeth. AviatioA EA w n ne Center e tioth f no . Thos attendeo ewh e dth But nothin stan gca y your mission: dedication represented spiritn i , e hundredth , f thousando s f o s You pedal wildly through that sleepy southern California people who have joined EAA since that first meeting in 1953. town, always ha Whil A s beeeEA aviation na n organization beens ha t ,i On toward the target. firsforemostd an t organization a , peoplf no e working togethen ri You're Richard Dix, and Errol Flynn — their love of flight. You'r eacesf o "th youe n "o e ac r "dawn patrol". r exampleFo , Senator Barry Goldwater Chairmae th , e th f no You couple onto the early morning trolley — National Steerin AviatiogA CommittEA e nth Foundation'r efo s The motorman doesn't notice, or pretends not to, Capital Campaign schedules keynote wa th , e b eo dt speaker fo r resu Asyo t your wear yanother legholfo d n san d o r mile, the dedication of the EAA Aviation Center. However, the distin- Unti reacu yo l h that sandy sideroad— guished Senator fro e Statmth Arizonf eo a recently underwent You "peel off' — one more mile to go, one tantalizing mile. minor surgery; and his recovery period prevented him from joining A final burst of speed, and then you coast the last one gathered ha thos o celebrato edwh t previee eth w openine th f go hundred yards, EAA Aviation Center. In the true spirit of EAA volunteerism, e tireTh s hummin n unwindinga ge mornin sonth n gi g Barren Hilton, Chairman of the Board and President of Hilton quie— t Hotels Corporatio activ d memberA nan eEA , graciously stepped Slowl finallyd yan stope th , . You're there. forward and accepted the role as keynote speaker. You stan reverencen di . EA neves Aha r bee ever nno r statia wil e b l c organizationt I . Lourdes never looked more magnificent than this simple has always dynamically sought to serve its membership and work structure. wit hinterestee otherar o promotioe sth wh n di developmend nan t This cathedra boyhoof o l d dreams. of aviation. The importance of people to EAA was eloquently This airport. stated by Barren Hilton during his dedication speech. He said in — "Airport", by Cliff Robertson part, "The Experimental Aircraft Associatio demonstrates nha d that scores of dedicated people . supportd by a strong member- achievn ca . shi . ep. great goals. Thirt firse th y tt a year o sag Deputy Secretary of Defense, Paul Thayer, who appeared in EAA Convention, this would have seemed impossible. But, like flightsuis hi anticipation i t r shoai ws hi performanc f no e laten ri the progress of flight itself, EAA has always reached beyond the the day, was also a dedication speaker. He compared the EAA AviatioA horizonEA e n Th .Cente tributa e 'can-do s i th r o et ' Aviation Centee Nationad Spacth an o t r er Ai Museul n mi spirit of EAA. I salute you and the thousands who will visit here Washington, D.C. "Althoug t i (thh e Nationad Spacan r e Ai l to learn and to be inspired by the glory of flight. Thanks to Paul Museum) is a little larger at the moment, I can envision a time Pobereznanm dedicatee dTo th d yan d members Experimen e ofth - when this museum will rival Washington' varietn si toned yan . l Aircrafta t Association dreaa , becoms mha e reality." Young Tom turned on his afterburner and the result is what we In additio Barreo nt n Hilton e dedicatioth , n attracted dig- here se e today." Thayer coursef ,o referrins AviatioA ,wa EA o gt n nitarie celebritied an s s from throughou e worlth t f aviationdo . Foundation President, Tom Poberezny who was roundly praised Special guests included world-renowned actor, Cliff Robertson, as the guiding force behind the Aviation Center from its concep- who acted as Master of Ceremonies during the dedication; Sam tion, through construction previeo ,t w openin dedicationd gan t "I . Johnson, CEO of the Johnson Wax Company; Deputy Secretary bees nearllifr y ha nefo m y three years," Poberezny said. "Today, of Defense, Paul Thayer; aviation great, Steve Wittman; Federa memberA l EA d aviatioe l dreaan al th s f mo n enthusiasts Aviation Administrator, J. Lynn Helms; well-known radio person- worldwide become reality.sa " AviatioA EA alit d ny an Foundatio n Director Collinsb Bo , d an ; While EAA members the world over have read a great deal many others who participated in the dedication ceremonies includ Aviatio-A EA w nabou ne Center e th t facilite ,th y mus seee tb n i ing renowned aerobatic pilot, Kermit Weeks, who was signaled order to be truly appreciated. James Remington, Senior Vice Pobereznm To y b "beinr t yfo ou g amon tooo firse e gth kth wh t President of Philip Morris USA, confided to an EAA member that steps necessary to help make our dreams a reality". Greetings whe receivee nh invitatios dhi dedicatioe th no t n ceremoniee sh congratulationd an s poure fron di m local, stat federad ean l offi- assumed he was being invited to "another ground breaking". cials including a proclamation from President Reagan. In part, Philip Morris, through its subsidiary the Miller Brewing Com- the President said, "This notable event serves as a fine expression pany, mad substantiaea AviatioA l donatioEA e nth Centeo nt r r nation'oou f s continuing great interes e developmenth n i t f o t during EAA Oshkosh '82; and Remington was absolutely thrilled flight e CenteTh .