Paul Poberezny, the leader of a small group of aviation enthusiasts who had been assembling at his home on an irregular basis, founds the Experimental Aircraft Association and is elected as its first President. On January 26, 1953, Poberezny calls the first official meeting of EAA at Curtiss-Wright (now Timmerman) Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The group originally gathered together to aid and assist amateur aircraft builders. However, its purposes quickly encompassed the promotion of all facets of recreational aviation and the promotion of aviation safety. The organization derives its name from the “Experimental Aircraft” category, which is assigned to airplanes used for recreational and educational purposes only. Membership is open to everyone interested in aviation.
