EAA provides a wealth of information for builders. Its website is www.eaa.org. Its publishes several magazines, the main
one being Sport Aviation. EAA runs training programs for builders such as the EAA SportAir Workshops. See http://sportair.org/. It runs two-day training programs around the country on welding, composite construction, fabric covering, electrical wiring, RV assembly,
sheet metal basics, kit building, and test flying. All the skills needed by the novice builder can be learned at the EAA SportAir
Workshops. EAA also runs hundreds of video webinars for free off the web for the price of an EAA membership. In these
videos, every aspect of aircraft building is demonstrated on your computer screen. EAA has chapters of local pilots and
builders at many local airports around the country. I belong to EAA Chapter 857 located at Zelienople Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania,
about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh. These chapters often have EAA technical advisors who can provide hands-on training and guidance
when you run into a problem. See http://www.eaa.org/techcounselors/. Then there are the “magicians” who do repair, maintenance,
and rebuilding as their livelihood or lifetime avocations. I spoke of John Waltrowski, who ran Cubs Unlimited at Finley Airport
for a number of years. He is retired, but still available to us at his hangar at Rostraver Airport south of Pittsburgh. My other magicians are Jason Jodkin who runs the shop at Zelienople. My good friend, Charlie Potts, is a walking talking expert
in Aeronca champs. He and I do the annual work on my Aeronca L-16A every year. Charlie is an FAA inspector by profession
but aircraft mechanic at heart. Keep your eyes open and you will find the magicians.
