Audrey and Paul Poberezny
which today with its priceless aircraft collection is valued at more than $100 million! The world famous EAA B-17G Aluminum Overcast tour airplane in honor of veterans has become one of the great annual hallmarks of EAA service to the aviation and general public, but the aviation highlight of every year and the greatest public aviation spectacle in the world is the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention and exposition, which attracts more than a half-million people, 10,000 airplanes, nearly 2,500 show airplanes and exhibitors, and aircraft/ avionics/accessories vendors from all over the world. These four momentous EAA milestones: the re-creation of the 1927 Lindbergh tour, the creation of the magnificent EAA Aviation Center with its invaluable aircraft collection, the nationally known annual B-17G Aluminum Overcast tours, and the unparalleled AirVenture Oshkosh convention and aerial extravaganza has left no doubt that EAA is the most visible, most creative, and exciting civil aviation organization in the world! Paul Poberezny, from that very first meeting with aviation friends on a frigid Wisconsin night in the family coal bin crowded basement, essentially through his own force of character and power of personality 20
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Paul remained a true homebuilder all his life.
stayed the course through 60 years of miraculous and momentous achievements. EAA has become the largest, most successful, most respected organization in the history of general as well as sport and recreational aviation. Its name is known worldwide and always with the utmost of reverence, thoughtfulness, consideration, and more than a certain amount of disbelief. Paul’s son, Tom, was born in 1946, and his daughter, Bonnie, in 1954. In time they, too, became completely immersed in the family passion for EAA and aviation. Tom became the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion at the tender age of 22 as well as a member of the U.S. World Aerobatic Championship Team later that same year. Tom also enjoyed more than 40 years in top EAA management. Bonnie would evolve to becoming an exceptionally talented executive on Paul’s staff in the EAA Aviation Center. Bonnie was always a tower of strength in support of Paul and Audrey’s never-ending 60-year effort for EAA. Paul and Audrey created, fostered, and nurtured a concept that did not exist in any form and brought forth a pure miracle and force for good in aviation and the United States of America. At “a place called Oshkosh” there is never a discouraging word, never
a frown; it is a smiling, happy, immaculately clean, and upbeat environment; it is as near a spiritually uplifting, near heavenly experience as one can imagine. The entire overall complex with all its attributes is an ongoing and constant reflection of what Paul wished it to be and what he constantly strived for and essentially required it to be. He succeeded, and succeeded on a scale that exceeds the most extreme, ambitious imagination. Can any of us identify or pinpoint any other extremely gifted individual that we believe could even scratch the surface in emulating the accomplishments of this giant? The author knows of none.
Aviation Leader
Paul Poberezny now belongs to the ages. He was the perfect person at the perfect time in the perfect place. He left no stone unturned on the behalf of those of us in aviation and very particularly sport and recreational aviation. He was a leader in name, thought, and deed. He was the epitome of “Lead, follow or get out of the way,” and all of us are the beneficiaries of his strengths. How could we have ever been so fortunate? He was, and shall always be, in a class by himself. There is a new, eternal, and inspirationally bright star in our heavens…it too is in a class by itself.
Paul created an entirely new wide world of aviation. In his passing, we have witnessed the end of an inspirational era of aviation. Paul’s EAA leadership and its members’ individually oriented opportunities spawned entire industries in powerplants, airframes, materials, avionics . . . his leadership inspired countless aviation innovations, his leadership brought forth advanced designs of experimental airplanes that were so infinitely capable, they were flown around the world . . . one of his devotees was so capable, so far advanced in his concepts, he designed and built an airplane that did the absolute impossible—it was flown around the world, more than 25,000 miles, non-stop, non-refueled by the design-engineer’s brother. The creativity that has evolved and exploded from within EAA and that first small gathering of aviation friends in Paul’s basement on January 26, 1953, has changed the world of aviation forever, and, for the better, of course. The charismatic Paul Poberezny was the epitome of what the gifted and inspired human spirit can accomplish if simply permitted to dream its dreams, energize the friendly free enterprise forces to accomplish those dreams and create for all mankind the tangible benefits of those dreams. Paul was, in many ways, an ordinary man, but in his unbounded efforts for aviation, his sheer greatness shone through. Aviation has never had a person in any way comparable to him, it is virtually impossible to envision anyone ever reaching his level of aviation accomplishments again. He created an entire era essentially through his vision, foresight, leadership, his power of personality and persuasion. His perseverance was without comparison. His passing marks the end of
an era, an era that captured the hopes and dreams of millions of us. There are simply no words for the magnitude of what he has done for so many. Perhaps we should recall Sir Winston’s words, “Never in the course of human events has so much been owed by so many to so few.” With apologies to Sir Winston, “Never in the course of world and civil aviation has so much been owed by so many to one single individual.” We have lost a living legend and leader beyond even world-class aviation accomplishments. Few of us are ever privileged to be close to true greatness; a great number of us had that privilege in our friendship and association with Paul Howard Poberezny. His life did not start with the slightest promise of greatness; it began in the most humble manner possible. He was born dirt-poor of immigrant parentage from the Ukraine in the midst of the worst economic depression in the history of the nation, yet, 91 years later there are no names more well-known, or more respected, or more revered in the entire world of aviation, all of aviation, than Paul Howard Poberezny. One can speak of vision but like electricity and gravity, we can neither define it nor understand it. Paul had to have vision, but more honestly, more accurately, Paul’s vision was precisely as defined by Thomas Edison, 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. He was without peer in his quest and determined drive to bring sport aviation to the pinnacle of the public’s view not only in America, but the world. He was a human dynamo in his efforts; he was tireless, absolutely and completely tireless in his endless efforts for aviation, and not from just his early or middle life, but to the very end, he had an unquenchable
thirst for aviation excellence, from his unpowered glider of the early 1930s to such as the Flying Flea, to the mighty EAA P-51D and B-17G, and oh yes, he was current and typed in the B-17 in his last year of life on this earth. He “flew them all,” nearly 400 types, from the primitive, simplistic gliders to the OX Swallow to the military jets, he flew the full gamut of the military warbirds of his day and flew them well. He was a natural born leader, he was the EAA founder and eternal leader, he was our leader from that first cold January night in 1953 till his last day in our midst and, now, even beyond…there has been no other like him and no mortal can ever take his place or accomplish what he accomplished. He was bigger than life itself. Paul Howard Poberezny will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who knew him and those who witnessed his countless amazing accomplishments. Those of us who were privileged to know him know we have walked with a giant among giants, a mortal who achieved light years more than mere mortals can ever perceive. In the months and years to come, hopefully we will find the perfect ways to honor Paul and his memory in the most fitting and appropriate manner possible. Paul reached legend level years and years ago, yet wore his “Pope Paul” title in the most humble manner imaginable. The inspiration of his legacy will emotionally move aviation to higher levels for generations to come and for generations yet unborn. We can be certain the very most select of the who’s who of the greatest of aviation’s dearly departed were waiting with open arms to welcome home one of their very own. Very well done, Paul. Very, very well done! www.VintageAircraft.org
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