by Ann Correspondent Kevin "Hognose" O'Brien

Have you ever seen those guys that have a bunch of stickers on their car, from the last 11 Airventures? They can't buy a new car cause they're broke from flying, and they can't fly in because they fly rentals while they're building their plane.

Well, it's a little-known fact, but EAA recognizes those guys. Well it should; they're the heart and soul of EAA, even if it has grown far beyond its homebuilding roots. Are you one of those guys? If so, I hope this is the year that you lose the '82 Olds wagon and fly in in your new machine. If you do, EAA has a treat for you at Homebuilders Headquarters. Check in and register your machine, and you'll get this nifty embroidered patch.

This year's patch features a true icon of homebuilding, Steve Wittman's Tailwind. But even if you don't fly a Tailwind, it tells EAAers worldwide that you had the class to leave the spam can (not to mention your father's Oldsmobile) at home and arrive in style.

Now, have you ever seen those guys that have a bunch of patches on their jacket, from the last 11 Airventures... if you want to be one of them, you'd better start building now, none of us are getting any younger.

(Hmmm... I wonder when this tradition started, and what other planes have been on the patches? The EAA's websites are curiously mute on the subject. If you know, tell us! If not, we'll bedevil EAA's Dick Knapinski with this question at Airventure. Dick knows everything!)

FMI: http://www.airventure.org/2003/news/hb_patch.html