Florida Pilot Wins Sonex Kit

It sure pays to be an EAA member these days, as one lucky homebuilder recently found out. James "Jim" Ross, Citra, Florida, is the lucky winner of a complete Sonex Kit and builder's package in EAA's 2003 Membership Sweepstakes.

His name was randomly drawn from over 150,000 entries on Thursday, January 15 and publicly announced on January 21. In a few weeks, he'll receive the kit, provided by Sonex Ltd., along with instrumentation and accessories, from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.

Jim was on the golf course when EAA President Tom Poberezny called with the good news on January 20. "I didn't believe Linda (his wife of 45 years) that the president of EAA had called until I saw EAA on the caller ID," he chuckled. "So I called Tom back, of course, and he told me I'd won a Sonex. I've never won anything. This is my first experience."

Jim, 67 and a pilot, has loved aviation for as long as he can remember. "Most of my flying has been during the past 30 years, but I have always been interested in aviation," he said. Now a semi-retired engineer, he and Linda, who is also a pilot, take turns flying the Cessna 172 they purchased new and fully equipped for $28,000 25 years ago. Their dog, "Cessna," often rides in the back.

As a homebuilder, Jim will have plenty of company. "My next-door neighbor built a Sky Aero high-wing pusher and it's a lot of fun to fly with him. Of course he's the first one I told about winning the Sonex."
 
The 2004 EAA Membership Sweepstakes is well under way, and the organization plans to give away another airplane kit. This time it's a new, sport pilot-ready Zodiac CH 601 XL, complete with a Rotax 912S four-cylinder, 100-hp engine provided by Zenith Aircraft. EAA says participating in the 2004 Membership Sweepstakes is easy. If your EAA membership is current at the end of 2004, you're eligible. In addition, if you help fellow aviation enthusiasts join EAA, you receive extra chances to win.

FMI:  www.eaa.org