EAA and AOPA membership worth it?

[MikeyDale]

I've got two experimental airplanes in my hanger and I'm pretty sure neither wouldn't be there if it wasn't for EAA!.....On the other hand, I have yet to join AOPA again since I resumed my love for flying 10 years ago. I guess I should ante up!

[RV7A Flyer]

I quit AOPA years ago when it was apparent they were focused on big-dollar GA (corporate jets, etc.) than smaller stuff.

I was dismayed when EAA seemed to be (and still does, IMO) going the same direction. I'm still in EAA, but mostly for the discount on insurance and a few other minor enticements. Medical reform? Meh...seems we didn't get much reform at all in the end.

I guess they're okay, but they sure seem to have lost a lot of the "E" part of the vision.

[PerfTech]

....We belong to both, and contribute heavily to help keep them going. Keep
in mind they are our only big voices out there expressing our concerns.

Thanks, Allan...

[Luke D]

I'm an EAA member, but not AOPA. Now that I think about it, I should probably support them too. Neither organization is run exactly the way I would choose (EAA is pretty good though), but there are not many other options out there to give us a voice.

In the scheme of things those of us who fly are a tiny minority, and the things that are important to us are not even on most people's radar politically.

[TCONROY]

I am less and less impressed with AOPA's relevance for my flying, ownership, maintenance, etc. I find their magazine of little interest and plan to drop my membership when it expires. I think EAA offers for to our community along with KitPlanes and Flying magazines.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Plummit

...

I tried to get them to do something on the local level, and start with the the outrageous taxes we are assessed in many states for the "privilege" of buying, owning and maintaining an aircraft. Deaf ears. They either weren't interested or ???

Five or so years ago I tried to get the EAA involved with trying to remove property taxes for the original builders of airplanes, cars, and boats. My thinking was that the person who builds a vehicle will have contributed to the local economy as they built, even if the majority of the kit came from somewhere else. Including cars and boats would probably give us enough momentum. The second owner would have to pay the full tax, as they do today. I couldn't get anyone to talk to me. (If any of you have a suggestion, please contact me.)

[BillL]

Originally Posted by Auburntsts

I'm a member of both, so yes. There is some overlap between the two but here's how I look at it: AOPA is my general political advocate as a GA pilot and and aircraft owner. EAA is my advocate for all things E-AB. The bottom line is there is strength in numbers - just ask other organizations like the NRA or AARP.

My sentiments almost exactly. I dropped AARP when they supported Obamacare.

But - the big news is . . . I only read KitPlanes!!

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Oh boy. A discussion about taxes and Obamacare. Swell. Just swell.

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Oh boy. A discussion about taxes and Obamacare. Swell. Just swell.

This is the sort of stuff that drove me away from the local EAA chapter. Went to a couple of meetings, and the first hour was a bunch of bitching and griping about the President, and how they couldn't fly their model airplanes when he was in town, and how awful he was, blah blah blah.

I don't need politics mixed up with my fun.

That, and their hangar was an absolute wreck...yeah, you could borrow tools...IF you could find them. Crammed end-to-end with s**t everywhere, dirty, messy...

No thanks. Got better things to do with my time than listen to politics. I'd rather build and fly.

[Mark_H]

Pot and kettle anyone?