EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - Three aviators with extensive experience in
EAA programs and activities have joined the top leadership of the Experimental
Aircraft Association (EAA) as the newest members of the EAA Board of Directors.
Alan Klapmeier, James Clark, and Cody Welch were elected
during the annual EAA membership meeting on July 31, held as part of the annual
EAA AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh, Wis. As Class I directors, they will each
serve a three-year term on the EAA board.
"Each of these three EAA members has a diverse aviation
background and, more importantly, a longtime connection with our organization
in multiple areas," said Jack Pelton, EAA's chairman of the board. "We are
grateful that each of them has stepped forward to represent our membership and
help lead the association as we pursue our mission of growing participation in
aviation."
-Alan Klapmeier, EAA image-
Klapmeier, of Superior, Wis., is currently chairman and CEO
of Kestrel Aircraft. He was also founder of Cirrus Aircraft in 1980s, when it
developed its first VK30 kit aircraft, and guided the company in the 1990s when
it certificated the SR20 production airplane. Klapmeier was the 1992 recipient
of EAA's August Raspet Memorial Award and received EAA's highest honor, the
Freedom of Flight Award, in 2007. Klapmeier is an IFR-rated pilot with more
than 10,000 hours of flying time in a variety of aircraft.
-James Clark, EAA image-
Clark, of Columbia, S.C., is co-founder of BANG!
Technologies and was previously vice president of AT&T, executive director
of Bell Labs, and chief technology officer of NCR Corporation. He also served
as chairman for 60th anniversary reunion of the Tuskegee Airmen. Clark is the
former president of EAA Chapter 242, has co-built an RV-6 and is building an
RV-6A. He is an active Young Eagles pilot and a member of Team AeroDynamix, a
precision formation aerobatic air show team featuring RV-series aircraft.
-Cody Welch, EAA image-
Welch, of Linden, Mich., is a retired B-757 pilot for a major airline and was a 2003 EAA President's Award recipient. He helped develop EAA's Tri-Motor tour program and is currently its chairman, having flown as captain on the Tri-Motor since 1993. He is also vice president and a board member of the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation, founder/president of the Wings of Mercy East Michigan organization and active in the Air Care Alliance. He is a co-developer of Horizon Lakes residential airpark, has been manager of Price Airport in Linden, Mich., since 2001, and has owned/operated three FBOs and an aircraft sales business. -EAA