Plane Facts: Aviation Membership Organizations

Learn about the history and evolution of aviation clubs

Isabel Goyer

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 09:43 AM ET

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Photo by Futureuapilot/Creative Commons

Key Takeaways:

The article highlights several prominent aviation organizations, including the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the oldest U.S. club founded in 1905 for record-keeping, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world's largest, formed in 1939.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), founded in 1953, is known for hosting the massive AirVenture event and running the Young Eagles program, which has introduced 2.3 million children to aviation, significantly increasing their likelihood of becoming pilots.
The Ninety-Nines, established in 1929 with Amelia Earhart as its first president, is the oldest organization for women pilots, boasting global chapters and offering scholarships like the Fly Now Award.
These organizations have played crucial roles in aviation history, from early certifications and aircraft innovation (like Alexander Graham Bell's AEA) to current advocacy, record oversight, and inspiring future generations of pilots.

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Aviation Membership Organizations — Photo by Futureuapilot/Creative Commons

Oldest aviation club in U.S.: National Aeronautic Association (NAA)
Founded: 1905
Famous first members: Wright Brothers
Activity until 1926: Sole issuer of pilot certifications
Current activity: Overseeing & certifying all aviation records
Average records/year: 150
Other NAA offering: Circumnavigator Diploma
Diploma categories: 4; Eastbound, Westbound, Polar & Nonstop
Organization founded by Alexander Graham Bell: Aerial Experiment Association (AEA)
Years active: 1907-1909
Inventions credited: Wing-Tip Ailerons, Tricycle Gear

Largest aviation organization in the world: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Formation: 1939
First member: Gill Robb Wilson
Organization founded by Wilson: Civil Air Patrol
AOPA Members as of 2012: 384,915
Countries represented: 75
Total fly-in events hosted: 27
Attendees since 2014:~100,000

Average annual attendees to AirVenture: ~600,000
AirVenture host: Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Founder: Paul Poberezny, 1953
First headquarters: Paul’s basement
Membership: 200,000+
Chapters: ~1,000
Countries with members: 100+

Program started by Poberezny’s son, Tom: Young Eagles, 1992
Total volunteer pilots: 43,000+
Children flown: 2.3 million

Likelihood of Young Eagles becoming pilots: 5.4 times greater than nonparticipants
Young Eagles-inspired pilots who are women: 9%
Compared to general pilot population: 6%

Oldest organization for women pilots: The Ninety-Nines, 1929
Previous names: The 86s, The 97s
Charter members: 99
First president: Amelia Earhart
Worldwide chapters: 155
Countries represented: 44