By Henry M. Holden
Aviation legend Bob Hoover and his wife Colleen arrive at the fundraiser.
Over the years, the Gathering of Eagles fundraising event at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has attracted more and more corporations and individuals. The 2007 Gathering of Eagles dinner held on July 26, in the AirVenture Museum’s Eagle Hangar, drew more than 1,000 people. Guests included two former Young Eagles chairmen, Academy Award-winning actor Cliff Robertson and Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, as well as astronauts Gene Cernan and Jim Lovell, and Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, who shared inspirational words with guests.
“This is a special evening as we celebrate the Gathering of Eagles, recognizing EAA’s outreach programs to young men and women who will be the future of aviation,” said EAA President Tom Poberezny. “We recognize the legacy we leave and must ensure that legacy continues for many years to come in the persons of the Young Eagles gathered here tonight.”
Young Eagles’ present chairman, Harrison Ford, was in Hawaii filming the fourth installment of the “Indiana Jones” series, but provided a video message challenging auction participants to “bid early and bid often.”
Tom Poberezny opens the annual Gathering of Eagles dinner.
Each year, dinner and auction proceeds provide support for the Young Eagles and other EAA programs that inspire young people to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow. The grand total raised from the live and silent auctions and other fundraising during this year’s dinner was a record $1.5 million.
Auction highlights
The Ford Motor Company provided the evening’s auctioneers, noted Barrett Jackson professional auctioneers Spanky and Amy Assiter. A silent auction featured hundreds of items, and 20 major items were auctioned live.
A package containing tickets to the premier of “Indiana Jones” earned $65,000. It included private jet transportation with Jack Pelton, chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company and Gathering of Eagles event chair.
One of the most fascinating events of the evening featured the talented Michael Ostacki of Art Explosion. He created three paintings onstage, to hard-driving music, in less than seven minutes each. Ostacki created a rendition of the Stature of Liberty, signed by Robertson and Yeager. His other subjects were Cernan, the last man on the Moon, and Lovell, Apollo 13 commander, who helped Ostacki complete the final work of art. The three renderings sold for $56,000. Skip Lehman of Mach 2 Management underwrote Ostacki’s participation.
A day with Boeing Commercial Airplane Company CEO Scott Carson brought $100,000 towards the charitable cause. A Napa Valley winery experience, including winery tours, a variety of wines and time with flying vintners Larry Turley and Bo Barrett, brought $16,000, and an exciting package including two tickets to the “American Idol” finals in Los Angeles and a two-night stay at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel raised $16,500. Other auction items included a custom-painted Harley-Davidson, which brought in $30,000; time with air show performer Sean Tucker, $20,000; and two flight experiences with the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, at $20,000 each.
Automotive legend Carroll Shelby (left) is a longtime supporter of the Young Eagles program.
The high point of the auction was the dramatic entrance through the hangar doors of Cirrus’ donated SRS sn #1. Hal Shevers, president and CEO of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, placed the winning bid of $170,000. He’ll also receive two hours of dual instruction with aerobatic legend Patty Wagstaff.
“I’m really looking forward to the instruction with Patty,” Shevers said. “And there will be no aerobatics!”
Poberezny said EAA would put the funds raised that evening, and throughout the year, toward the dream of expanding Young Eagles’ first-flight program and other educational activities designed to keep young people involved in aviation.
“These programs are cultivating the next generation of pilots, aeronautical engineers, air-space scientists and innovators,” he said.
Steve Buss, Young Eagles executive director and the night’s emcee, was thankful for the support.
“It was an extremely exciting evening, with lots of people supporting our initiatives to encourage the future of aviation,” he said. “This outpouring of support is incredible.”
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- Myrt Rose points to her husband’s name on a plaque dedicated to EAA program supporters.
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- L to R: EAA founder Paul Poberezny, his wife Audrey and Myrt Rose divide their attention between dinner and a speaker.
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- Gen. Chuck Yeager and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman discuss a common interest: aviation.
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- Dale Klapmeier, Cirrus cofounder, and wife Patty prepare to join the other guests. Cirrus donated SRS sn #1 for the auction; the winning bid was $170,000.
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- Erik Lindbergh exchanges pleasantries with another guest.
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- FAA Administrator Marion Blakey talks with Wayne Burton (left), NAHF development director; and Ken Perich, executive director, National Aviation Heritage Invitational.
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- Phil Hartman converses with Bud Anderson.
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- Astronaut Gene Cernan (center) shares a laugh with Patty Wagstaff.
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- World War II B-24 bomber pilot and former Senator George McGovern enjoys the reception.
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- Barrington Irving recently became the first person of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe.
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- Gen. Chuck Yeager (left) greets Gen. Joe Engle, right, and Engle’s wife Jeannie.
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- Morgan Freeman visits with EAA founder Paul Poberezny.
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- Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon, speaks to dinner guests.
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- Tom Weigt, Basler Turbo Conversions president, attended the event with wife Jane.
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- A package containing tickets to the premier of “Indiana Jones” earned $65,000. It included private jet transportation with Jack Pelton (right), chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company and Gathering of Eagles event chair.
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- Ron Kaplan, National Aviation Hall of Fame executive director, arrives at the dinner.
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- Ron Kaplan, National Aviation Hall of Fame executive director, arrives at the dinner.
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- Morgan Freeman takes time to pose for a picture with a young fan.
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- R to L: Sean D. Tucker—with fellow Collaborators Ben Freelove, Eric W.D. Tucker and Bill Stein—announces a special ride-package auction item.
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- Dr. Peggy Chabrian founded Women in Aviation, International, which has been a longstanding supporter of EAA.
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- Artist Michael Ostacki, of Art Explosions, painted this portrait of astronaut Jim Lovell. The painting took less than seven minutes and drew $30,000 at bidding.
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- Jim Lovell admires his just-painted likeness.
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- L to R: The AeroShell aerobatic team of Steve Gustafson, Alan Henley, Mark Henley and Gene McNeely offered a ride package to the highest bidder. Two flight experiences sold for $20,000 each.