Airshow Pilot Tom Poberezny Passes Away

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Adambadger88
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Airshow Pilot Tom Poberezny Passes Away

Post by Adambadger88 » Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:16 am

Rest in Peace Thomas Paul Poberezny.

He died following a brief illness on July 25, 2022, the first day of AirVenture, and is survived by his wife Sharon and daughter Lesley. He was only 75 years old.

He was an American aerobatic world champion, as well as chairman of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fly-In and Convention from 1977 to 2011 and president of EAA from 1989 to 2010, presiding over a time period of expansive growth for the organization and convention. He succeeded his father, Paul Poberezny, who founded them in 1953.

Poberezny was a member of the Eagles Aerobatic Team (originally the Red Devils), which was formed in 1971 and flew for more than 25 years, setting the record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members. He led the effort to build what is now known as the EAA Aviation Museum, opened in 1983, and is a co-founder of the Young Eagles, an EAA program created in 1992 to give children the opportunity to experience flight and learn about general aviation, flying more than two million young people since its creation. From his involvement in the EAA, Poberezny is often credited with having led the introduction of the light-sport aircraft category in 2004. In 2016, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame



Tom Poberezny was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame on October 1, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio, making him and Paul Poberezny (1999 inductee) the first father and son duo to be honored by the Hall. Learn more about him in the video below:


Eagles Aerobatic Team demonstration from the 1991 Cleveland National Air Show. Video from Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC-3. The team members are Charlie Hilliard, Gene Soucy and Tom Poberezny and fly three Christen Eagle aircraft. The team started in 1971 as the Red Devils.

More details on services for former EAA President & Chairman Tom Poberezny: https://www.krausefuneralhome.com/obitu ... poberezny/
Last edited by Adambadger88 on Tue Aug 02, 2022 11:09 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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