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Should Airplane Sweepstakes Give Non-Owners an Edge?

Now that he owns an aircraft, this pilot thinks that luck and fortune should smile on aspiring owners.

The EAA Aviation Foundation is giving away a 1946 Piper J-3C-90 Cub. [Courtesy: EAA]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aviation organizations like EAA and AOPA regularly host sweepstakes and raffles for meticulously restored airplanes to fund their initiatives and promote general aviation.
  • The author, a long-time "airplaneless dreamer" turned owner, advocates for a system that gives non-owners a better chance of winning these planes, believing it's an injustice when existing owners receive them.
  • Despite his personal stance, the author encourages participation in these raffles, as the funds raised support valuable non-profit aviation organizations, making even "losing" a win for general aviation.
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For most of us, winning an airplane is the stuff of dreams. But for a lucky few, it’s a springboard to become an owner with virtually no effort. And the aircraft that comprise the sweepstakes, contests, and raffles that entice us most as pilots often fit the profile of the organizations that promote them–and the owners they hope to be.

Take the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), for example. The EAA Aviation Foundation hosts a raffle each year to support its outreach efforts, and the prize reflects the grassroots nature of the association overall. This year? EAA’s giving away a 1946 Piper J-3C-90 Cub. 

Jason McDowell

Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.

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