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.

Jason McDowell

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 08:57 AM ET

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

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft sweepstakes and raffles, often hosted by organizations like EAA and AOPA, offer individuals a chance to win a plane and become an owner.
The author, himself an aircraft owner, believes these prizes should ideally go to non-owners to help them achieve first-time ownership, recalling his past frustrations as an "airplaneless dreamer."
He suggests implementing a system that provides non-owners with a greater chance of winning (e.g., entry multipliers) to level the playing field.
Despite the low odds and his personal stance, the author encourages participation in these contests, especially for aspiring owners, as the funds raised support general aviation organizations.

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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.