Tom Poberezny

Tom Poberezny (1946 to 2022) was an American aerobatic champion and aviation leader who headed the Experimental Aircraft Association. Born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he joined the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Team, which won the World Championship at Salon, France, in 1972, and he won the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Championship in 1973. In 1971 he formed the Red Devils, soon renamed the Eagles Aerobatic Team, with Charlie Hillard and Gene Soucy; it flew until 1995 and became the longest-performing aerobatic team with one group of members. He chaired the EAA Fly-In and Convention, now AirVenture, from 1977 to 2011, served as EAA president from 1989 to 2010, and helped found the Young Eagles youth flight programme. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2016.