EAA’s Volunteers of the Year | Aviation

By Angela Satterlee.

Dennis Lange, EAA 198454, is from Fond du Lac, and he started volunteering at EAA back in 1979, became a member shortly after that in 1981, and hasn’t missed an AirVenture since his first year as a volunteer. “I took off for vacation for years to do this, and I enjoy it. At first, I wasn’t getting too much involved, but then after a while, it just snowballed,” Dennis said. He is now the chairman of special parking, mows the grass when it’s needed, and helps wherever he’s requested, no questions asked. “When they’re short, they give me a call, and I come in,” he said. Dennis also helps a lot with the vintage airplanes and has been on the grounds since February, helping with projects that come in and out of the Vintage area. One of the most recent projects he’s been assisting with was sandblasting and repainting a 1923 gas pump. He also was able to work on EAA’s B-17, Aluminum Overcast, that’s currently on display in the EAA Aviation Museum and said that was one of the highlights he’s had while volunteering at EAA.

Jim Smith, EAA 13439, from Eldridge, Iowa, has been an active member at EAA for 62 years. He was only 19 years old when he realized back in 1962 that fixing airplanes for other people was going to be a lifelong passion of his. At 81 years old, Jim is still volunteering his time to EAA and helping pilots because…