Published in AirVenture Today on 7/31/2004 Paul Rosales Tells Readers, ‘You Can
Do It’
By Barbara A. Schmitz
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Paul Rosales knows many people
start building their own planes, get frustrated, and never finish. That’s why
he started telling his story that it is possible to do it, and have a lot of
fun as a result.
“One of the things I always tell people…is that they
need three things to build and finish an airplane,” says Rosales, of
Rosales is proof that sheer determination can do
wonders. He works two jobs—second shift for Lockheed’s Skunk Works and days as
a substitute teacher—to pay for his aviation habit.
He and his wife, Victoria, spent more than 3,000
hours over five years building an RV-6A, and finished it just in time for EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2000. That year the plane received top honors among kit-builts for outstanding workmanship.
Rosales added to his awards this year when he
received the Bax Seat Trophy Thursday evening
at Theater in the Woods. The award is presented each year by Flying
magazine to the EAA member who perpetuates the Gordon Baxter tradition of
communicating the excitement of flight, along with providing valuable
information that makes people better pilots and builders. Rosales, an EAA
member since 1994, has written feature articles for EAA Sport Aviation and his
EAA Chapter’s website and newsletter.
“This award recognizes Paul for his writing and
communication skills,” says EAA President Tom Poberezny.
“He doesn’t write for a living, but rather writes because of his love for
aviation.”
Many of Rosales’ stories have a common thread: “If I
can do it, you can, too.”
“I don’t consider myself a writer,” Rosales says. “I
just write because I want to share my story with others who are working in
their garages right now building a plane and who are wondering why they are
doing it. I write to tell them there is a payoff, and to encourage them to keep
pounding those rivets.”
Rosales has put about 2,000 hours on the RV-6A, flying
it to 49 states,
He started writing stories to give builders a reason
to finish their planes. Bob Mackey, former EAA director of Chapter Relations,
saw one of Rosales’ articles and recommended it for EAA Sport Aviation. It was
published, and Rosales added magazine author to his list of occupations.
A pilot for 25 years with 2,120 hours—all VFR—Rosales
says he has few regrets. One is that he didn’t join EAA sooner. “I just didn’t
know about it,” he says.
Rosales is closing in on 100 Young Eagles in the RV.
“As a substitute teacher, I have a lot of access to kids. It’s been a lot of
fun.”
He will certainly keep having fun by flying and
writing about his exploits, convincing countless others that “aviating the EAA
way” can enrich your life.
Homepage URL: http://www.PaulRosales.com/
Webmaster: Paul Rosales