"We're Seeing Some Really Nice Jackets"

By Rose Dorcey

With just one day remaining, the EAA Patch Jacket Contest is back with renewed interest, after canceling last year's event due to a diminished number of entries.

Carol Stadler, an 18-year AirVenture Volunteer, has been coordinating the Patch Jacket Contest since its inception in 1999. Stadler said as of Day Three, there are 28 entries in the contest, with one day left to go. By noon Thursday, all EAA'ers who want to enter their jackets must get to see Carol.

"We're seeing an overwhelming response this year," said Stadler. "It's been a lot of fun. We hear really nice stories, for instance, a guy came to enter his jacket, which belonged to his father. Now he is adding patches to it."

Mike Zaske, Sauk Rapids (MN), a pilot and retired air traffic controller brought his jacket for judging. He is the 28th contestant in this year's event. Zaske was sporting a nice blue jacket, with several neatly sewn patches on the back of the jacket.

For those interested in the grading criteria…"The method used to attach the patch is a very important consideration, if it's glued or sewn on, and neatness counts," said Stadler. "Artistic design is also important." The entry form asks entrants to describe the unique stories or history of the jacket. It asks the number of EAA Convention patches, how many consecutive year patches, and the total number of patches that say EAA on them - such as your local EAA Chapter.

Stadler also said that some members even have jackets with custom EAA Convention patches. Loyal EAA'ers who came to the convention before EAA offered patches sometimes create custom patches, which gets noticed by the judging committee.

The Patch Jacket Contest is back after it went away last year. When members said they missed the contest, Stadler brought it back. Provided there is enough interest, it will be an annual event, or it could become a bi-annual contest.

Stadler is the Youth Activities Hangar Chairman, the place to go to have a jacket photographed for judging. The prize? Recognition - having your photo on the EAA website, bragging rights if you want to call it that.

But hurry, deadline for inclusion in the contest is noon Thursday.

"We're seeing some really nice jackets this year," said Stadler.

FMI: www.airventure.org