Eric Muehlberg

“Aviation has always been a big part of my life” The grandson of a World War I aviator and the son of an Air Force Korean War veteran, Eric Muehlberg has aviation in his blood. Properly indoctrinated as a youth, he built hundreds of scaled plastic, control line and radio control model airplanes. He was an active member of the Aviation Explorers program and spent his free time at the local airports and model airplane flying fields. After a few starts and stops he earned a private pilot certificate in 1985. With the license in hand he promptly purchased his first airplane, a Piper Tomahawk, logging over 250 hours in it and flying to the 1986 EAA fly-in during his first year as a pilot. In 2001 he earned his A&P certificate.

Over the last 25 years Eric has served in various chapter leadership positions. Although he currently serves as the Chapter 1612 president, he is active in the other two Oklahoma City area chapters, EAA Chapter 24 and 1098. He leads the Chapter 24 member built Kitfox project. He is an active young eagles pilot having flown over 300 to date and serves as a technical counselor in two EAA chapters.

Over the years he has built or restored several aircraft. His most recent project completion was a SPA Panther LS. His current projects include a Zenith Zodiac 650 XLB and a Piper Colt restoration.

Although military assignments took priority many times, he has attended the Oshkosh fly-in/Airventure over 33 times since his first in1976, not missing a year since 1995. Eric has served as an Airventure volunteer since 2001 working in several areas including the Home Builder workshops, Vintage/Classic Flightline operations, the Kidventure control line flying circle and both One Week Wonder Projects.

During his professional career he served initially as a US Army enlisted soldier. After completing his degree he continued to serve as an US Army Engineer officer retiring in 1997. Following his military career he worked as a high school educator. It was in that role he developed and taught a high school Aerospace Careers course that influenced many students to pursue careers in aerospace.

“Over the years numerous aviation mentors and the EAA organization have given me so much that I have this consistent desire to give back to both. I hope that my time with the CAC will help in some way to provide opportunities to those young and not so young to enjoy the world of aviation as I have been so fortunate to experience. I hope to help develop new programs and activities to give EAA Chapters additional tools to make a difference in their local communities and the nation."