Experimental Aircraft Association Members Can Now Access SOLIDWORKS Software for Free

Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the headquarters of a community of people who love flying, aircraft, and everything to do with them. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) was formed over 60 years ago by flight enthusiast and veteran Paul Poberezny, who gathered together several of his fellow aircraft builders and restorers into a formal club in 1953. Today, the EAA is one of the largest aviation organizations in the world, with 195,000 members and 1,000 chapters dedicated to building, restoring and flying small aircraft for the sheer joy of it.

The EAA’s many members just gained a new resource – and it’s a big one. All members now have free access to Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Student Design Kit – EAA Maker Edition software, as well as MySolidWorks online video tutorials and the MySolidWorks manufacturing network, plus additional training and design resources. It’s all powered by the SOLIDWORKS 3DExperience Platform, which has been showing up in the work of major commercial aircraft manufacturers lately as well.

SOLIDWORKS has become the go-to software for engineers and designers, and it continues to expand and become more comprehensive as a resource. It’s not just design software anymore – users can take advantage of virtual simulation tools, data management and publishing help, and even environmental impact assessment.

“Since its humble beginnings in Paul and Audrey (Poberezny)’s basement, EAA has inspired, enabled, and defended our members’ right to take a dream sketched on a napkin at the dinner table to first flight and beyond,” said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO/Chairman. “SOLIDWORKS is the industry standard for computer-aided design. Aircraft and kit manufacturers from Cirrus to Zenith are designing today’s aircraft in SOLIDWORKS, and now EAA members can get free access to this powerful tool.”

You can learn more at the new, specially designed EAA SOLIDWORKS resource center. Users can view hardware requirements; download the new Student Design Kit; access tools such as webinars, forums, and videos; and upload and share their own design files.

“We are passionate about making product design accessible to anyone with an idea and an insatiable desire to design it and build it. The Experimental Aircraft Association, whose members construct their own personal aircraft, shares our history of inspiring and enabling that desire in its members,” said Marie Planchard, Director of Education and Early Engagement, Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS.

In addition to the SOLIDWORKS partnership, the EAA has also teamed up with Graphics Systems Corporation (GSC), one of SOLIDWORKS’ largest partners in the Midwest. The retailer, which also works with Stratasys, has provided its own resource center for EAA users, and will help the EAA build and train a group of volunteers with SOLIDWORKS experience to provide assistance and answers to other users on the EAA forums. GSC will also offer discounts on printers, training and services to EAA members, who are encouraged to stay tuned to the EAA SOLIDWORKS Resource Center for news on training events and future offerings.

GSC will be conducting several training sessions in the near future, and will also give SOLIDWORKS demonstrations at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which is running July 25-31. Discuss further over in the EAA SOLIDWORKS & 3D Design Resources forum over at 3DPB.com.