AZ Homebuilder's RV-9A Honored As 30,000th US Homebuilt

Yuma, AZ homebuilder Bob Noll's RV-9A airplane was recognized as the honorary 30,000th US-registered homebuilt at a ceremony at AirVenture 2008. Standing on stage with his daughter Katrina who came to AirVenture with him, acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell, FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nick Sabatini, EAA President Tom Poberezny and EAA Founder Paul Poberezny were on hand to recognize the milestone of 30,000 homebuilt airplanes registered.
EAA homebuilders' community manager Joe Norris tracked Bob and his daughter Katrina down in the homebuilt camping area, and notified them that their name had been picked from among the 20 who applied for the honor. Because the FAA aircraft certification system has no way to exactly identify the 30,000th homebuilt, the EAA established criteria to pick one airplane to claim the honorary title. full story