Welcome to the official 2027 U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team webpage. Here you'll find information about the team, support crew, coach, and manager, along with regular updates throughout the team's training as they prepare for the Advanced World Aerobatic Championship (AWAC) in 2027.
Meet the Team
IAC: MEET YOUR 2027 US ADVANCED AEROBATIC TEAM, COACH, MANAGER, AND SUPPORT CREW
Adding to the excitement of the already thrilling US National Aerobatic Championships, the 2026 competition was a selection year for the US Advanced Team. The Advanced team will represent the U.S.A. in the 2027 World Aerobatic Championship. The pilot candidate selection for the US Advanced aerobatic team only happens once every two years, alternating with the selection for the US Unlimited aerobatic team every other year. Now with a robust lineup of talented pilots and a strong support network built out of people with passion and the determination to propel this team to victory, the IAC is excited to present TEAM USA.
ONE TEAM. ONE GOAL.
The International Aerobatic Club is pleased to announce A.J. Wilder as coach of the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team for the upcoming World Advanced Aerobatic Championships campaign. Mary Beth Rudd will serve as team manager.
Wilder brings international competition experience and a strong commitment to helping American pilots perform at their highest level. Having represented the United States in international aerobatic competition, he understands the preparation, discipline, and consistency required to compete against the world’s best.
His approach to coaching is focused on preparation, precision, accountability, and building a team that is ready to perform when it matters most.
Working alongside Rudd, Wilder intends to build a focused, unified program that emphasizes structured training, honest feedback, strong team communication, and preparation for the demands of world-level competition.
The objective is straightforward: give Team USA every opportunity to compete for a world championship while representing the United States and the IAC with pride.
To support our mission, Team USA has assembled a strategically-selected group of people to form the team’s new Support Crew. Composed of several accomplished professionals in training technology, media, medicine, and maintenance, Team USA is excited to introduce the IAC membership to the men and women who will be spearheading the U.S.A.’s pursuit of gold at the world championships.
One team. One goal. The work starts now.
Team Coach - AJ Wilder
Winning at the world level takes more than raw talent—it takes a coach who has lived in the competitive aerobatic environment and understands the psychological precision required to dominate the box. Team USA is proud to announce veteran competitor AJ Wilder as the official Team Coach for the 2027 Advanced World Aerobatic Championship. Bringing over 25 years of aviation experience, an elite competitive pedigree, and a masterclass understanding of aerobatic energy management, Wilder is ready to elevate Team USA's performance to the top of the podium.
AJ Wilder is no stranger to the intense demands of international flight. A highly decorated pilot, he is a multi-time member of both the U.S. Advanced and Unlimited Aerobatic Teams. Pushing boundaries in his high-performance Extra 330SC, famously known as the "Rumble Bee," Wilder has campaigned at top-tier contests across both the United States and Europe. His massive well of experience—navigating complex wind corrections, managing precise gate entries, and handling the psychological pressures of the international stage—gives him direct, firsthand empathy for the pilots under his wing.
Beyond his skills in the cockpit, Wilder brings a highly structured and analytical approach to coaching. In his civilian career, he is a registered architect and President of Wolcott Architecture, a prominent commercial design firm in Los Angeles. This unique architectural mindset translates directly into his coaching philosophy, where he breaks down complex aerial geometry and 3D figures into precise, actionable feedback. Furthermore, his passion for aviation mentorship shines through his work as the Co-Founder of the Figure 1 Foundation, a highly successful non-profit that provides full-flight scholarships and advanced training to young aviators. As Team Coach, Wilder will channel this lifelong dedication to flight education, pushing our pilots to polish their sequences to absolute geometric perfection.
Team Manager: Mary Beth Rudd
An elite aerobatic team requires flawless coordination, rigorous organization, and a leader who understands the sport from the ground up. The International Aerobatic Club is thrilled to introduce Mary Beth Rudd as the official Team Manager for the 2027 Advanced World Aerobatic Championship. Known across the community for her unparalleled dedication, logistics savvy, and sharp operational eye, Mary Beth is the logistical engine that will keep Team USA running smoothly on the international stage.
Mary Beth’s contributions to the sport of aerobatics are monumental. Her lifelong devotion and tireless work behind the scenes earned her the prestigious Frank Price Cup for Greatest Overall Contribution, one of the IAC’s highest non-flying honors. From local competitions to major national events, her administrative footprint is everywhere; she has previously served in critical foundational roles, including Registrar for the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. Whether coordinating pilot credentials, managing event schedules, or ensuring absolute compliance with complex contest regulations, her leadership guarantees operational excellence.
Mary Beth’s expertise extends directly to the training box. An experienced videographer and data analyst on the flight line, she has spent years filming elite practice sequences alongside renowned coaches to help top-tier pilots critique and polish their figures to absolute perfection. This intimate familiarity with the relentless rhythm of competition training camp makes her uniquely qualified to manage a national team. As Team Manager, Mary Beth will oversee all logistics, international scheduling, and team coordination, providing the structured, supportive environment our pilots need to focus entirely on winning.
Chief of Technology: Dr. Paulo Iscold
Introducing Dr. Paulo Iscold: Chief of Technology for the 2027 U.S. Advanced National Aerobatic Team
In modern aerobatics, the difference between a gold medal and missing the podium comes down to fractions of a degree. To give Team USA a definitive analytical edge, the International Aerobatic Club is proud to appoint Dr. Paulo Iscold as the Chief of Technology for the 2027 Advanced World Aerobatic Championship. An internationally renowned aerospace engineer, professor, and aircraft designer, Dr. Iscold brings his groundbreaking telemetry platform, ACROWRX, directly to the team’s training program to revolutionize the way our pilots fly.
Dr. Iscold’s reputation in the aviation world is legendary. A professor of Aerospace Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, his career is defined by breaking world records and pushing the absolute limits of flight. He has designed multiple world-record-shattering experimental aircraft—most notably the CEA-311 "Anequim," which smashed five world speed records. His brilliant engineering mind caught the attention of the Red Bull Air Race world, where he spent years designing advanced aerodynamics and high-precision telemetry systems to help world-class racing pilots optimize their flight paths down to the millisecond. His immense contributions to the sport earned him the IAC's prestigious Curtis Pitts Cup for outstanding aircraft design and technological innovation.
As Chief of Technology, Dr. Iscold is deploying his crowning achievement in sports telemetry: ACROWRX. Born from his Red Bull racing data modules, ACROWRX is a cutting-edge tracking technology that captures high-fidelity flight data and reconstructs an aerobatic sequence in a precise 3D virtual environment. This revolutionary technology allows the U.S. coaching staff and pilots to instantly view a flight from any angle, revealing minor scoring flaws, radius errors, and attitude deviations that are impossible to spot with the naked eye from the ground. By turning subjective flight tracks into objective, hard data, Dr. Iscold and ACROWRX are giving Team USA an unmatched training asset.
Director of Media: Taylor Mershon
Introducing Taylor Mershon: Director of Media for the 2027 U.S. Advanced National Aerobatic Team
To win on the international stage, a team needs more than just elite pilots—it needs a powerful voice to rally supporters, drive fundraising, and capture the thrill of the journey. The International Aerobatic Club is thrilled to introduce Taylor Mershon as the Director of Media for the 2027 Advanced World Aerobatic Championship. As the current Editor of Sport Aerobatics magazine, Taylor is the creative powerhouse who will spearhead Team USA’s social media footprint, graphic design, promotional advertisements, and vital fundraising campaigns.
Taylor’s passion for aviation is lifelong, stretching back to childhood glider flights with her grandfather and later expanding into professional design work for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). In early 2025, she became the editor of Sport Aerobatics, the IAC’s official member-exclusive publication. In this role, she has revolutionized the organization’s storytelling, seamlessly weaving high-impact graphic design, compelling member highlights, and dynamic visual layouts to connect and inspire aerobatic enthusiasts worldwide. Living the aerobatic life daily alongside her husband, Brooks (one of the 2027 U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team pilots) and his Sukhoi SU-26M, she understands the unique heart, culture, and dedication of the competition community.
As Director of Media, Taylor will lead the charge in bringing the 2027 Advanced Team’s journey to the world. She will oversee all team branding, graphic design, and sponsor outreach, while orchestrating high-energy social media campaigns that give fans a front-row seat to training camps and international box flights. Taylor will supply the materials needed for the team’s promotional and fundraising initiatives, which is required to back the team financially, ensuring our pilots have the resources they need to succeed. With her editorial vision and creative drive, Taylor will make sure Team USA’s pursuit of global gold is unforgettable.
