88th Seabring Aerobatic Competition 2025: Contest Director's Report
by Mike Cappiello, IAC 430121
The 88th Sebring aerobatic competition was a success. As a first-time contest director and being relatively new to the sport again after being away for many years, I can say that it was a success and fun was had by all (I hope)…. I took the reins from the prior chapter President, Ken Kopp, in late fall of 2024 and hit the ground running planning for the famous Sebring contest. It was probably the second contest I ever competed in back in the early 2000s flying N260AB, and I never thought I’d be returning as the C.D., twenty-something years later.
The planning of the contest and lining up sponsors and fundraising to make the contest happen was the important part and I can’t thank our sponsors enough for helping to make it happen. David and Martha Martin are synonymous with sport aerobatics and the airshow world for several decades and their passion for the sport and continuing it for generations to come are unparalleled. LIFT Aviation, MT-Propeller, Softie Parachutes, Hooker Harness, Patty Wagstaff and Michael Goulian are some of the long time supporters of the sport of aerobatics as well. On behalf Chapter 23 and myself, Thank you for your support! My Volunteer Coordinator, Monique Hartmann; Registrar extraordinaire, Mary Beth Rudd; Chief Judge, Hector Ramirez, and my right hand man, Nate and his girlfriend Jalanda, I can’t thank you guys enough for your help on making this event happen. Jalanda’s artistic skills came up with our 88th Sebring logo that didn’t disappoint!
The contest started off with a sole day of practice on Thursday, April 24th. In the future we hope to have more than just one official practice day… stay tuned! During practice, Alan Bush was coaching me from the ground and critiquing my snap rolls, they were so atrocious that he almost vomited from watching me attempt them one after another so he pretty much told me to land. Shortly after, he stuffed himself in the front seat of my Pitts in hopes to figure out what the heck I was doing in there to help “fix” myself. I’m happy to say that it helped and now I have just under 1,000 more to go until they’re “perfected”. Thank you Alan Bush!
That evening after practice, we had a welcome pizza party dinner and a memorial toast for our former President and longtime Chapter 23 member, Bob Stark. We shared stories and had many laughs honoring our beloved “Merlot”. Bob was a former U.S. National Aerobatic Champion in the Advanced category as well as a U.S. Advanced Team member. Dimitri’s Pizza and several bottles of Bob’s favorite red wine were passed around and fun was had by all. Earlier in the day we all learned the unfortunate news about Rob Holland.
There are no words that I can say here that would do justice to what Rob has contributed and done for our sport. Bob and Rob had a true passion for aerobatics and they will be thoroughly missed.
The following morning I held my first briefing as a contest director at the Runway Cafe during breakfast. They have always accommodated us and have been great supporters of our contest for many years. The food is great and the staff is incredible. We were fortunate to have good weather throughout the contest with typical breezy Sebring winds. We started flying shortly after with all 5 categories being represented. We began with Intermediate and Unlimited, and followed with Advanced, Primary and Sportsman. A total of 33 competitors with two competing at the Unlimited level.
The U.S. Advanced Team came out in full force in prep for the 16th World Advanced Aerobatic Competition later this year which is being held in Sarmellek, Hungary. We were able to get in a lot of flying on the first day which allowed us to finish up in a timely manner on the second day. Upon successful completion of contest flying on day 2, we had our “Bozo meeting” on the ramp where the former Bozo’s chat about potential new inductees into the Bozo “Hall of Shame”.
Chapter 23 has a long time fun tradition dating back to the early 1980s of issuing “notoriety to the pilot who exhibits a total disregard for the rules and accepted practices of IAC, Chapter 23, EAA, FAA, FAI, NAA, CIVA and above all, common sense!” Throughout the years, there are many people that have been entered into the “Hall of Shame” and all the stories are unique in their own way. Some names include, Brian and Susan Becker, Randy Gagne, Clint McHenry, Mike Mays, Klaus Schrodt, Dagmar Kress, Bill Finagin, Don and Monique Hartmann, Bob Stark, Bob Gordon, Goody Thomas, Hubie Tolson, Alan Bush, Hector Ramirez, Marty Flournoy, Stan Moye, Nikolay Timofeev, Mark Nowosielski, Alain Aguayo, Jim Bourke, Kyle Collins, Marco Bouw, and yours truly…
Competitors, volunteers, family and friends then gathered at the banquet Saturday evening at the Sevens Hotel, with close to 70 people in attendance. I’m told that we may move to a bigger room next time if this tradition continues, as this was one of the bigger turnouts in Chapter 23 history. Luckily, all awards and medals were haded out to the winners prior to the Bozo ceremony. I’m happy to say I’ve passed the torch (in true Bozo fashion) to longtime Chapter 23 member and friend, Nate Zieman. Nate, welcome to the club, Bozo!
Competing in Primary, our first place winner was Parker Mayhorn. Parker flew fellow Chapter 23 member, Carlos Sotolongos’ beautiful Pitts S-2B. Thank you for being a safety pilot and opening up the sport to others, Carlos. Parker, congratulations….. now move up!!
The Sportsman category was well represented. Third place went to Chapter 23’s own, Chris Forero. Chris was an integral part of the contest and also earned himself an Exceptional Volunteer Award. Thank you, Chris! Earning 2nd place, a longtime friend of mine Greg Bruyn, and winning 1st place overall, another longtime friend and my first aerobatic instructor back in the early 2000s, Brian Kaufman. Brian also earned the highest scoring biplane award sponsored by Aviat Aircraft. Both flying my beautiful S-2B.
The Intermediate category was also well represented. I flew Intermediate for the second time but I certainly didn’t do as well as I did the first time at the Snowbird contest. It turns out “zeros” are hard to average. Trevor Smith flew down from St. Louis, Missouri in his beautiful Extra NG and snagged 3rd place overall. Fellow Embry-Riddle and Sport Aviation Club Alumni, Mikhael Ponso placed 2nd, and Chapter 89’s Juliana Franschetti swept the category placing 1st on all three flights finished 1st place overall. Congrats, Juliana!
The Advanced and Unlimited categories saw some tough competition from members of the U.S. Advanced Team. Chapter 138’s Don Hartmann, a long time competitor and member of the U.S. Team took 3rd place, and fellow team members Marty Flournoy and Kyle Collin’s took second and first place, respectively. Britt Lincoln flew Unlimited for the first time and placed 1st on the Known flight and second place overall, while team coach and competitor, Craig Gifford placed 1st overall.
Each category winner also earned themselves a $50.00 gift certificate from LIFT Aviation. LIFT also generously donated a helmet build which also helped raise funds for the Chapter during our raffle and auction at the banquet. Alan Bush did an exceptional job taking the reins and being our auctioneer to help raise funds for Chapter 23 so that we can continue the tradition of keeping the chapter and Sebring alive. Sebring is one of the longest running competitions under IAC and we hope to keep that going.
Overall it was a fun, successful and safe contest. Again, thank you to all my volunteers and competitors. You made the 88th Sebring Aerobatic Contest a blast! Cheers to many more.
#FlyGoodDon’tSuck
Written by:
Mike Cappiello
IAC Chapter 23 President
