Congratulations to Susan Bell, IAC 438132, on being chosen as a 2020 Chapter Web Editor Award winner from the chapters’ office at EAA National. The award recognizes hours of hard work contributing to the success of IAC chapter 26 in fostering the growth of sport aviation. The chapter website is one of the most important tools of communication a chapter has to keep members and prospective members informed and engaged, for the day-to-day, future events, and happenings of the chapter.
Normally presented in person at AirVenture, this year the awards ceremony was live streamed on Thursday at 6-6:30pm CT. You can access the video here: https://www.eaatogether.org/live/hangarflying/6173676275001
Susan's goal for the IAC Chapter 26 website, http://www.iacchapter26.org/, is to provide basic information about aerobatics, competition and safety to both pilots interested in the sport and those who might want to get involved as volunteers. The “Intro to Aerobatics” website section includes pages describing the concept of the aerobatic box, overviews of the Aresti aerobatic language and levels of competition, what to expect at your first contest and how to volunteer. Information on the chapter’s annual contest “Foxy Figures”, chapter news, and an “About Us” section with member awards and activities round out the pages. She also implemented online membership and contest entry fee payment systems via Square.
Educating pilots about aerobatics, and doing aviation outreach to girls and women especially, are two of her passions. She has presented AirVenture forums and an EAA webinar on aerobatics, and is an in-demand speaker for EAA chapter meetings and aviation events in California. When not up in the air or updating the website, Susan works at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and can be found communicating Earth science online and at school events and airshows. She lives in Apple Valley, California, just 10 minutes from the airport and an aerobatic box. She is currently competing at the Intermediate level and holds commercial ASEL and glider licenses and is a CFI. If you’re active on social media, follow her on Twitter and Instagram @susanbellair.
Susan Bell is the President and Web Editor of historic IAC Chapter 26, the oldest aerobatic chapter in California. She is a first generation pilot and learned to fly in her 30s. Bored with straight and level, she completed Emergency Maneuver Training at CP Aviation in Santa Paula, Calif., and fell in love with unusual attitudes. Susan jumped into IAC aerobatic competition in 2016, flying a Bellanca 8KCAB with a safety pilot and joined IAC Chapter 26. A year later, she purchased her iconic pink, white and blue 1990 midwing Extra 300, and in 2018, she was named the U.S. National Sportsman Aerobatic Champion with an overall score of 84.7% on her first trip to Nationals (and less than three years from her first-ever spin lesson).
