Latest News

Taylor Merson, IAC 442603

Ladies, check out these two fantastic scholarships from Ladies Love Taildraggers! Applications for the Tailwheel Endorsement Scholarship and the Upset & Spin Training Scholarship are currently open and eligible female pilots are encouraged to apply. Follow the links below each scholarship description to be directed to the application.

Full Deflection's owner and CFII, Kendra Hart, is a 2019 Ladies Love Taildraggers Tailwheel Endorsement Scholarship winner…

During the last IAC Board of Directors Meeting on October 16, 2025, the board reviewed the inflation rate over the last few years and determined that a dues increase is appropriate. It is important to us that we maintain the ability to continue providing our membership with high quality services and valuable benefits. To ensure we can do this, beginning in April 2025, the membership fee will go from $60 to $75 annually.

Failing to increase the dues to keep pace with inflation slowly erodes our capability of offering the many advantages…

The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) is announcing a schedule adjustment for the 2025 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. Originally planned for September 21-26, 2025, the event will now take place from September 28 to October 3, 2025.

This rescheduling comes in response to the recent addition of the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in Hungary, scheduled for the week prior. The IAC recognizes the importance of this global competition and wishes to support U.S. pilots, volunteers, and…

By Taylor Mershon 442603

I am excited to become the new Editor of Sport Aerobatics and honored to follow Lorrie Penner who has been an outstanding example of success in this role. Lorrie is absolutely amazing at this job and I know I have some massive shoes to fill, but I’m ready and eager to do it.

While I may be a new face, I am not new to general aviation. My passion for aviation has grown since childhood––my grandfather gave me instructional and recreational glider flights in a Blanik L-23, and when I was in high school, he took me on a very memorable cross country trip…

The 2025 edition of the IAC Contest Rules is now available to IAC members at:
https://www.iac.org/download-contest-rules 

Most of the changes are a direct result of member input.  Twenty proposals were submitted by members.  After these were published, other members provided valuable comments.  The Rules Committee discussed each proposal and associated comments in depth, then provided recommendations to the IAC Board of Directors.  After regarding all related implications, the Board determined a final disposition for each…

The IAC Board of Directors met at EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh, WI on Friday, October 17, 2024. This is a brief summary of the decisions made at the meeting.

Fundraising

• Executive director Tim Dahnke to post on the website a notice for members who would like to be on an IAC fundraising committee. 
• Create a more prominent Join button on the IAC home page.
•  Add a prominent button to donate on the IAC homepage. 
•  Add prominent Join and Donate buttons to all IAC social media including In the loop.

…

The World Aerobatic Championship is headed back to the USA in 2026 after CIVA delegates attending the 2024 CIVA Plenary accepted a bid presented by U.S. CIVA representative Michael Gallaway.  

The presentation named Genesee County Airport, Batavia, New York (KGVQ) as the site  for the championship. The airport is a proven location for the Wings Over Batavia air show.

The proposed schedule begins with an unofficial practice day on August 18th, the Opening Ceremony on August 22nd and official contest flights from August 22nd through…

In this year's list of rule change proposals was item 2025-15, which intended to update the allowable Glider Unknown figures. This item was rejected because it didn't propose specific figure revisions. Although detailed changes are likely to be proposed for the 2026 rules, there were two changes identified by the IAC Glider Aerobatics Chair that will greatly assist in the generation of Glider Intermediate Unknown sequences. A special rule change, to be effective in the 2025 rule book is thus being considered. The change would only impact the Glider Intermediate category Unknowns and, if…

Following over five and a half years as the IAC editor for Sport Aerobatics and In the Loop, Lorrie Penner has announced she will retire from the IAC effective on January 31, 2025. Lorrie has been employed with the IAC since 2017 when she was first hired as the IAC Executive Director before transitioning to the editor position.

“Lorrie's breadth of experience, her deep knowledge, her dedication, her ambition, and her good humor will be missed,” said IAC president Jim Bourke. “On behalf of the IAC board of directors I want to thank Lorrie for all she has done…

The IAC is sad to share the news of a good friend and devoted IAC’er who passed away on October 31, 2024. Jim Klick, IAC #6870 became an IAC member on January 1, 1980. 

He was already a member of EAA and had been volunteering at Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture in their Communications (Comm) Center since 1977. He and his wife Therese could be found each summer performing set up tasks preparing for EAA operations for AirVenture.

When Jim joined the IAC, he brought his communications skills with him and became the "comm chairman", handling the radios that were used at Fond du…