The Apple Cup 2026 Contest is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, 12-13 June, with Registration and Practice on Thursday, 11 June.The contest is IAC sanctioned and the dates are coordinated with the Executive Director of the Port of Ephrata.
As we did prior to the Apple Cup 2025 Contest, IAC 67 is hosting Practice Days in the Ephrata Municipal Airport aerobatic "Box" (the same box as Apple Turnover) from Monday, 8 June, through Wednesday, 10 June.
Details for the Practice Days, Apple Turnover, Lodging, and Ground Transportation follow.
8-10 June Practice Days:
- Thanks to the new IAC 67 Long Term Waiver, we're able to host three days of practice in the Ephrata Airport (KEPH) box before the 11 June contest registration/practice day.
- The box will open on Monday, 8 June, through Wednesday, 10 June, from 0800 until 1800.
- There is no fee to fly in the box during practice days.
- Please contact Bruce Mamont at mamontb@comcast.net to arrange to fly in the box during the 8-10 June practice days.
- While the box is open NOTAMs restricting the Ephrata Municipal Airport (KEPH) traffic patterns to the west side of RWY 3-21 and the south side of RWY 11-29 will be in effect
- Pilots practicing in the box must ensure there is a box monitor. IAC 67 will provide radios for box monitors.
- Chairs, an ice chest, and water will be provided.
- Your box monitor/coach can drive to the judges line with coordination and a (provided) vehicle light
- Practicing pilots must acknowledge with a signature they have read the Box Waiver and Ephrata Airport aerobatic regulations and must complete an IAC technical inspection (it will also count for the contest)
- Hangar space is no longer available at the former Barrett Aircraft hangar; Barrett moved to Texas and a non-aviation tenant has occupied that hangar.
- Hangar rent in Bldg 405, the Port of Ephrata hangar, will be available at $20/night. The airport manager advises there will only be room for a handful of airplanes. You must execute an Indemnification Agreement with the Port of Ephrata if you want to store your airplane in this hangar. You can pay rent to IAC 67 after the contest using the following Stripe link: Hangar Rent Reimbursement
- Plan to tie down your airplane on the Ephrata "ramp". There is a cable to which you can secure your airplane, but there are no chains, tie down lines, or chocks. It can get very windy, so ensure your tie down equipment can handle strong gusts.
- See below for Lodging and Ground Transportation information.
11-13 June Apple Cup Contest Days
- Thursday, 11 June, will be for registration and box practice for those who weren't able to participate in the 8-10 June Practice Days. Pilots who have already practiced may have box reservations superseded on behalf of those who haven't had a chance to practice.
- On Thursday, 11 June, the box will be open from 0800 until 2000, for those who can't arrive earlier and want to practice.
- Our traditional Welcome party will be held at Time Out Pizza, 1095 Basin St SW, Ephrata, at 1800 PDT. The "box" will remain open for late arrivers (but there may not be any pizza for you!).
- The contest fee is $350 and does not include hangar rent (see below). You can pay the contest fee with cash, a check, or with a Stripe QR code during registration or before the contest at a Stripe link posed on the Apple Cup 2026 IAC Contest Calendar page or here: Apple Cup 2026 Contest Fee
- Practicing pilots will acknowledge with a signature they have read the Box Waiver and Ephrata Airport aerobatic regulations and must complete an IAC technical inspection
- NOTAMs restricting the Ephrata Municipal Airport (KEPH) traffic patterns to the west side of RWY 3-21 and the south side of RWY 11-29 will be in effect.
- Practicing pilots must ensure there is a box monitor during their flight. IAC 67 will provide radios for the box monitors.
- See below for Lodging and Ground Transportation information.
- The Apple Cup award dinner will be at Tequilas, 222 Basin St NW, Ephrata, at 1800 PDT, Saturday, 13 June.
Lodging
- Demand for lodging at the Best Western Rama Inn may exceed supply. IAC 67 is no longer able to recommend several of the previously recommended lodging venues in Ephrata. We're in the process of arranging a group rate at the Rama Inn for Apple Cup pilots and volunteers. Call the Rama Inn at (509) 754-7111; you may be able to reserve a room using a membership rate (for example, a Senior or AAA rate) that will be close to a rate we arrange.
- There is a new hotel in Ephrata! Microtel by Wyndham opened in May. We're in the process of arranging a group rate for Apple Cup pilots and volunteers.
- Pilots attending 2025 events in Ephrata have found AirBnB lodgin.
- IAC 67 has no arrangements with hotels in Moses Lake, but those of you have or want to rent a car and are members of a hotel program (Marriott, Ramada, etc) may find good deals there.
Ground Transportation
- We do NOT have access to the Port of Ephrata "courtesy car" for our events
- Some pilots and non-flying volunteers may have cars that can help with ground transportation
- Uber is now available in Ephrata, but if multiple pilots are looking for the one or two available drivers at the same time you could either get lucky (share a ride) or have to wait a long time
- You can reserve a Hertz rental car that will be delivered to and retrieved from Ephrata Municipal Airport. Use the following procedure:
- To have the car delivered to KEPH send an e-mail to mamontb@comcast.net so I can notify the Hertz regional manager who will arrange for your reserved car to be delivered to KEPH. Hertz is generously waiving delivery and retrieval fees for us. Hertz will drop your keys and contract available for pickup at Ephrata Terminal Pilot Lounge.
If you’re not already a Hertz Gold member, please consider joining this free “frequent renter” program. It will simplify the paperwork for you and for Hertz.
Note: adding a driver to your reservation will incur an $15/driver/day fee, but if you’re sharing the car with a couple of other pilots, that’s probably a good deal.I recommend you make your reservations AND LET ME KNOW as early as practical.
To show our appreciation to Hertz for waiving the delivery fee, please become a Hertz Gold member if you intend to reserve a car.
