IAC 67

Washington Chapter 67 of the International Aerobatics Club, IAC

Apple Turnover 2026

The Apple Turnover 2026 Contest dates have been moved from the traditional early September "window" to late August to mitigate the risk that wildfire smoke will degrade visibility to below the minimum specified in the contest waiver. Again, these dates are tentative pending coordination with Ephrata Municipal Airport management.

The tentative dates for Practice Days, Registration, and Contest Flights are 17- 22 August, with pre-contest Practice Days scheduled for Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday 17-19 Aug, Registration/Practice on Thursday, 20 Aug, and Contest Flights on Friday and Saturday, 21-11 August.

Details for the Practice Days, Apple Turnover, Lodging, and Ground Transportation follow. Please pay close attention to the Lodging information: Lodging in Ephrata has become a little more complicated.

17-19 Aug Practice Days:

  • Thanks to the new IAC 67 Long Term Waiver, we're able to host three days of practice 17-19 Aug in the Ephrata Airport (KEPH) box before the Thursday, 20 Aug, contest registration/practice day.
  • The box will open on Monday, 17 Aug, through Wednesday, 19 Aug 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 17-19 Aug 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.
  • 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 will be available at the Barrett Aircraft hangar. Hangar rent at $20/night will be paid after the contest using the following Stripe link: Hangar Rent Reimbursement
  • See below for Lodging and Ground Transportation information.

20-21 Aug Apple Turnover Contest Days

  • Thursday, 20 Aug, will be for registration and box practice for those who weren't able to participate in the 17-19 Aug  Practice Days. Pilots who have already practiced will have box reservations on behalf of those who haven't had a chance to practice.
  • On Thursday, 20 Aug, the box will be open from 0800 until 2000, for those who can't arrive earlier and want to practice.
  • The contest fee is $300 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 Turnover 2026 IAC Contest Calendar page or on a link that will be posted on this page.
  • 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 (it will also count for the contest)
  • Hangar space will be available at the Barrett Aircraft hangar but the hangar will fill quickly.
  • The Port of Ephrata director will provide space in the Port Hangar (Bldg 405) with prior coordination through the Apple Turnover Contest Director.
  • Pilots requesting space in Port hangar must execute an Indemnification Agreement with the Port. Hangar rent at $20/night will be paid after the contest using the following Stripe link: Hangar Rent Reimbursement
  • 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.

Contest Daily Schedule

  • To be determined

Lodging

  • The Best Western Rama Inn will be your best option unless you have a way to commute to Moses Lake or reserve an AirBnB. IAC 67 is no longer able to recommend other motels in Ephrata.
  • The Best Western Rama Inn has changed its reservation policy in important ways. Please read and understand the following before you make your Rama Inn reservation.
  • IAC 67 has guaranteed with an obligation pay for rooms that aren't reserved at the IAC Group rate by 10 August. Rooms not reserved at the IAC Group rate by 10 Aug will be "released to the wild", that is, the IAC 67 Group rate reservations will be cancelled. Rooms may be available but NOT AT THE IAC RATE. Other discount rates, e.g., AAA, Senior, etc., may be available.
  • IAC 67 will request 10 King rooms for 16-23 Aug, intended for pilots who will arrive during the Practice Days and remain through Apple Cup. A link to reserve one of these rooms will be posted. Please don't reserve a room intended for Practice Day pilots if you're only attending the Contest.
  • IAC 67 will request an additional 10 rooms (King rooms are not guaranteed) for 20-23 Aug, intended for pilots who will attend the contest but not the Practice Days. A link to reserve one of these rooms will also be posted.
  • Please make more than one reservation at the Rama Inn: "contingency" reservations because you're unsure of your schedule confuse Rama Inn management and risk a charge for a room you don't intend to occupy.
  • You should be able to "tailor" your reservation for the days of your attendance. For example, if you want to leave on Saturday, 22 Aug, you should be able to curtail your reservation to check out on Saturday. If you want to arrive for the Contest on Wednesday afternoon, 19 Aug, you should be able to set your check in date accordingly using the Contest Days reservation link.
  • Note that if you use one of the above links to reserve a Rama Inn room the Best Western cite will display an average rate for your room. In 2025, the weekday rate was $110.00 and the weekend rate was $150.00 (not including taxes); your reservation will show a calculated average rate based on the number of weekday and weekend days you reserved.
  • If your plans change, you should be able to call the Rama Inn front desk at (509) 754-7111 to make arrangements.
  • This was a new arrangement imposed in 2025 on IAC 67 by the Rama Inn. We're hoping that the more formal reservation system and the online reservation links will prevent some of the confusion that pilots have suffered in the past. The Rama Inn management was responsive to IAC 67 complaints after Apple Cup; this new procedure represents their best effort to provide us with lodging.
  • Some pilots have found AirBnB lodging in Ephrata
  • 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 will 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:
  • A new Hertz reservation website will be posted here for the Hertz for pickup and drop off at Ephrata Airport. The link will be to the Hertz Wenatchee office (although there might be a Herz Ephrata office by Spring, 2026). To have the car delivered to KEPH you must 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. There’s usually a delivery and retrieval fee, but Hertz is generously waiving it for us.

    • Hertz is coordinating with Dan Lanman, the KEPH airport manager, to have your keys and contract available for pickup at the airport office. You’ll need to arrive during the hours the office is open or let mamontb@comcast.net or the contest director know if you’ll arrive “after hours” so one of us can pick up the keys on your behalf from the airport office.

    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.

    Hertz has to make sure there are enough cars at their Wenatchee location and Hertz drivers to deliver them to KEPH.

    To show our appreciation to Hertz for waiving the delivery fee, please become a Hertz Gold member if you intend to reserve a car.

 

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