The Apple Turnover 2026 Contest dates have been moved from the traditional early September "window" to 21-22 August to mitigate the risk that wildfire smoke will degrade visibility to below the minimum specified in the contest waiver and provide pilots preparing to attend "Nationals" a more convenient interval.
Practice Days, Registration, and Contest Flights are 17- 22 August:
- Pre-contest Practice Days scheduled for Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday 17-19 Aug
- Registration/Practice on Thursday, 20 Aug
- Contest Flights on Friday and Saturday, 21-22 August.
Details for the Practice Days, Apple Turnover, Lodging, and Ground Transportation follow. There is a new option for Ephrata lodging!
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 18 Aug from 0800 until 1800 on Monday and Tuesday, and until 1900 on Wednesday, 19 Aug.
- 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 (that 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 $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 this Stripe link: Apple Turnover 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 (it will also count for the contest)
- Hangar space will NOT be available at the Barrett Aircraft hangar (Barrett moved to Texas); there will be limited space in the Port of Ephrata hangar (Bldg 405 immediately south of the terminal building). It will fill quickly; bring tie down lines and chocks.
- 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 announced
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. A new hotel opened in Ephrata in May, 2026, Microtel by Wyndam. We're pursuing group rates for both the Rama Inn and the Microtel.
- 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.
- Call the Rama Inn front desk at (509) 754-7111 to make reservations; you should be able to request a discount rate based on organization memberships, e.g., AAA.
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.