We are Chapter 26 of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), founded in 1974. Chapter 26 was based for many decades out of Delano, California, and held an annual contest there over Labor Day, "Happiness is Delano." From 2018 - 2020, "Foxy Figures" was held at William J. Fox Field in Lancaster, and our current contest home is Redlands, CA. The chapter holds coaching weekends at Apple Valley (KAPV) and Fox Field (KWJF) in Lancaster. Most members are based in Southern California, including the Mojave Desert and Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

 

Despite aerobatics being a solitary competitive sport where you fly alone in the box, Chapter 26 is all about teamwork. We all work together to be successful at this sport. We coach each other, critique each other, and look out for each other. We want to be regarded as good sportsmen/women who play by the rules and as the pilots to beat at every level of competition.

 

If you are as passionate about flying as we are, learn more about the sport via this site and consider joining us. We hope to see you in the box someday soon.

2021

Southwest Regional Championships

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Borrego Hammerhead Roundup

Second Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Coalinga G Fest

Second Place, Advanced - Michael Hartenstine

Corvallis Corkscrew

First Place, Sportsman - Lloyd Massey

Redlands Aerobatic Cup

Third Place, Sportsman - Lloyd Massey

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Third Place, Advanced - Barrett Hines

ACA Medal - Lloyd Massey

Southern California Classic

Second Place, Advanced - Michael Hartenstine

 

2020

Foxy Figures

Second Place, Advanced – Barrett Hines

Second Place, Intermediate – Michael Hartenstine

Third Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Second Place, Sportsman – Lloyd Massey

First Place, Primary – Shanna Crawford

Second Place, Primary – Cindy Santoso

Grassroots Medal – Shanna Crawford

Borrego Akrofest

Third Place, Advanced – Barrett Hines

First Place, Intermediate – Michael Hartenstine

Second Place, Intermediate– Susan Bell

Grassroots Medal – Lloyd Massey

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2019

Southwest Regional Championships

Third Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Third Place, Advanced – Barrett Hines

Northwest Regional Championships

Third Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Coalinga Western Showdown

Third Place, Primary – Eric A.

Apple Turnover

First Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

US West Open Championships

Third Place, Sportsman – Eric A.

Highest Scoring First-Time Sportsman – Eric A.

First Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Second Place, Advanced – Barrett Hines

Foxy Figures

Second Place, Sportsman – Eric A.

First Place, Intermediate – Susan Bell

Second Place, Advanced – Barrett Hines

 

2018

U.S. National Sportsman Aerobatic Champion

Susan Bell

Southwest Regional Championships

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Northwest Regional Championships

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Hammerhead Roundup

Second Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Duel in the Desert

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Coalinga Western Showdown

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Corvallis Corkscrew

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Can-Am Championship

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

Borrego Akrofest

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Tequila Cup

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Third Place, Intermediate – Barrett Hines

Highest Scoring Chapter

Foxy Figures

First Place, Primary – Brian Pham

Second Place, Primary – Lloyd Massey

First Place, Sportsman – Susan Bell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2017

Tequila Cup

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Duel in the Desert

Second Place, Unlimited – Michael Hartenstine

 

2016

U.S. Unlimited Team -Qualified

Tim Just

Southwest Regional Championships

Second Place, Primary – Susan Bell

Second Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Hammerhead Roundup

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Happiness is Delano

Third Place, Primary – Loren Marburg

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Third Place, Intermediate – John De Gennaro

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Duel in the Desert

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Third Place, Advanced – Margo Chase

Borrego Akrofest

Third Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Tequila Cup

 First Place, Primary – Susan Bell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Third Place, Advanced – Kathleen Howell

 

2015

Southwest Regional Championships

First Place, Primary – Patrick Daly

Second Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Borrego Hammerhead Roundup

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Duel in the Desert

Second Place, Primary – Patrick Daly

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

 

2014

U.S. Unlimited Team

Tim Just

Southwest Regional Championships

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Third Place, Advanced – Margo Chase

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

San Diego Hammerheads Roundup

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Duel in the Desert

Third Place, Sportsman – Graham Gitlin

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Second Place, Advanced – Margo Chase

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Happiness is Delano

Third Place, Sportsman – Graham Gitlin

Second Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Third Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2013

U.S. Advanced Team Qualified

John Howell

Michael Hartenstine

Southwest Regional Championships

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Borrego Hammerhead Roundup

Second Place, Sportsman – Barrett Hines

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Duel in the Desert

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

Third Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Northern California Aerobatic Contest

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

Third Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Apple Cup

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

Third Place, Advanced – Kathleen Howell

Beaver State Regional

First Place, Advanced – Kathleen Howell

Second Place, Advanced – John Howell

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Borrego Akrofest

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

First Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Tequila Cup

Second Place, Advanced – John Howell

 

2012

Southwest Regional Championships

Third, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

Second, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Second, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Third, Advanced – John Howell

First, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Second, Unlimited– Patrick Dugan

LA Gold Cup

First Place, Primary – Peter Pressnall

First Place, Sportsman – Sam Mason

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Third Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Return of the Aerobatist

First Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First Place, Intermediate – Sam Mason

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

Second Place, Advanced – John Howell

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Second Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

First Place, Advanced – Michael Hartenstine

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Third Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Highest Scoring Chapter

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Second Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Malcolm Pond

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Tequila Cup

Third Place, Sportsman – Barrett Hines

First Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

First Place, Advanced – John Howell

 

2011

Southwest Regional Championships

First, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

Second, Sportsman – Austin Gunder

Third, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First, Intermediate – John Howell

Second, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

First, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

The Inland Empire Strikes Back

First Place, Primary – Tim Just

First Place, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

LA Gold Cup

First Place, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

Second Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

Third Place, Sportsman – Austin Gunder

Second Place, Intermediate – John Howell

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

NorCal Cloud Dancer Hoedown

First Place, Primary – Michelle Kole

First Place, Sportsman – Austin Gunder

Third Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Third Place, Intermediate – Nobuki Igarashi

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Highest Scoring Chapter

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Sportsman – Austin Gunder

First Place, Intermediate – John Howell

Second Place, Intermediate – Dan Franscioni

Third Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Second Place, Advanced – Michael Haag

First Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Highest Scoring Chapter

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

Third Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

Second Place, Intermediate – John Howell

Third Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Tequila Cup

First Place, Sportsman – Matt Liknaitzky

First Place, Intermediate – John Howell

Second Place, Intermediate – Kathleen Howell

Third Place, Unlimited – Malcolm Pond

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2010

U.S. Unlimited Team

Tim Just

Southwest Regional Championships

First, Sportsman – Kathleen Howell

First, Intermediate – Margo Chase

Second, Intermediate– John Howell

First, Advanced – Malcolm Pond

Third, Advanced – Thomas Franscioni

Third, Unlimited – Tim Just

First, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Second, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Northwest Regional Championships

First, Sportsman – Kathleen Howell

Third, Intermediate – John Howell

Borrego Hammerhead Roundup

First Place, Sportsman – Kathleen Howell

Third Place, Intermediate – Margo Chase

Second Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Third Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

LA Gold Cup

First Place, Intermediate – Jason McDermott

 Third Place, Intermediate – Margo Chase

Third Place, Advanced – Thomas Franscioni

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

First Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Highest Scoring Chapter

Northern California Supreme Box Ballet

Second Place, Sportsman – Kathleen Howell

First Place, Intermediate – Stephen De La Cruz

Third Place, Intermediate – Dan Franscioni

First Place, Advanced – Malcolm Pond

 Third Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Sportsman – Kathleen Howell

First Place, Intermediate – Margo Chase

Third Place, Intermediate – John Howell

First Place, Advanced – Malcolm Pond

Second Place, Advanced – Thomas Franscioni

Second Place, Unlimited –Tim Just

Borrego Springs

First Place, Intermediate – John Howell

Second Place, Intermediate – Margo Chase

First Place, Advanced – Thomas Franscioni

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Third Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

First Place, Four Minute Free – Tim Just

Second Place, Four Minute Free – Patrick Dugan

Tequila Cup

First Place, Intermediate – John Howell

First Place, Advanced – Malcolm Pond

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2009

U.S. National Aerobatic Championships

Third Place, Sportsman – Jason McDermott
Chapter Trophy

Southwest Regional Championships

Second, Sportsman – John Howell

Third, Sportsman – Dan Franscioni

Second, Intermediate – Michael Hartenstine

Third, Unlimited – Tim Just

Northwest Regional Championships

Second, Sportsman – Dan Franscioni

LA Gold Cup

First Place, Sportsman – John Howell

Second Place, Sportsman – Jason McDermott

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Highest Scoring Chapter

Northern California Gleaming the Box

First Place, Sportsman – John Howell

Second Place, Intermediate – Patrick Dugan

Highest Scoring Chapter

Apple Cup

First Place, Sportsman – Jason McDermott

Second Place, Sportsman – Kevin Eldredge

Highest Scoring Chapter

Beaver State Regional

First Place, Sportsman – John Howell

Second Place, Sportsman – Dan Franscioni

Highest Scoring Chapter

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Sportsman – John Howell

Third Place, Sportsman – Jason McDermott

Second Place, Intermediate – Michael Hartenstine

Third Place, Advanced – Thomas Franscioni

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Highest Scoring Chapter

Borrego Springs

Highest Scoring Chapter

Tequila Cup

First Place, Unlimited – Tim Just

Second Place, Unlimited – Patrick Dugan

Highest Scoring Chapter

 

2008

Borrego Minifest

First Place, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

Paso Robles

First Place, Primary – Kathleen Howell

First Place, Sportsman – Stephen De La Cruz

 

2007

Southwest Regional Championships

Second Place, Advanced – Tim Just

LA Gold Cup

First Place, Advanced – Tim Just

Copperstate

First Place, Advanced – Tim Just

Aerobatic Supremacifest

Third Place, Intermediate – Thomas Franscioni

First Place, Advanced – Tim Just

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Unlimited – Doug Jardine

 

2006

Los Angeles Gold Cup

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Second Place, Unlimited – Doug Jardine

First Place, Four Minute Free – Doug Jardine

Northern California Aerobatic Contest

Third Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Advanced – Tim Just

Marta Bohn-Meyer Memorial

Third Place, Sportsman – Thomas Franscioni

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Unlimited – Doug Jardine

 

2005

Los Angeles Gold Cup

Third Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Northern California Aerobatic Challenge

Second Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Advanced– Tim Just

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

First Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

 

2004

30th Annual Gold Cup

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Paso Robles

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Delano 30th Anniversary

Third Place, Sportsman – David Platt

First Place, Intermediate – Eric Tucker

First Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Borrego Akrofest

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Advanced– Tim Just

 

2003

Los Angeles Gold Cup

Third Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Northern California Aerobatic Challenge

First Place, Intermediate – Tom Applegate

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Third Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

First Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

 

2002

Northern California Aerobatic Challenge

Third Place, Advanced – David Ellison

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Happiness is Delano

Third Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

 

2001

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Intermediate – Nick Nilmeyer

First Place, Advanced– Jim Abraham

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

 

2000

Paso Robles

Second Place, Advanced – Vicki Cruse

Second Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Third Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Sportsman– Tom Applegate

First Place, Intermediate – Bob Blackwood

 

1999

Happiness is Delano

First Place, Intermediate – Harry Haas

First Place, Advanced – Maynard Smith

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Intermediate – Kevin Raymond

 

1998

Paso Robles

Second Place, Primary – Eric Shilling

First Place, Advanced – Norm DeWitt

Third Place, Unlimited – Fred Bower

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Advanced – Norm DeWitt

LA Gold Cup

Third Place, Sportsman– Eric Shilling

Second Place, Intermediate – Harry Haas

First Place, Unlimited – Fred Bower

 

1997

Paso Robles

First Place, Intermediate – Maynard Smith

Third Place, Intermediate – Harry Haas

First Place, Advanced– Doug Jardine

Happiness is Delano

Second Place, Sportsman – Jim Peeples

First Place, Intermediate – Harry Haas

Second Place, Intermediate – Bob Craven

First Place, Advanced – Fred Bower

Second Place, Advanced– Doug Jardine

Third Place, Unlimited – David Eblovi

Willows

Third Place, Intermediate – Harry Haas

First Place, Advanced – Bob Blackwood

Third Place, Unlimited – David Eblovi

Four Minute Free – David Eblovi

Los Angeles Gold Cup

First Place, Sportsman– Eric Shilling

 

1996

Los Angeles Gold Cup

First Place, Intermediate – Philip Rothwell

Second Place, Advanced– Julie Sandman

Willows

Third Place, Advanced – Bob Blackwood

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Paso Robles

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Third Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Advanced– Philip Rothwell

Third Place, Advanced– Julie Sandman

First Place, Unlimited – Mike Mangold

Tequila Cup

Second Place, Sportsman – Gary Watson

 

1995

Mike Anderson Memorial - Delano

Second Place, Sportsman – John Podolak

Second Place, Intermediate – Fred Bower

Third Place, Intermediate – Philip Bower

Third Place, Advanced – Wes Selvidge

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Paso Robles

Second Place, Basic – Steven Huth

First Place, Sportsman – Mike Quatacker

First Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Tequila Cup

Third Place, Unlimited – Mike Mangold

 

1994

Happiness is Delano

Third Place, Sportsman – Arno Bevington

Second Place, Intermediate – Alyson Behr

Third Place, Intermediate – Julie Sandman

Second Place, Advanced– Doug Jardine

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Far Western Willows

First Place, Intermediate – Julie Sandman

Second Place, Advanced– Mike Mangold

Bob Herendeen Memorial - Taft

First Place, Advanced– Doug Jardine

Second Place, Unlimited – Bob Meyer

Third Place, Unlimited – Marta Meyer

Borrego Akrofest

Second Place, Advanced – Mark Sundermeyer

Second Place, Unlimited – Rocky Hill

 

1993

U.S. National Advanced Aerobatic Champion

Marta Meyer

 

1990

U.S. National Aerobatic Champion

Pete Anderson

 

1983

U.S. National Advanced Aerobatic Champion

Lonnie English

 

 

Awards complied from available listings of competitors flying for Chapter 26. It is not a complete record.