UND pilots soar to national aerobatic titles
UND student, coach and alumnus claim three of five national championships as Aerobatic Team continues its tradition of excellence
University of North Dakota aviators earned top honors at the 2026 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, with a current student, a faculty member and a distinguished alumnus capturing national titles in three of the competition’s five categories.
Held Sept. 20-25 in Kansas, the championships brought together some of the nation’s top aerobatic pilots, from recreational aviators and collegiate competitors to seasoned professionals.
Among the standout performers was Mike Lents, associate professor of aviation and coach of the UND Aerobatic Team, who won his first U.S. Advanced National Championship on Sept. 24. Lents finished first among 26 competitors in the Advanced category, one of the highest levels of aerobatic competition.
UND student and flight instructor Forrest Scholin claimed the national title in the Sportsman category, while UND alumnus and Aerospace Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Boerboon won the Unlimited National Championship, the sport’s highest competitive level. Boerboon also captured the Four-Minute Freestyle title.
Another UND alumnus, Alex Tally, finished second behind Lents in the Advanced category.
The results highlight both the strength of the UND aviation program and the lasting impact of its aerobatic flying training, with current students, faculty and alumni continuing to excel on the national stage.
Students test skills against nation’s best
In addition to the championship titles, several current members of UND’s Aerobatic Team competed against pilots from across the country.
Katherine Barney finished fifth in the Primary category. Jacob Harris, Dillon Johnson, Elisabeth Nelson, Zach Paluch, Allison Sutherland and Kathleen Thompson competed in Sportsman.
According to Lents, UND students performed well despite challenging weather conditions throughout the week.
Organized by the International Aerobatic Club, the championships feature five categories of increasing difficulty: Primary, Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited. Pilots fly prescribed aerobatic sequences and are judged on the precision and accuracy of each maneuver.
For UND students, the experience offers more than competition results.
“Competition tests their capabilities under stress in a safe, yet challenging, environment; they return stronger and ready to take on the next challenge,” Lents said.
Lents said the events also provide opportunities to connect with aviation professionals, explore career paths and apply skills developed through flight training.
Building skills beyond the classroom
Established in 2002, UND’s Aerobatic Team competes in International Aerobatic Club-sanctioned events across the country, including regional contests and the national championships.
The team flies American Champion Aircraft Super Decathlons, the same aircraft used in UND’s aerobatic instruction and training programs that help pilots recognize and recover from unusual flight situations.
Competitive aerobatics requires pilots to execute complex maneuvers while maintaining precise aircraft control. The experience helps sharpen aircraft-handling skills, decision-making and confidence under pressure.
UND has won 12 collegiate national team championships since the program’s founding, most recently in 2025.
The collegiate championship operates separately from the national championships. Students earn points throughout the season at sanctioned competitions, and team and individual champions are determined at the end of the competitive year.
The 2026 collegiate champions have not yet been announced, as additional regional competitions remain on the schedule.
For Lents, the program’s success is measured by more than championship trophies.
This year’s national results illustrate the enduring strength of UND’s aerobatic program, with students, faculty and alumni continuing to compete and succeed at the highest levels of the sport.
