One of the cradles of aerial acrobatics in Brazil, the Rio Claro Aeroclube had among its pilots and instructors: Alberto Bertelli, the famous Bücker acrobat; Almerindo Luiz Zotarelli, Brazil's youngest pilot at just 14 years old; and Cláudio Eduardo Schmidt, the Brazilian and Pan-American soaring champion. Occasionally colouring the blue sky with hot air balloon competitions, adding another dimension to its legacy of airborne excellence.