Like many Michiganders, CPA Chris Panzl was at this year’s National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. However, while most attendees were tasting cherry-filled foods, Panzl was approximately 4,000 feet in the air doing vertical “S’s” in the sky, performing “reversing maneuvers,” “center box pulls,” rolls, tumbles, fly-bys on knife-edge and many more aerobatic maneuvers.

Panzl, a member of the MACPA as well as the International Aerobatics Club (IAC), has been flying since he obtained his pilot’s license at age 16. He started with “just normal flying” for about 10 years before he got involved in aerobatic flying.

“In essence, I wanted to figure out different ways of flying, and how to perfect it,” he said.

This started his career in precision aerobatics. As an aerobatic pilot, Panzl is involved in aerobatic maneuver competitions put on by the IAC and other events such as the Cherry Festival.

Kristine Volk, also a CPA and an MACPA board member, was selected as the air show director of the 2005 National Cherry Festival.

"I’ve been attending the air show in Traverse City since the late 80s, and it was always my favorite part of the National Cherry Festival," Volk said. "I decided to get more involved in the last few years. The NCF named me Air Show Director in February of 2005.

"Air shows are actually one of the top four spectator sports in the nation. It’s a huge industry that is growing substantially."

Volk said Panzl has been a favorite at the Cherry Festival for several years.

"It’s amazing what he can do!" Volk said. "He’s definitely pushing the envelope with his daring maneuvers. Chris practices on a regular basis so he’s always safe, though. He’s very entertaining to watch as he tumbles in the sky. The show in Traverse City presents an extra challenge too since it’s over water. It makes it harder for pilots to determine their altitude by sight."

Volk noted the Cherry Festival was a success – bringing in an estimated 500,000 people over the course of the
eight-day festival.

"We had perfect weather for the shows, and the huge crowds seemed very pleased with the diversity of the performers," Volk said.

In addition to Panzl in his Starudacher S-300, Volk said the show also included aircrafts such as high speed military jets, civilian planes and vintage aircrafts.

Volk noted that in addition to being a great pilot, Panzl is also a great role model in other ways.

"He’s also a successful CPA with a growing business," Volk said. "Chris has a great family and is very personable. The crowds just love him since he’s so down to earth. He’s very passionate about both of his careers – aviation and accounting!"

When Panzl’s feet are planted firmly on the ground, he works as the chief financial officer for Northshore Holdings. He obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting from Grand Valley University and decided to get his CPA certification.

“It was a good basis for moving forward in business,” Panzl said. “Therefore, I pursued it (CPA certification) and it was very rewarding.”

Panzl said that although it can be difficult to find the time to devote to working full-time as a CPA and flying as a precision aerobatic pilot, it is important to have extracurricular activities such as this.

“It’s a stress reliever,” Panzl said. “It relieves the stress and strain you get from the day-to-day job.

“It gets you outside – so you’re not just sitting behind a desk. Flying gives you the opportunity to see the countryside from a different perspective.”

Since his youth, Panzl has been in the company of airplanes. His father was a corporate pilot and was involved in the Experimental Aircraft Association. Panzl said as a child, he would help his father build small airplanes at his house. His brother, Greg Panzl, is also the producer of an airplane – the “Panzl S-330.”

While Panzl has opted for a more risky pastime than most, he says there are many things he enjoys about flying.

“I enjoy meeting people at different events,” he said. “I like the freedom of flying and the ability to be alone up there. I like working in a ‘3-D’ environment – up and down, front and back, side to side.

“There are always risks to it, but you minimize the risk,” he added. “You have to practice, know your abilities and have good equipment and maintain it. Pilots that are really good reduce their exposure to risk because they practice and create cushions for what they do."

Volk noted that Chris in an excellent example of someone utilizing one goal to attain another.

"Flying lessons aren’t cheap!" Volk said. "His success as a CPA enabled him to have the resources needed for lessons and to purchase a plane. It’s fun to see CPAs doing things that are daring and adventurous. Any entrepreneur will tell you that you have to have nerves of steel to handle the risk with running your own business. Chris tests his ability to handle pressure in a very creative way!"

Panzl reflected on his avocation: “You can be quantitative and analytical in your work but still be creative; this is how I am creative.”

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