Valdez STOL

Getting there from AOPA headquarters took a whole day on the airlines plus five hours on the road, so it was definitely not for the “are we there yet” crowd. Along the way to Valdez, I was treated to breathtaking scenery of the Matanuska Glacier—the only glacier in the United States accessible by car—the Chugach National Forest, Prince William Sound, and two wild moose on the roadside.

Short takeoff and landing—or STOL—competitions exist in several varieties. At the Valdez Fly-In and Airshow, STOL competitors each get three trips around the landing pattern where takeoff and landing distance are measured in feet. Landing distance is measured from where the mains touch down to the full stop, but it only counts if you touch down on or after the white chalk line. The sum of takeoff and landing distance is combined to a total distance, and the shortest combined distance is the winner in each class.

In 2020, a group of pilots launched National STOL, which has expanded this sport nationwide and now hosts 12 competitive STOL events coast to coast. “Along with making better pilots and providing a platform to push the leading edge of innovation in aircraft design forward, National STOL competitions are just a good time,” according to the series’ website. And in 2019, STOL Drag emerged on the scene as the newest class of National Championship Air Races. STOL Drag is literally a drag race between two aircraft, where both aircraft start on the white line, take off, accelerate, then slow down to land on or past another white line, come to a full stop, turn around, then race back to touch down on or after the original starting line and come to a complete stop. The first aircraft that comes to a complete stop after the white line is the winner.

How is STOL different from backcountry flying? There is ongoing debate, but here’s my take: You can’t be a safe backcountry pilot without solid STOL flying skills, but you can compete and do well in STOL competitions without going into the backcountry.

In the backcountry, STOL flying is a means to an end—it gets you to that favorite remote landing strip or lake to enjoy your favorite outdoor recreation while appreciating, and respecting, the natural beauty around you. You must assess and plan an approach to the airstrip, then manage the aircraft speed and altitude to land on a 50-foot spot (every time), then be able to extract yourself from that airstrip in unpredictable winds while increasing density altitude robs you of climb performance over that 50-foot obstacle (is it really only 50 feet?).

At Valdez, I witnessed the raw difference between those pilots out to have some fun and the serial competitors who were there to prove they had actually shortened their takeoffs and landings. The hardcore competitors were in the pattern honing their skills the night before the competition (the sun didn’t set until well after bedtime), and it was easy for me to see the results of intense practice: perfectly timed rotation at the exact second the wings would support the aircraft and precisely managed angle of attack and power to put the rubber on the white line. Precise execution of takeoff and landing was the difference between an award-winning score and a disqualifying touchdown before the white line. I came away with a great appreciation for pilots in Alaska and a deeper understanding of what it takes to compete, and win, in these competitions.

STOL competitions require precision flying, and organizers are conscientious about safety. At the Valdez Fly-In and Airshow, there was a welcoming grassroots vibe among the 43 contestants and the 1,000 or so spectators who turned out each day, but the Valdez Fly-In organizers were acutely focused on ensuring the safety of the competitors and crowd. This was the result of professional planning, thorough pilot briefings, and intense oversight by the line judges and crew.

The skills necessary to compete in a STOL event can be within the reach of any general aviation pilot after receiving formal instruction from a qualified CFI and lots of practice. Check out the Backcountry Resource Center on the AOPA Air Safety Institute website for training and safety resources.

Stay focused and stay safe!

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Mike Ginter spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of captain.