Aerobatic Flying
Read on to see why these little wonders have fascinated pilots since the '50s and are taking sports competitions to new heights.
What is a short takeoff and landing aircraft? STOL aircrafts are a fascinating aviation innovation. They have a long history of going where bigger machines can’t. Today, they play a central role in modern aerobatic flying.
These small aircraft, and the aerobatic pilots that fly them, have to be willing to reach new frontiers. But as STOL star and winner of the 2018 Red Bull Air Race Challenger Cup Lukasz Czepiela puts it, the only limits are the ones you put on yourself.
“If you want something bad enough, nothing is going to stop you,” he says.
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What is a Short Takeoff and Landing Aircraft?
The “short” in STOL refers to the length of the runway needed to take off and land. And that means these tiny planes are pretty powerful with short-field performance. Because STOL aircraft are intended to get off the ground (and land again) as quickly as possible, they are built with certain characteristics in mind.
Like commercial airplanes, they are fixed-wing, as opposed to rotary-wing aircraft such as helicopters. They’re also built with high lift devices, such as flaps, slats, and slots. This results in a low flight speed necessary for takeoff and touchdown. Low speed helps make the most out of the short runway.
STOL aircraft need to be incredibly light because of physics. There’s some math to it, but in layman's terms: the power of a STOL aircraft must exceed the weight with the lowest amount of mechanical drag in order to take off. When landing, the drag must then increase as quickly as possible, so STOL planes feature very effective braking mechanisms.
Another unique feature of STOL aircraft is that they can land with or without a runway. They can land on unpaved roads and tight spots surrounded by dicey environmental factors such as large trees or steep hills. This makes these planes ideal for aerobatic maneuvers like landing on a helipad.
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Evolution of STOL technology
If you’re thinking that these planes have been set up to perform miracles in the wildest of environments with these specifications, you are correct. STOL aircraft originated for military purposes and for flight services in untouched, remote terrain. For example, STOL planes are necessary in the sparsely-populated Canadian North, the African Bush, and the Amazon Rainforest. Locals rely on them for civilian aviation and military transport, as well as delivering supplies.
STOL planes historically are designed to land in grasslands, ice and snow, and basically anywhere there’s not an airport. Depending on the needs, they have added design features such as skies, tundra tires, and floats. In the right setting, flying an STOL plane could be like an IRL video game.
The first recorded modern STOL flight belongs to the US Navy in 1954. The PZL -104W Wilga — the OG STOL — has since been used by both the US and UK military. Some of today’s examples (in no specific order) of high-performing STOL planes include:
- Cessna 208 Caravan: This model is a long-time favorite bush plane that can accommodate up to nine passengers. The nearly 38-foot-long aircraft is built with a 52-foot wingspan.
- De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter: This classic is one of the few STOL aircraft that’s still in production since the 1960s. With dual-engine power and room for 19 people, it has become synonymous with connecting isolated communities. Its wingspan is an impressive 65 feet.
- Zenith STOL CH 701: A master of rugged runways, this plane can only accommodate a maximum of two people but has a climb rate of 1,000 feet. per minute. Because of its small yet efficient size (its wingspan is only 27 feet), it’s popular for those servicing farmlands.
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The STOL aircraft in action
Aside from providing regional air transport for people living in remote areas, STOL aircraft have diverse and important uses. In the military, STOL aircrafts are used for transporting supplies and people for special missions. They are also highly adapted for gathering visual data in hard-to-observe areas, also called reconnaissance missions. In this sector, STOL airplanes have evolved to include vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities.
STOL airplanes are also unsung heroes of the sky in emergencies. Because they take off and land so quickly in unpredictable terrain, they are vital for life-saving missions. These include anything from search and rescue operations, delivering aid during natural disasters, conservation efforts, and speedy medical evacuations.
STOL aircraft records
In addition to saving lives, the use of STOL planes continues to emerge in sports competitions. Air racers and aerobatic flyers are setting all kinds of impressive records — and there are two in particular you should know about. In 2018 Dan Reynolds from Yukon, Canada landed at the Valdez Fly-In and Air Show, within just 9.5 feet. This broke Alaskan pilot Frank Knapp’s previous record of a 10.5 foot landing. Knapp still holds his own impressive record for takeoff, though, getting his STOL airborne in just 11 feet at Valdez in 2018.
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Advantages and challenges of STOL aircraft
Overall, STOL aircraft have many benefits. Obviously there’s a hastened response time due to quick takeoff and landing. Because of their versatility, the world is also your oyster when looking for a runway for landing.
On the flipside, STOL flying is a whole different type of piloting. It can be difficult to adapt, but overcoming fear or intimidation of flying such small machines with large power can open new skies for pilots. STOL planes are also known to have fuel-draining engines. This is because the mechanics need to work unusually efficiently within sometimes uncertain, short distances.
When you’re in an STOL aircraft, you also feel every single environmental factor. It’s important for any pilot to take in the weather and adjust their flying technique accordingly. For example, wind can help you significantly — or jostle you around unpredictably. The guardrails for safe STOL runways are at maximum 1,500 feet long and the planes must clear a 50 feet obstacle.
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Emerging trends and developments in STOL technology
Modern technology has improved the STOL experience since its maiden flights from the 1950s. GPS (global positioning system) has helped pilots find more and safer types of runways. The electric innovation era is also coming to STOL planes.
Electric hybrid aircraft manufacturer Electra developed the first-ever eSTOL in 2023, which is a huge step in reducing these aircraft's carbon footprint. The hybrid-electric tech also helps reduce noise and fuel consumption, which can be helpful in rescue operations and military missions.
Since STOL planes are also flying high in sports competitions, the goal to increase the power-to-weight ratio has become prominent. This advancement in aerospace engineering can be most visibly seen with Bullseye Landing. A once-in-a-lifetime aviation event when Czepiela landed a STOL plane on the helipad atop Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah helipad.
Czepiela heavily modified his STOL Bullseye Plane, replacing steel parts with titanium or carbon, weaving in nitrous, and adding special wheels. On March 14 2023, he pinpointed his 7m Carbon Cub on a surface that’s just 27m (88.5 ft.) in diameter.
Need for speed-y takeoff
From heroic missions to aerobatic flying competitions, STOL planes have tremendously taken the skies in their relatively short history. They were born from the human curiosity of how far—and how quickly—you can take the idea of flight. Equal parts innovative engineering and courageous piloting, STOL aircraft are a sight to behold.