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Imagine a typical landing scenario; decent but steady headwind, cool temperatures and a runway just about on sea-level. For most pilots, touching down safely would be a walk in the park. But what if the runway was just 287cm long? Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) flying is a fascinating area of aviation, opening up a dizzying array of opportunities to recreational pilots. Mastering STOL can enable you to land off-airport, exploring the rugged beauty of Australia on a level that very few ever get the chance to. Landing on beaches, next to rivers, atop mountain plateaus and many other untouched areas of the country, it’s easy to see why STOL attracts the most adventurous of pilots. STOL flying has exploded in popularity recently, as footage from around the world has been shared online of pilots taking off and landing in roughly the length or their aircraft. In Valdez, Alaska in 2018, Dan Reynolds set the world record for shortest landing with a distance of just 9’5” (287cm). To put that in perspective, that’s about one tenth of a cricket pitch, three quarters length of a Volkswagen Beetle or just slightly longer than the arm span of NBA superstar, Shaquille O’Neal. It’s an incredible feat, and one that STOL flyers have put countless hours of R&D into, attempting to create the perfect STOL aircraft. “It’s real fun and it’s a good challenge,” said STOL enthusiast and owner of Wings out West, Dan Compton. Wings Out West is Dan’s flight school near Dubbo, New South Wales. The business specialises in bush flying, STOL, low level and survival flying for those seeking a challenge or some adventure. Dan’s students learn the basic aspects of bush flying from day one, allowing them to gain a full appreciation for STOL and the opportunity to master the necessary techniques. So, what makes an ideal STOL plane? To break it down let’s look at the two essential parts of STOL separately; take-off and landing.
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