All Event Equipment, Setup, Merch Destroyed: Donations Needed!

The National STOL Series suffered a devastating loss when the truck towing the event trailer was involved in an accident in Montana. The truck flipped, caught fire, and both truck and trailer were destroyed in the subsequent fire. Thankfully no one was injured but all the equipment used in putting on events was lost.

The Series Team said all of the organization’s physical assets were lost: In addition to the trailer itself that serves as the team’s base of operations at the shows, these included measurement equipment, radio systems, sound gear, and cameras along with the branded canopy and other materials, signage, and merchandise.

The Series Team expresses its incredible gratitude that no one was injured and recommits to the safety of all Team members.

National STOL presents a series of competitions that has grown in number from two contests in its inaugural  year of 2020 to ten in 2024, and this year the plan is to host 12 events nationwide. In fact, National STOL has become one of if not the leading Aviation Competition Series in the country. Last year’s ten events drew over 145 teams and nearly 20,000 in-person attendees plus another 760,000 individuals watching live streams and broadcasts online.

The Series boasts more than $75,000 in paid and promotional advertising with a publicity value surpassing $545,000.

For all those involved, the Series is not just a competition but a community and a platform for showcasing the impressive skill of STOL pilots. The events are also a place for families and aviation lovers to gather and share their passion.

The pilots, volunteers, partners, fans, and the Team have been so gratified by how many are asking, “How can we help?”

Well, the Series organizers are asking the community for financial support to help the Team rise from the ashes and rebuild its operational capabilities.

All donations received will be directly invested in the essential equipment needed for this season and beyond. There have been many already and donations of any size will help to get the Team and its operations back on its feet.

The Team posted on its website: “Thank you for your unwavering support. We look forward to seeing you on the runway soon.”

FMI:  nationalstol.com/