The Valdez Short Field Takeoff And Landing Contest Is Sort Of Like Golf…The Lowest Score Wins

The actual Valdez, Alaska competition occurred last month but that was not your only chance to see it. EAA reminds us that the popular flight competitions and demonstrations will be featured once again at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year. Several Valdez competitors, including Breeden, will showcase their aircraft in competitions similar to those held at Valdez.

Twenty-two-year-old EAA member, Bobby Breeden of Sterling, Alaska, won the short takeoff/landing (STOL) competition in the Alternate Bush Class at the 13th annual Valdez Fly-In and Air Show. Breeden, who has been competing in STOL competitions since he was 17, made a 40-foot takeoff and 55-foot landing to claim his second consecutive victory in as many years.

The STOL contest, which featured aircraft specially modified to take off and land in short distances, included competitions in five different aircraft classes. Breeden’s takeoff was the shortest overall.

Other winning pilots included:

• Ben Brown of Kasilof, Alaska, Light Touring Class, - 244 feet total, 161-foot takeoff and 83-foot landing, in a Cessna 172
• Matt Conklin of Boise, Idaho, Heavy Touring Class – 258 feet total, 90-foot takeoff and 168-foot landing, in a Cessna 180
• Jacob Williams of Anchorage, Alaska, Bush Class – 165 feet total, 54-foot takeoff and 111-foot landing, in a PA-18
• Robert Pedersen of Oriental, North Carolina, Light Sport Class – 103 feet total, 54-foot takeoff and 49-foot landing, in a Just Aircraft

This list of winners shows that the STOL competition is not strictly for highly modified, special-purpose aircraft. When you see that a venerable Cessna 172 demonstrated its short takeoff and landing combined to be less than the length of a football field it something about the pilot’s capabilities. And for you sport pilots, notice that LSA’s are also involved in the competition.

(Image of Breeden provided by EAA)

FMI: www.eaa.org