The backcountry flavor and Rocky Mountain ambiance of the AOPA Fly-In at Missoula International Airport in Montana June 15 and 16 will set the perfect scene for demonstrations of specialized takeoff and landing techniques by pilots with great stick-and-rudder skills and some of the aircraft that can put them to good use.
Don't miss the event from 11 a.m. to noon on June 16 when the Texas STOL Roundup Team presented by Phillips 66 conducts an Obstacle STOL (short takeoff and landing) demonstration—wind permitting—and a Traditional STOL demo.
The air boss for the demos will be Jimmy Gist, a retired FedEx captain who flew Boeing 777s and now keeps himself aloft at the controls of his Cessna 185 or his de Havilland Chipmunk.
The STOL demonstrations will showcase the practical application of information presented at the "Backcountry Adventure and Skills Seminar" presented by Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard McSpadden, Mike Vivion, and Jeff Fouche on June 15 from 9 a.m. to noon; and "STOL for the Masses: Maximizing Your Aircraft's Short Takeoff and Landing Potential," with Vivion, Paul Brown, and Phil Whittemore, on June 16 from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
Supporting STOL demonstration sponsors include CubCrafters, Aviat Aircraft, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, and Stene Aviation.
The fifth annual Texas STOL Roundup will take place Sept. 28 through 30 at the Hondo Airport. See the Texas STOL Roundup website for details.