Arrive in style

But before we dive into those details, here’s a reminder that AOPA’s time with the Husky is almost up. The sweepstakes entry period ends on June 15, 2026, and we’ll soon be announcing the name of the lucky pilot who will win this airplane. And, yes, it could be you! See “Enter Today” to make sure you’re entered.

The RAF Husky becomes the AOPA Sweepstakes

Early in 2025, when AOPA was contemplating which airplane to select for its next sweepstakes, the RAF stepped forward with an idea. It had been showcasing a brand-new Aviat Husky that was literally made for the kind of backcountry airstrips the foundation preserves and improves. The airplane has a gorgeous orange, gray, and white paint scheme and is tattooed with RAF branding. Perhaps this could be AOPA’s next sweepstakes airplane? We loved the idea.

AOPA greatly appreciates Aviat Aircraft owner Stu Horn for his significant financial contribution to the AOPA Sweepstakes. Without Horn’s support, this sweepstakes grand prize would not have been possible. Aviat has been building Husky aircraft at its Afton, Wyoming, facility since 1987—along with the certified Pitts and homebuilt kit Eagle aerobatic biplanes. Horn purchased Aviat in 1995 and has continuously improved the Husky with horsepower, gross weight, airframe, and avionics enhancements. AOPA’s Husky is Aviat’s top-of-the-line model.

We’d also like to thank the RAF for its help in making this sweepstakes a reality. The RAF is an organization that everyone who cherishes flying into backcountry airstrips should support. We commend the RAF for actively working to preserve—and improve—these special airfields around the country (see “Preserving Recreational Access to Backcountry Airstrips”).

Flying the Husky

To display the airplane at Sun ’n Fun, we had to complete the Husky’s longest flight since we’ve owned it—a 725-mile trek from Frederick, Maryland, to Lakeland. But first, we needed to take ground and aerial photographs for this story.

We headed to a local 2,200-foot-long grass strip because, well, we’re flying a Husky. And since it has 31-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tires installed, we taxied off the runway into an undulating hay field (with permission from the owner) because it looked like the Husky was in its natural habitat. This airplane puts a huge smile on your face because of the interesting places you can land and taxi.

The Husky also made easy work of the aerial photoshoot with its easily adjustable front seat providing just the right view out the windows to see the Cessna 170 photo ship. With its 200-horsepower fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360 engine providing plenty of grunt, the Husky had a considerable power advantage to catch the 170 at will, and its massive 80-inch Hartzell Trailblazer composite two-blade constant-speed propeller quickly slowed the airplane as soon as the throttle was retarded. It was easy to keep the Husky in position.

Beauty shots complete, it was time to fly the Husky south, and the airplane proved to be a fine cross-country cruiser. Flying at a leisurely 105 knots (the big tires are a bit draggy) you won’t get anywhere fast, but you’ll enjoy the scenery along the way—and you’ll arrive in style.

We found that a 23-inch roller suitcase, the typical size for a roller carry-on, will fit through the baggage door with ease, and the rear baggage area offers copious room for lighter items. You can get creative, stuffing duffel bags and soft luggage into nooks and crannies to haul up to 630 pounds of payload in the rear seat and baggage areas. The rear seat can also be removed to increase cargo capacity or reduce weight and increase STOL performance.

The pilot seat is surprisingly comfortable during long flights. And even while flying down low to delight in the view, the engine will consume less than 10 gallons of avgas per hour—yielding four-hour legs with about an hour of fuel remaining.

The AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky is equipped with an impressive Garmin avionics package: a G500 TXi touchscreen primary flight display/multifunction flight display with engine indication system, a GTN 750Xi GPS navigator with nav/com, a G5 backup attitude indicator, and a GTX 345R ADS-B In/Out remote transponder, all of which enhance situational awareness and provide the option to fly IFR if the conditions allow. Our sweepstakes aircraft does not have the optional heated pitot tube, so we’d recommend staying extra cautious around visible moisture in frigid temperatures.

Arguably, the best cross-country equipment in the airplane is the Garmin GFC 500 three-axis digital autopilot with yaw damper. If you win this airplane, we guarantee you will become a fan of this workload-relieving and safety-enhancing autopilot.

The Husky’s skylight is great for visibility, but it gets toasty in the cabin when the Florida sun hits its zenith. One way to cool down is to slide the left window open a few inches to receive a cool breeze. And if that’s insufficient, you can open the right-hand door (hold on to your phone and checklists) to transform the cabin into an open-air experience.

The AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky has an undeniable “cool” factor, and people will want to take a closer look after every landing, so plan on extra time on the ground. As soon as we arrived at Sun ’n Fun, spectators gathered around the AOPA Sweepstakes aircraft, and the questions began with one of the most common being: “When will you give the airplane away?” See “How a Sweepstakes Winner is Chosen” to find out.

Flying the Husky

To display the airplane at Sun ’n Fun, we had to complete the Husky’s longest flight since we’ve owned it—a 725-mile trek from Frederick, Maryland, to Lakeland. But first, we needed to take ground and aerial photographs for this story.

We headed to a local 2,200-foot-long grass strip because, well, we’re flying a Husky. And since it has 31-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tires installed, we taxied off the runway into an undulating hay field (with permission from the owner) because it looked like the Husky was in its natural habitat. This airplane puts a huge smile on your face because of the interesting places you can land and taxi.

The Husky also made easy work of the aerial photoshoot with its easily adjustable front seat providing just the right view out the windows to see the Cessna 170 photo ship. With its 200-horsepower fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360 engine providing plenty of grunt, the Husky had a considerable power advantage to catch the 170 at will, and its massive 80-inch Hartzell Trailblazer composite two-blade constant-speed propeller quickly slowed the airplane as soon as the throttle was retarded. It was easy to keep the Husky in position.

Beauty shots complete, it was time to fly the Husky south, and the airplane proved to be a fine cross-country cruiser. Flying at a leisurely 105 knots (the big tires are a bit draggy) you won’t get anywhere fast, but you’ll enjoy the scenery along the way—and you’ll arrive in style.

We found that a 23-inch roller suitcase, the typical size for a roller carry-on, will fit through the baggage door with ease, and the rear baggage area offers copious room for lighter items. You can get creative, stuffing duffel bags and soft luggage into nooks and crannies to haul up to 630 pounds of payload in the rear seat and baggage areas. The rear seat can also be removed to increase cargo capacity or reduce weight and increase STOL performance.

The pilot seat is surprisingly comfortable during long flights. And even while flying down low to delight in the view, the engine will consume less than 10 gallons of avgas per hour—yielding four-hour legs with about an hour of fuel remaining.

The AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky is equipped with an impressive Garmin avionics package: a G500 TXi touchscreen primary flight display/multifunction flight display with engine indication system, a GTN 750Xi GPS navigator with nav/com, a G5 backup attitude indicator, and a GTX 345R ADS-B In/Out remote transponder, all of which enhance situational awareness and provide the option to fly IFR if the conditions allow. Our sweepstakes aircraft does not have the optional heated pitot tube, so we’d recommend staying extra cautious around visible moisture in frigid temperatures.

Arguably, the best cross-country equipment in the airplane is the Garmin GFC 500 three-axis digital autopilot with yaw damper. If you win this airplane, we guarantee you will become a fan of this workload-relieving and safety-enhancing autopilot.

The Husky’s skylight is great for visibility, but it gets toasty in the cabin when the Florida sun hits its zenith. One way to cool down is to slide the left window open a few inches to receive a cool breeze. And if that’s insufficient, you can open the right-hand door (hold on to your phone and checklists) to transform the cabin into an open-air experience.

The AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky has an undeniable “cool” factor, and people will want to take a closer look after every landing, so plan on extra time on the ground. As soon as we arrived at Sun ’n Fun, spectators gathered around the AOPA Sweepstakes aircraft, and the questions began with one of the most common being: “When will you give the airplane away?” See “How a Sweepstakes Winner is Chosen" to find out.

Husky transition training

For most pilots, learning to fly the Husky will take some training and practice. Aviat Husky authorized service centers, such as Capital Flight at Middleton Municipal Airport/Morey Field (C29) in Wisconsin, provide expert training to help you get the most out of the airplane and enable you to experience the joy of truly flying. Perfecting slips, short- and soft-field landings, and crosswind landing techniques will enable you to place the aircraft where you want it—at the speed you need it—so that you can seek fun adventures in new locations.

You’ll quickly learn that takeoffs in the Husky take just a few seconds and a few hundred feet of runway. And despite the large tundra tires, landing on hard surface runways is easy and predictable. Crosswinds present no special challenges when flying the Husky if you use the proper techniques.

Capital Flight owner Matt Hofeldt says a pilot who has a tailwheel endorsement and is proficient will feel comfortable in the Husky after a one- to two-hour checkout. If you are new to tailwheel flying and you’re the lucky winner, we’re betting you’ll have a huge smile on your face as you and your tailwheel instructor beat up the pattern with the clamshell doors open and the wind in your hair.

Enter the AOPA Sweepstakes for your chance to explore new corners of your home state and reconnect with the joy of flying in an aircraft that rewards true airmanship.

Will you be our lucky winner?

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