National STOL’s Central Florida Classic Competition will headline SUN ‘n FUN‘s first Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show, taking place Dec. 4-5, 2020, at Lakeland-Linder International Airport (KLAL).
According to National STOL officials, anyone of any age can compete in the competition, as long as they have “mastered short takeoffs and landings.”
The National STOL Series has competitions planned in Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and the Carolinas. The series launched in 2020 in Gainesville, Texas, with 56 competitors from across the United States competing to show who can takeoff or land in the shortest distance.
Through an exclusive broadcast with Live Airshow TV, the event was streamed live across the world, with more than 275,000 domestic and international viewers. Over the past few months, viewership has past one million viewers on all viewing platforms, according to officials.
Doug Jackson, founder of the National STOL, said he is looking forward to bringing the competition to Central Florida.
“National STOL is very proud and humbled to be featured in the inaugural Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus,” he said. “To be a partner with this iconic organization is a great honor, and we look forward to putting on a great show!”
“The best part about STOL flying is that anyone at any age level can compete,” he continued. “Whether you just got your private pilot’s certificate at the age of 17, or you’ve been flying for decades, if you’ve mastered short takeoffs and landings, then you are already prepared for this competition.”
The National STOL Competition uses a fixed line that competitors must land beyond, and their distance is recorded when their tires stop. For takeoffs, pilots start on the line and take off in the shortest distance. In both cases, the distance is measured from the start line.
Competitors will fly in a series of qualification heats leading up to the finals. Open Practice will be Dec. 3, with the first round of competitions on Dec. 4. This round will be open to all competitors, with up to 125 competing for the top six spots in their class. On Dec. 5, the top 30 with the shortest distances from the previous day will compete in the final round to achieve the lowest scores. Winners will walk away with a cash purse of $12,500 and other prizes.
The event will be streamed live online by Live Airshow TV.
Pilots interested in competing can sign up for the Central Florida Classic on the National STOL website or on the Central Florida Classic STOL area of the SUN ‘n FUN Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show website. Registration is limited to the first 125 competitors.
Other activities planned for the weekend include music, a balloon glow and night airshow on Friday evening, followed by a 5k run and balloon launch Saturday morning just prior to the opening of the Car Show. Static show aircraft will be on display, plus dozens of vendors and exhibitors.
There is also a GA Town Hall scheduled on Saturday featuring Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Mark Baker and Experimental Aircraft Association President Jack Pelton.
Campers are welcome, and admission is free with a $20 parking fee per vehicle. Aircraft flying in park for free.
Proceeds from the SUN ‘n FUN Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show will benefit education and scholarship programs at the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE).