Our event last year was the first ever of its kind in backcountry flying.  We had 26 competitors fly in the final competition on Saturday and everyone had a great time. The interest that was generated has been immense and we can’t wait for this year!

Per our promise at last year’s event, we allowed inaugural ArkanSTOL pilots the first opportunity to compete in 2021 along with our valued sponsors.  We are excited that announce that almost all have decided to return!  The anticipation has been building and we are working hard to make this year even better while still retaining the original spirit of the event.

Good Luck on your entry, and remember...

ArkanSTOL is not just a competition.

IT'S AN EXPERIENCE!

Part of the excitement in 2020 was discovering new talent along with seeing established backcountry pilots try a new challenge. However, to run a safe and organized event that isn’t an entire week long means we can only accept 50 pilots total to compete. This application process is designed to give new pilots the opportunity to compete. An additional few pilots will also be selected as alternates/standby. The application link will be active until we have received 50 applications or until June 30th, whichever occurs first. ArkanSTOL will publish the selected pilots along with alternates on July 9th. The pilots will then have one week to confirm their participation and we will then move down the list until we have the positions filled. Most likely there will be applicants not chosen to compete, but It’s our hope that those who aren’t will still choose to attend and enjoy everything that ArkanSTOL, Byrd’s Adventure Center and flying in the Ozarks has to offer.

ArkanSTOL is not a traditional STOL competition, and it is not for the beginner aviator. It requires developed backcountry flying skills and judgment to effectively and safely compete. Because of how new this format of competition is and the potential consequences to the pilot and the backcountry/STOL aviation community as a whole ArkanSTOL has the responsibility to make hard choices as to who competes against the pressure of the clock. The selection process starts with your application, the next phase is qualifying, and final determinations are made after officials observe practice runs on Tuesday and Wednesday September 28th and 29th. General techniques used by Certified Flight Instructors based on existing bodies of knowledge will be employed and the order in which applications received will be considered.

Your application, fee, and attendance to the event does not guarantee that you will compete.

All selected pilots will be required to complete qualifying and practice runs by sunset on Wednesday to be eligible to compete in the event. Once you are confirmed as a competitor you will be assigned a day and general time to complete your qualification and practice runs. Qual/practice runs earlier in the week (Monday) can be accommodated.

Elimination runs on Thursday & Friday will pair the field down from 50 to 35 competitors for the final runs on Saturday. Eliminations will consist of 2 runs per participant. The fastest runs in each class will determine which 35 competitors will make the final runs on Saturday. Final times will be determined by the fastest run performed by each pilot on competition day.

• MONDAY - WEDNESDAY, September 27th - 29th*
  • ALL DAY 
    • Early Aircraft Arrivals
    • Practice, Mentoring, & Qualification
• THURSDAY, September 30th
  • MORNING
    • Elimination Runs
    • Early Spectator Arrivals
  • AFTERNOON
    • Elimination Runs
    • Early Spectator Arrivals
  • EVENING
    • Aviat Aircraft BBQ
• FRIDAY, October 1st
  • MORNING
    • Elimination Runs
    • Spectator Arrivals
  • AFTERNOON
    • Spectator Arrivals
  • EVENING
    • Friday Dinner (Main Stage Area)
• SATURDAY, October 2nd**
  • MORNING & AFTERNOON
    • Final Competition
  • EVENING
    • Saturday Dinner & Awards Ceremony (Main Stage Area)
    • Bluegrass Band - BYOB…Bring Your Own Banjo
• SUNDAY, October 3rd
  • ALL DAY
    • Aircraft Departures
    • Sponsor Aircraft Demonstration Opportunities
    • Aircraft FlyOuts - Northwest Arkansas Tour

* ALL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE BY SUNSET ON WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 29TH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO FLY IN THE COMPETITION

** NO AIRCRAFT ARRIVALS ARE ALLOWED ON COMPETITION DAY

We need lots of good information about YOU and your plane to post up. Folks are interested in
who you are and what makes you want to do this kind of flying, so don’t be shy!

They are also VERY interested in what you’re flying (make, model, mods, etc.) so fill out the
aircraft profile section as thoroughly and accurately as you can, please.

Finally, make sure you provide us with a photo of yourself AND of your plane so people can root
for you when they see you around camp or in the air.

When complete, please return this form to challenge@arkanstol.com
Thanks for helping make ArkanSTOL the best backcountry aviation event in the world!

FINALLY, ALL WE NEED ARE THE FOLLOWING MEDIA FILES.
JUST DRAG AND DROP THEM INTO THE FORM.

It’s really all about the competitors, and we’d like to hear what you think.

What do you think will make ArkanSTOL the best Backcountry/STOL event in the world?