Bobby Breeden’s great-grandfather dreamed of becoming a pilot and exploring Alaska, passions that inspired Bobby’s father, Bob, who today flies bush airplanes and develops real estate in the Last Frontier State. Now Bobby, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science (UASS) student, has put his own short and sweet stamp on that legacy: He’s a four-time winner of Alaska’s famed Valdez Short Field Take Off and Landing (STOL) competition and a YouTube celebrity. “It’s pretty special to think something like that can transfer through a family,” says Bobby.
When Bobby was growing up, his father kept a Super Cub on the family property in Virginia, and they frequently visited the nearby Flying Circus Aerodrome in Bealeton. “That also influenced me to want to be part of aviation,” Bobby says. Soon after starting lessons at age 14 he saw a video of the Valdez STOL competition and “just got hooked,” he recalls. “I wanted to compete.” Besides, he adds, “I knew the skills of being able to land wherever you want and to stop short would help me tremendously with real-world flying.”
