STOL Enthusiasts Flock to EAA AirVenture's Twilight Flight Fest

The daring pilots don’t fail to disappoint at Oshkosh demonstrations.

Josh Richling

Wednesday, August 09, 2023 at 05:17 PM ET

Verified

Joe 'Pops' Dory plugs his ears as Jason Busat prepares to launch. [Anitra Goddard]

Key Takeaways:

The STOL demonstration at EAA AirVenture Twilight Flight Fest drew thousands of enthusiastic fans to witness top backcountry pilots showcase impressive short takeoff and landing capabilities.
Coordinated by Frank and Kris Knapp since 2014, this year's event featured an elite lineup of STOL pilots and community leaders, emphasizing pure spot landing skill and pilot creativity over competitive measurements.
Despite facing challenging weather conditions, including extreme heat and powerful thunderstorms that led to a canceled demonstration, the pilots engaged the crowd with an interactive Q&A session, fostering community spirit.

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The STOL (short takeoff and landing) demonstration at EAA AirVenture Twilight Flight Fest, hosted at the Ultralight Field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in late July, saw fans lining up along the fences hours before the event to secure their spots. Thousands of STOL enthusiasts gathered to witness their favorite backcountry pilots showcase the remarkable capabilities of their aircraft.

Frank Knapp, an Alaskan STOL pilot and current holder of the Valdez STOL record distance, and his wife, Kris, have been coordinating the STOL demonstration at AirVenture since its inception in 2014. Along with the Knapps, the elite of the STOL community were present to help put on a spectacular show.