Register

STOL Invitational at Oshkosh Draws SRO Crowds

The event was part of the Twilight Flight Fest at the 2022 show.

Jared Jestice taking off in his Kitfox Model 4 Speedster. [Photo: Josh Richling]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2022 STOL Invitational at EAA AirVenture's Twilight Flight Fest saw record-breaking attendance, drawing massive, standing-room-only crowds.
  • Despite being an invitational demonstration, pilots fiercely competed for the shortest takeoffs and landings, supported by volunteers and cheered on by enthusiastic spectators.
  • Steve Henry secured the overall victory, with Hal Stockman placing second and Jared Jestice coming in third.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The 2022 STOL Invitational—part of the Twilight Flight Fest at EAA AirVenture—featured standing-room-only crowds on the ultralight field, as people began gathering more than an hour in advance to secure a good viewing spot to see their favorite STOL pilots and YouTube stars. 

The past few years have seen an enormous increase both in pilots and spectators. It is rumored that next year the event may take place on a new field in a different location, but time will tell. For the 2022 event, spectators stood five deep in full bleachers, looking over each other’s shoulders to try to get a glimpse of the line where pilots would be measured from.

Josh Richling

Josh Richling is a crew chief in the National STOL Series. He covers STOL competitions for FLYING.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE