The National STOL Series is pleased to announce its initial 2025 schedule! With 12 events and perhaps a surprise or two in the works, 2025 is poised to be the most thrilling and competitive year yet.
The season kicks off in Jennings, LA, on April 11-12 with the 5th Annual Swamp STOL Competition and Fly-In. A mainstay of the Series, the Cajun charm and southern hospitality make this a pilot and spectator favorite from year to year.
From there, National STOL will travel to Virginia Beach, VA, for the second Heritage STOL Competition at the Military Aviation Museum. One of the most unique events to premiere in 2024, National STOL’s partnership with the museum places these modern aircraft in relation to their military predecessors and is a can’t miss event for history buffs! Spectator tickets will include museum admission to view their full collection.
May 16th and 17th will bring the first NEW event of the 2025 season, Pony Express STOL in St. Joseph, Missouri! Taking place at Rosecrans Memorial Airport and conveniently located just an hour outside of Kansas City, this will be the most centrally-located event of the year and is already receiving outstanding community support.
From Missouri, the Series travels west for Oregon Trail STOL (Ontario, OR) and the Moses Lake Airshow (Moses Lake, WA). These Pacific Northwest events are both in their second year and open up competition to a new geographic population, with ample opportunities to get out and explore the backcountry.
As we reach the halfway point in the season, Sodbusters returns for a 4th time to Hartford, WI, July 18-19. Traditionally one of the most well-attended competitions of the year, start your EAA AirVenture experience a few days early and join us just a short 30 minute flight from Oshkosh!
In August, National STOL will travel to picturesque Pinedale, WY, for the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain STOL. While this event is always remembered for its stunning mountain views and small town vibes, those in attendance will not soon forget the wild windstorm that hit after the 2024 competition and how the town rallied to protect the aircraft. Then, we travel from one mountain range to another as the month concludes with a return to Clarion, PA, for Appalachian Mountain STOL on August 29-30.
Arklahoma STOL at Patriot Airpark returns as a fall event in 2025, before heading back to Gallatin, TN, for Music City STOL. Offering very different but exciting entertainment opportunities, we go from casino nights to the home of country music while approaching the season finale!
The season wraps up with Lonestar STOL and National Finals, once again presented by American Legend Aircraft at their home airport in Sulphur Springs, TX. As established in 2024, Lonestar STOL will be a stand-along competition on Friday, October 31, with National Finals for pilots who qualify on Saturday, November 1.
Please note that all events are tentative and subject to change in date or location until the time registration opens.
About National STOL: National STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) represents a competitive series designed for pilots across the nation to demonstrate their prowess in a sport-oriented environment. Pilots compete in one or more events throughout the year, accumulating points towards an annual National Title for top performers. While proficiency in short takeoffs and landings is typically associated with bush pilots navigating backcountry terrain, it is a skill that all aviators can and should refine, ensuring our competitions are accessible to anyone involved in general aviation.
Our vision at National STOL is simple: we introduce the excitement of general aviation to a nationwide audience, challenge pilots to better themselves, and foster the next generation of aviators. Established in 2020, our Series has demonstrated continuous growth with four competitions in 2021, six in 2022, eight in 2023, and ten in 2024. As we enter the 2025 season, National STOL plans to host twelve events from coast to coast, while building to both regional and national circuits in the coming years.
Along with our in person spectators and team of pilots, National STOL sets itself apart from other airshows by producing live broadcasts of our competitions and effectively utilizing social media to deliver the action to more viewers than ever before. National STOL’s high levels of engagement position us uniquely in the aviation and tourism communities.
For more information, including partnership opportunities, contact info@nationalstol.com.