Render 2023

Unlimited

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Dan Reynolds	9	1983 Chinook Valdez Special	C-IEPY	Green on white			Rotax 670	1050	540	8.50 x 6 Goodyear smooth classics	Slats & VGs	Too many to list		Dawson		Bush pilot all my life flying Super Cubs and Cessna 185. This plane is a highly modified 1983 Chinook WT 11. I designed and built all the modifications with the exception of the slats ( Carbon Concept) I have logged over 6,000 hrs on the 4 Chinooks I own. Going to the Valdez STOL in Alaska inspired me to modify and build this aircraft., hence the name of this model. I have two of the &amp;amp;amp;quot;Valdez Special &amp;amp;amp;quot;that are flying and another one all framed up.
Hal Stockman	03	2024 Badlands Vaquero	N510DH	Silver Oratex	Lawnmower 4.1		Rotax 916IS	1500			Turbo Charged, Fuel Injected, Catto Prop, Canard			Elko NV		Rebuild of Lawnmower IV...tail from the &amp;quot;original&amp;quot; was re-covered Adding a canard on the front to help offset the CG and make the tail more effective and take more weight off the wings

Touring

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Derek Holman	345	1991 Maule MXT 7-180	N345PP	White green black			Lycoming 0360 180hp	2500	1490	7.00	MT Prop	VGs
John Douglas	307	1964 Cessna 182	N182WY	White & Green	WYO STOL		O-470 230	2800	1650	600 x 6	VG's	Madras super tips	Emblem Aviation	Pinedale WY	wyostolpilot	Hosting Rocky Mountain STOL is a dream come true! I&amp;amp;amp;#039;m a Pinedale Wyoming native , with a Amazing and supportive wife, we have 3 daughters, 2 son in laws, 2 sons, 2 daughter in laws, 9 grand-kids and and another on the way! The only thing growing faster than our family is my love for STOL. We are looking to build the next 182 STOL machine, to show to the STOL world that the NOSE DRAGGERS can compete. The STOL community is feeling more like family. We enjoy hosting Rocky Mountain STOL and taking care of our aviation tribe. Our business, Emblem Aviation LLC gives me the tools to put my A&amp;amp;amp;amp;P, IA and pilot skills to work in support of all these adventures.
Rick Holman	45	1991 Maule MXT 7-180	N345PP	White green black	Trike Envy		Lycoming 0360 180hp	2500	1490	7.00	MT prop	VGs		Creswell OR		My names Derek Holman I go by DJ, I’m 19 years old with around 100 hours. I’m a college student at southern utah university with goals of ending up in the airlines. The maule is my fathers airplane and I have been flying it for about 2 years now, Theodore in the back or right seat of the aircraft is our full time passenger and he loves pictures so feel free to take some. If the airplane were to crash it’s said NTSB would never know how many souls were truly on board.

Wilderness

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio

Backcountry (formerly Bush)

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Jon "Jughead" Counsell	115	1955 Cessna 170B	N4497B	Blue/Silver			Continental O-300, 145HP	2200	1850	31" Alaska Bushwheels	8042 Climb Prop, C-180 gear legs, Sportsman STOL, VG's, Dakota barks		Sport Aircraft Seats, Columbia Sportswear	Snohomish WA		Jon “Jughead” Counsell is a retired USAF fighter, instructor and civilian pilot with experience in over 70 types of aircraft, gliders, helicopters and skydiving. Lt Colonel Jon “Jughead” Counsell entered the Air Force in 1991 upon graduating from Central Washington University ROTC as a Distinguished Graduate. Over his twenty-year career Jon logged over 5,000 hours in the F-15C, T-6 Texan II, T-38, T-34C, and Global Express. Jon’s assignments have included flying North American Air Defense (NORAD) missions over Alaska, Instructing with the Navy at Pensacola NAS in the T-34/T-6. Leading Large Force missions in the F-15 while stationed at Mtn Home AFB, ID. He served as Director of Safety for all Air Forces in the Republic of Korea before his final assignment as a T-38C Instructor Pilot at Laughlin AFB TX. Jon deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, logging over 700 hours in the E-11 (Global Express) in 6 months. Jon flew and narrated airshows as a pilot flying L-39s with the Patriots Jet Team for 11 years. Since retirement Jon has flown Global Expresses supporting US Gov’t laser mapping contracts and taught upset recovery training as a Master Aerobatic Instructor flying Extra 300’s. Jon is currently a First Officer for Alaska Airlines. Jon and his black lab Dakota are routinely found flying off-airport around the Pacific Northwest in his C-170. Thousands around the world enjoy watching their adventures at YouTube/Jughead Counsell. Jon serves as the International Cessna 170 Association’s Safety Officer and provides specialized instruction on tailwheel, advanced handling, upsets and mountain flying out of Snohomish, WA. Jughead’s motivational story has been featured on Dateline NBC, Discovery Impact, National Geographic and numerous magazine and newspaper articles highlighting his survival of a supersonic ejection. Jon has been narrating airshows and STOL competitions for over 20 including events at Oshkosh, Sun-N-Fun. as well as National STOL. When not flying, Jon relaxes hunting, skiing, road and mtn biking, snow skiing, kayaking, fishing and hiking.
Ron Piercy	503	1979 Bellanca Citabria	N5034K	Red/White			Lycoming 0320	1800	1250	850x6	VGs			Moses Lake WA		Member of EAA Chapter 355 here in Moses Lake, Airplane was rebuild starting 20 years ago on the east coast, somehow made it to the west coast, has been in his shop for 3 years and it was finished and flying Thursday just in time for competition! Ron has been a pilot and ariplane mechanic for 50 years plus, has a flying service and rebuilds aircraft (Rainbow Flying Service, specialized in Citabira aircraft out of Moses Lake Municipal Airport)
Shadd Forester	103	1970 Cessna 172	N7034G	White and red	Team grandpa plane		Lycoming o320	2300		8.50x6		just a badass pilot	Sponsored by grandpa.	Moses lake WA	@shaddforester	Commercial pilot, father of 3, husband of 1. Had a mid life crisis a couple years ago and became a full time pilot. 1/3 owner of N7034G, hopefully my partners are ok with me competing with it today :D

Adventure

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Mike Babcock	8	2025 Badlands STOL Traveler	N568MM	Blue			Yamaha 998T, Hp unknown	1900	1080	custom	a few - more to come		Aero Endeavors, RSRacecraft, Sea Fare Pacific	Cottage Grove OR		Pilot: not as good as I want to be, but good enough to compete with better pilots. Are there ever too many mods? YES. There is something to be said about simple basic airplanes that are easy to maintain and easy to fly. It seems like for every one hour of flight, there ae many many hours of wrenching to get it right. - and that is for the mods that actually work. It sure is fun to pull up to the line and squeeze that trigger and let her go.
Ronnie Saner	171	2025 Badlands Traveler	N696WR	White with red/black/gray			Yamaha Sidewinder	00		Custom			Aero Endeavors, RSRacecraft	Hayden ID
Ryan Melendez	222	1954 Piper Super Cub PA-18	N8180C	White and Gold	Warriors With Wings	Goldie	Lycoming O-360 180hp	1700	1250	Alaska Bushwheel 31 inches	Alaska Gear Company (Lift Struts, Titanium Gear/Tailspring, PSTOL Flaps, Baby Bushwheel) - Crosswind STOL Kit - ACME AERO Black Ops Suspension - Sensenich 82" Ground Adjustable Composite Prop -		Baker Avionics, Whelen Aerospace Technologies, Fairings-Ect	San Diego CA	@flyinsnoopy @warriors_with_wings	My name is Ryan Melendez and I am a full time airport bum, part time airline pilot. My aviation journey started almost 10 years ago at the age of 17. On September 6th, 2015, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where doctors were unsure if I would make it through the night as I was suffering from Septic Shock. I spent 3 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit awaiting results to why I was so sick. Unsure of what my future would be, I turned to my father and told him I want to learn to fly. I always had a love for aviation and when I was a baby, my father flew and owned a Cessna 182 with David Crosby until they sold the plane in 2001. Without any hesitation, my father drove down to the local airport (Montgomery Field) and bought me a logbook to bring back to the hospital for me. Then on September 10th, the doctors came in and told my family and I that I was diagnosed with Very High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After spending more than a month in the hospital, I was finally discharged and able to take my first intro flight. It was the first time since being diagnosed that I felt like I had control of my life, and was the ultimate feeling of freedom. In 2018, I learned about the Sport Pilot License and bought a 1946 Aeronca Chief to learn to fly in. It was from that moment on that I became obsessed with everything tailwheel. After finishing treatment at the end of 2018, I filed appeals with the FAA for eight months before being granted my 1st class medical, and went on to get my Private and Commercial ratings. Throughout my three and a half years of treatment, flying always proved to be my escape from the fight with cancer. In 2020, I was hired to tow banners for FlySkyAds in New Jersey. It was here that I was introduced N8180C, a 1954 180 hp Piper Super Cub. Though I did not know it at the time, this would be the same Super Cub that I own and fly today! I flew over 900 hours in N8180C before going to the airlines in 2021. After being hired by a major airline in 2023, my old banner tow boss reached out to me and asked if I would like to buy N8180C from him, to which I quickly said yes! Unfortunately, the Super Cub did not look the way it does now when I bought it. My father and I spent two years together restoring the Cub and building it to what it is today. In an effort to give back for all that was given to me during my cancer diagnosis, I started a non profit called Warriors With Wings. The goal of the organization is to help children and young adults battling cancer experience the freedom of flight by providing intro flights, scholarships, and by putting flight simulators in Childrens Hospitals. N8180C aka Goldie was built to help spread awareness of Pediatric Cancer and raise money for Warriors with Wings, as seen by her paint scheme with the Gold Cancer Ribbon on the tail. To think back on the day when I told my father I want to learn how to fly; to where I find myself now seems like something more inconceivable than a miracle, but truthfully I am forever grateful to aviation for saving my life.

Cub

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Chris Figgins	144	2015 Cub Crafters CC-11 (Carbon Cub SS)	N144WG	Black over White with red stripe			Continental Tital 0-340, 180hp	1320	970	Alaska Bush Wheel 31"	VG's. 3'x3" extended gear			Walla Walla WA	@flyin_winemaker	Chris is a 4th generation winegrower and winemaker in Washingtons Walla Walla Valley and co-owner of Leonetti Cellar, FIGGINS, and Toil Oregon vineyards and wineries. My airplane Whiskey, N144WG, is a 2015 Carbon Cub SS with a 180hp Continental Titan O-340. Chris and Whiskey are often found landing our various vineyards, backcountry landing strips, and making first landings in new spots.
Mike Counsell	783	1946 Piper Pa-12	N7837H	Green on White	Team Chub Cub		Lycoming 0-360. 180	1850	1275	31	The Pilot			Moses Lake WA		Charlie Flight Systems PA-12, 180HP 0-360 on 31 inch Alaska bush tires.

Vintage Cub

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio

Sport

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Jeff Vallon	365	2016 Zenith 701	N365BD	Unpainted	Lil Rabbit		80hp 912a	1100	600	8x6	VG’s, Trimmed Slats, Elevator Fences			Bay Area CA		Always wanted to fly. Didn’t pick it up till I was 45. Flew and caped a TriPacer all over the west coast till it was sold to a man in Yakima,WA. Picked up this 701 in Ohio last spring and flew it back to CA. Put 200hrs on her this year. Fly as much as I can.

Rookie

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio
Thomas Taranowski	227	2018 Cubcrafters FX3	N27RH	Red			IO360	2000	1150	35" Alaska Bushwheels, baby bushwheel	None	None		Black Diamond WA	https://www.instagram.com/tomtaranowski/	I visited Alaska 5 years ago and got the flying bug. I then got my pilots license and bought a Carbon Cub FX3, N27RH, and have been loving life ever since.

Exhibition

Name	Race Number	Aircraft	Tail Number	Color	Team Name	Team Website	Aircraft Engine	Aircraft Gross Weight	Aircraft Empty Weight	Aircraft Tires	Aircraft Performance Mods	Aircraft Other Mods	Sponsors	Hometown	Instagram	Bio