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Event Recap

Sand, Sun, and STOL in the Desert

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Where Swamp STOL was cold and wet, Outlaw STOL was HOT and dry. With temperatures reaching almost 100 degrees and an asphalt runway, conditions could not have been more different for National STOL’s second competition of the year, located just a few miles from the US/Mexico border at Somerton Airport.

National STOL was thrilled to debut its newly built out production trailer for the first time at Outlaw STOL. This dedicated space for our production team helps to support our live broadcasts, as well as transport equipment between event venues. Many thanks to National STOL sponsor USATrailersDirect.com for providing this incredible space!

With a number of new competitors mixed in with a few familiar faces, the competition was almost as hot as the desert air! While Hal Stockman was unable to attend due to a mechanical failure the day before, CC Pocock and the last minute registration of Frank Knapp still ensured the crowd that came out saw some of the legends of STOL flying.

The Rookie class featured four new pilots to National STOL competition, including Somerton Airport Manager Eric Saltzer and Outlaw STOL founder Jonathan Stains. Pilot Joe Eiling won the Rookie class and must now enter his next competition in his standard class. Steve Radenbaugh chose to compete in both the Rookie and Backcountry classes, while Jimmy O’Neal and CC Pocock flew in their standard classes and a second time in exhibition against Jerry Fletcher in the Unlimited class.

Frank Knapp put on a clinic in the Sport class with a winning score of 96′ for his combined take off and landing. CC Pocock won the Adventure Class, as well as placing first in exhibition for Unlimited. See below for full class results:

Outlaw STOL would not be possible without the incredible local support of the Yuma and Somerton communities, including the Yuma International Airport, Quail Corp Construction, and the Cocopah Casino and Resort. Finally, many thanks to Somerton Airport manager Eric Saltzer, and Outlaw STOL founder Jonathan Stains, who also runs Skydive San Luis.

Those that stayed to the end of the weekend were treated to a stunning sunset and bonfire on Saturday evening. Pilots, staff, volunteers, and campers truly saw the best the desert has to offer.

Be sure to visit the National STOL Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok pages for all the sights and sounds of the competition weekend. While technical issues beyond our control interrupted the morning live feed, our production team is hard at work even after the event to transmit every moment of Outlaw STOL to those who were unable to join us in person.

The 2023 season is heating up! Join us at our next event, the Wayne America Fly-In, May 25-28. Registration for pilots is open on the National STOL website. For all other event details, visit Wayne America!

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Event Information

Registration Open for OUTLAW STOL 2023!

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Join us in Somerton (just outside of Yuma, AZ) for the second stop in National STOL’s 2023 series! Established by Jonathan Stains, Outlaw STOL was inspired by the cowboy crop duster style of the Southwest and the Bush flyers of the Northwest. Outlaw STOL is made possible by the support of Somerton Airport owner, Eric Saltzer, and other local businesses. 

Pilots, earn points towards the 2023 season standings by registering for Outlaw STOL in our Standard or Unlimited Classes! Not sure you are ready for a standard class, but want to test your skills in a STOL competition? Consider registering in our Rookie class. Pilot registration closes on Friday, April 21, at the close of practice. 

If you are planning to come out and watch Outlaw STOL, save money by purchasing your tickets in advance! Spectator tickets for Saturday’s competition are $10 online and will increase to $15 after April 20. Airfield camping is also available, but space is limited! Book your RV, tent, or airplane camping as soon as possible.

No National STOL event would be possible without our team of volunteers! As a volunteer, you will be part of the one of the most exciting and fasted growing sports in General Aviation. When you volunteer for one of our competitions, you get the behind-the-scenes experience;  getting up close interactions to some awesome pilots, aircraft, and amazing takeoffs and landings. Please visit our Volunteer page for further information.

For your convenience, National STOL has arranged a block of rooms at the Cocopah Casino & Resort, just 3 minutes from Somerton Airport. To receive the reduced rate of $90.95 per night (Thursday-Sunday), please CALL the hotel directly at (928) 722-6677 and and mention group code STOL. All bookings must be made by Thursday, April 13th. After this date, any remaining rooms will be released to the general public. The group code will not work for online bookings.

Finally, please note that the remainder of the 2023 Season has seen a few modifications. Be sure to update your calendars with the latest information on our season stops! All event dates and locations are subject to change until registration opens:

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