Safety is the most important part of our culture. We want you to be safe. Any competitor that unnecessarily puts other pilots or attendees at risk will be disqualified and asked not to return. High alpha takeoffs or abrupt maneuvers are prohibited. All competitors are responsible for downloading and reading the rules prior to registering for a National STOL event and abiding by them throughout the season. This page is just an outline of CHANGES for the upcoming season.

Important Changes for 2024: 

1. Helmets and shoulder harnesses are required for all competitors. Helmets and shoulder harnesses save lives. Please contact us or a veteran National STOL competitor if you need a recommendation.
2. If a pilot is a first time competitor, or has not competed in more than two years, (s)he must participate in practice day and attend the new competitor safety briefing in order to compete. The exact times will be listed on each event’s schedule page.
3. A scratch is defined as a landing in which any part of the tire touches any part of the painted white reference line. Weight on wheels is not required; tire deformation or depression is not required. 
4. Registration will close at 17:00 local time the evening before the official practice day. No registrations on practice or competition day will be accepted.
5. Registration fees are non-refundable, but may be transferred to a future event upon written request.
6. Pilots may compete in multiple aircraft, but each aircraft must be in a different class.
7. Each aircraft can only be registered in one class (i.e., Rookies may not register in both the Rookie and a standard class/an aircraft cannot compete in both a standard and the Unlimited class).
8. Annual Points: 80% (in 2024, 8) of the regular season events will count towards annual points. If you participate in more than 8 regular season events, your top 8 finishes will be counted. Lonestar STOL (Friday) is considered a regular season event. The National Finals for pilots who qualify will be held Saturday of the same weekend and count as separate points. You do not have to be present at the final event weekend to win; however, points earned at this event will be added to the existing standings.

Appendix A-Competition Classes

Competition classes are defined by airplane make, model, certification type and weight. Please read below for further details. If you are unsure of what class you fall into, contact National STOL in advance of your registration.

1. There must be at least two aircraft in a class for the class to compete. 
2. Gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles, rotorcraft, powered parachutes, weight-shift, and lighter-than-air craft may not compete. 
3. National STOL Officials will make all class determinations, which are final.

Exhibition Class-No Prizes or Season Standings 

 Any FAA certificated Single engine aircraft models as determined by gross weight over 3,600 lbs, Twin Engine Aircraft, or other aircraft that are not covered by the classes below.

Standard Classes

Touring Class

• Cessna C-180, C-182, C-185, C-205, C-206, C-210, Maule M-4, M-5, M-6, M-7, M-9
• If not listed: FAA certificated ASEL models as determined by gross weight from 2,301 lbs to 3,600 lbs.

Backcountry Class

• Citabria; Huskies; Scout; Stinson 105, Stinson 108-2; T-Craft (over 1,320 lbs); Swamp Monster; Cessna 170, C-172, C-175, C-177, C-150, C-152
• If not listed: other FAA certificated ASEL models as determined by gross weight from 1,321 to 2,300 lbs.

Adventure Class

• Mackey SQ-2; Bearhawk Patrol; Carbon Cub EX, Carbon Cub FX,; Dakota Super 18; Legend (EAB); Savage Outback Shock; Super Cruiser;  Murphy Moose; Backcountry BOSS; Bearhawk, PA-12, 14, 18, and PA-22, Top Cub; Tern X Cub
• If not listed:  other FAA certificated ASEL as Experimental with a gross weight above 1,320 lbs.

Sport Class

• CSport Cub S2; Rans S-7LS; Super Legend; T-Craft (1,320 lbs); Bearhawk LSA; Carbon Cub SS; Dakota Super 18-LT; Legend (ELSA); Rans (ELSA); Just Aircraft Highlander & SuperSTOL, PA-11 / J3, AL-3.
• If not listed: other FAA certificated ASEL as determined by a maximum gross weight under 1,320 lbs.

Rookie Class

The Rookie class is an optional, relaxed class for all aircraft models and types (as long as they fit into a traditional standard class, i.e., no helicopters or twins) for new competitors. Rules in the rookie class are slightly relaxed and additional support is available. However, pilots in this class must practice during the scheduled practice day ahead of the competition, as well as participate in the new competitor safety briefing. 

Competitors may continue to participate in the Rookie class until they place first in the class. Rookies cannot compete in any other class concurrently. The Rookie class has no prizes and will not accrue season points. 

The goal of the Rookie class is to educate newcomers to the series and encourage them to grow as pilots. While pilots should be experienced aviators in their aircraft type, this will help them learn the National STOL competition format and standards in a fun, low-stress environment.

Unlimited Class

• An open class for any pilot for all aircraft models and types (as long as they fit into a traditional standard class, i.e., no helicopters or twins). 
• The class is scored in feet (distance) and follows traditional scoring.
• Each aircraft gets at least 3 runs to score the shortest total distance. 
• Tires must be marked with a yellow line, such as tape, no less than 3 inches long, perpendicular to the edge of the tire. 

The Unlimited Class is the premier Class for prizes and awards. As such, each Unlimited class competitor will provide an additional $500 cash in person at the event. This additional $500 will be split as the cash purse for the Unlimited Class. The cash purse is in addition to any other sponsored prizes or trophies. Should all registered Unlimited class competitors at an event elect to waive the cash purse, any funds collected will be returned.

The cash purse will be scaled based on the number of entrants, outlined by the chart within the rules PDF.

If you have any questions, please email us at info@nationalstol.com