![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() They are the newest race class to join the Reno Air Races in 21 years, and the only race class with national accreditation, so they can take their show on the road. Under this national accreditation, the FAA has given them the power to issue race cards which give pilots the ability to fly at any one of their STOL Drag events. That’s right, this group of perceived intrepid backcountry pilots took an enormous amount of time to create procedural manuals, a pilot safety course, and more. Over the years, they have built a strong relationship with the FAA and are now a nationally accredited race event. Two Piper Clippers go head-to-head, flown by pilots Katie Waito and Cathy Page. Those who think that the pilots involved in STOL Drag racing are outlaw reckless cowboys, will be surprised to find that they are laser focused when it comes to safety. The meticulous nature of the event organizers is a common theme. In it are the race times of every pilot who has ever competed in STOL Drag. The mysticism around this book is a real thing. Now a time keeper and judge, you’ll see Forsyth walking around with a blue book pressed to his chest. But it has changed so much since then,” said Bryan Forsyth, one of the original attendants of the High Sierra Fly-in. When it first began, the concept was simple: “Fly down, turn around, come back fast. When asked why he thinks the High Sierra Fly-in has connected with so many people and amassed such a huge following, Quinn said, “We are flying airplanes that the common folk fly every day, it’s relatable.” This exciting new form of racing is getting a lot of attention from general aviation pilots across North America. Racers Milne “CC” Pocock and Kevin Sloane race to the turnaround point at the Reno Air Races. STOL Drag racing incorporates so many different skills, like power and energy management, direction and altitude control, and spot landing techniques the psychological aspect of flying next to another aircraft comes into play, as well. The first aircraft to fly past the starting line and come to a complete stop, wins. Once they get on the ground, they dissipate the airspeed using mechanical braking, come to a full stop on heading, turn 180 degrees, take off, and fly back down the course. The pilot has to land on or beyond the line on the opposite side of the course. You start on a line, take-off, and fly 1,000 feet before putting the plane into a slip to slow the aircraft down. ![]() Two aircraft fly down a 2,000-foot course with 1,000-foot overruns on each side. STOL Drag is a race between backcountry airplanes. The creator of STOL Drag, Kevin Quinn, flagging the start of a race at the 2021 Reno Air Races. He thought to himself, “Let’s line them up side by side in the desert and go down and back a mile.” And with one fell swoop, Kevin Quinn changed the High Sierra Fly-in forever. With that question in mind, Quinn came to the idea of racing airplanes. To be perfectly honest, it’s fun but, if you’re not 200 feet from the start or finish line, it’s like watching paint dry.” “Traditional STOL is cool, but our backcountry flying is traditional STOL everyday. “I was sitting on the think tank one morning,” he laughed. With all the attention that it’s been getting, many people are asking, “What’s so special about it?” To that, we answer with two words, “STOL Drag.” A concept that first came to life when pilot Kevin Quinn got thinking about how he could make traditional short take-off and landing (STOL) competitions more fun. The High Sierra Fly-in (HSF), also known as “Burning Man for Pilots” - now in its 11th year - has played host to nearly 2,000 people and 500 aircraft. What started as a small birthday party in 2010 has grown into one of the hottest aviation events of the year. Annie Vogel PhotoĪmong all the buzz around off-airport flying, those paying attention can’t help but hear about a “small” back country fly-in that takes place in the High Sierra Desert. Two backcountry aircraft race to the finish line at the 2021 Reno Air Races. Great things can’t be kept secret for long, and with aviation influencers like Trent Palmer and Kevin Quinn drawing mass attention to this type of flying, everyone wants to be part of the magic. However, with the increasing popularity of sharing experiences on social media, backcountry flying is blowing up. Aviators have been finding new off-airport spots to land for decades, and will continue to do so throughout this vast continent. “The promise land,” and “Flying Mecca” are just a few terms used to describe eastern California stretching out to Utah.įor some, landing on mountain peaks, dried up lake beds, and meadows hidden among forests, is nothing new. Where public land is free game, and the only thing that limits you is the capability of your aircraft. Imagine a place where every flat stretch of dirt presents an opportunity. Estimated reading time 13 minutes, 36 seconds. ![]()
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