SHIPPENVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – The Appalachian Mountain STOL competition is returning to Clarion County Airport this weekend, bringing with it two days of high-power aircraft performances, pilot showdowns, and community attractions.
Set for Friday and Saturday, August 29–30, the event is expected to draw pilots from across the United States and as many as 1,000 spectators to Shippenville.
“National STOL is a nationwide short takeoff and landing competition series where pilots compete for the shortest takeoff and shortest landing,” event organizer Tom Wolf told exploreClarion.com.
Each pilot’s score is based on the combined distance of their takeoff and landing during a single pass.
Dennis Rowe, a competitor and class winner last year, explained the sport’s origins and appeal.
“Folks started doing it in the backcountry and up in Alaska. It became a bragging rights kind of contest,” he said.
Last year, Rowe recorded 157 feet, landing and taking off in less than 80 feet each.
The two-day event will begin Friday afternoon with practice flights from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by an evening social gathering at Lost in the Wilds Brewing. Saturday’s schedule starts with gates opening at 9:00 a.m., and the main competition runs from 10:00 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Spectators can also enjoy a free kids’ paper airplane contest, with sign-ups open at the merchandise tent before 11:00 a.m.
A Saturday night awards dinner is planned for 6:30 p.m.
Gavin Fish/EYT Media
General admission is $20 for adults 13 and older. Children 12 and under get in free. A few VIP Saturday tickets are available for $70, which include shaded tent seating, provided chairs, light snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Clarion County Airport, 395 Airport Road in Shippenville, will serve as the venue. Parking will be managed by the Civil Air Patrol and will be available off Manor Church Road. On-site camping options include underwing, tent, and RV setups, but must be reserved in advance.
Volunteer Sean Fuellner, who will work the event again, described the atmosphere from a frontline perspective.
“Just an adrenaline rush right now. Airplanes everywhere. High horsepower. Awesome,” he said. “I’ll be on the line as a judge. I’m up front, right next to the airplane.”
Wolf noted the event has continued despite recent setbacks.
“We haven’t missed a single show since the trailer fire a month and a half ago,” he said. He credited Clarion County’s cooperation and support. “The county is amazing. Whatever we want to do, they say, let’s do it.”
Organizers say the competition is about more than performance statistics. According to Wolf, the event helps connect people to aviation in a tangible way.
“The goal was to get people into aviation, because so many don’t even realize their local community has an airport.”
