Sodbuster STOL Returns To Minnesota

The Husky National Sodbuster STOL Short Takeoff & Landing Competition Series Aug. 5 to Aug. 7 at Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport featured almost 30 aircraft.

"We were excited to bring this event to a larger airport," said Tom Flanary, Husky National STOL Series co-owner. We sold out Milaca two years ago, but we needed a bigger field." Five-hundred spectators watched the 2021 competition.

In 2019, Milaca's annual August aviation celebration added the event, which tests pilots' skills during two critical phases of flight: Takeoff and landing.

Pilots land and take off as slowly and accurately as possible, doing their best to establish the shortest combined distance. The winner is defined by adding take-off and landing distance. STOL take-off distance is measured from the aircraft stop to the point at which the main wheels leave the ground the final time.

The landing is the distance measured from the main wheels at a complete stop from the arrival line. If the aircraft touches before the line, then the run is void.

"We choose Minnesota because of our amazing relationship with Jeff Pohl," Flanary said. Two years ago, Pohl organized the STOL event from scratch. He's actively involved in STOL events nationwide and is a first-place event finisher.

"The Milaca event was awesome in terms of spectators and participating aircraft, but location-wise, Brainerd was a much better venue," Pohl said.

Flanary is from south Florida. He said Minnesota's summer weather was a welcome change from the hot and humid conditions he normally encounters.

"It was a great time to be outside and celebrate aviation," Flanary said, adding the Sodbuster organization team scheduled the relocated event a week after Oshkosh/AirVenture, with the hope of catching some people heading home.

"This event is all about practicing skills," Flanary said. "You can use any airplane, a Cessna 172, a Piper Cub, it doesn't matter. You see that through all of the different classes." STOL competition classes typically include heavy and light touring, bush, experimental bush, and light sport/light experimental.

Touring aircraft such as Cessna 172s and 182s can do very well at a STOL event.

"The way I fly my airplane today is so much safer because of my involvement with STOL," Pohl said. "If you look at the crosswind component of a Cessna 170 or 172, and it's 15 knots, basically, what that's saying is the airplane can handle that. The way I've learned to fly STOL, encountering that type of crosswind is a walk in the park. You just fly the airplane and don't get sweaty palms," he added. "I'm coming in slower and safer, and I've learned how to stop in a fraction of the distance."

Event Director Anitra Goddard said FBO NorthPoint Aviation and the Wings Café were "very accommodating" and were an integral part of the event's success.

"There's a huge general aviation community that was interested in this event. We felt very well-received," she said. "We are definitely planning on coming back."

Every time she leaves a STOL event like the Sodbuster, Goddard said she walks away with a wealth of newly forged aviation friendships and community contacts.

Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Director Steve Wright said he appreciated hosting the three-day event because it showcased pilots' abilities and educated kids.

"The Brainerd Lakes Region is all about the outdoors," Wright added. "We host a seaplane fly-in every year, and an ice runway fly-in. We promote all-season aviation. We thought adding this event would be a great fit for our airport."