2021 STOL Drag World Championship: Winner Bronze Class

Jon Hakala won the Bronze class in the STOL Drag 2021 World Championship at the High Sierra Fly-In this past Saturday, October 16, 2021, flying his Rotax-powered Zenith STOL CH 701 (with heavier Alaskan Bushwheel tires).
25-year-old Jon Hakala is a relatively new pilot with about 100 hours experience flying his Zenith "Sky Jeep." He modestly explained how this was his first competitive event and that he hardly expected to qualify for the event with his stock STOL CH 701.
He made the 5.5 hour trip to the Dead Cow dry lake bed (north of Reno in the high desert) in his Zenith from his home in northwest Oregon.
STOL Drag Landing and Take-Off Events take a traditional STOL (Short TakeOff / Landing) competition to the next level. It challenges pilots like never before: pilots fly straight 2000' down and back in a side by side format. The event brings out the emotions of the pilots and spectators alike creating an exhilarating spectacle to watch. Competitors are well versed in Power and Energy management along with spot landing precision and overall peripheral awareness.
First introduced in 1986, the STOL CH 701 aircraft was developed as an “off-airport” short take-off and landing kit aircraft to fulfill the demanding requirements of both sport pilots and first-time builders. With the STOL CH 701, designer Chris Heintz combined the features and advantages of a “real” airplane with the short-field capabilities of an “ultralight” aircraft. The aircraft features fixed leading-edge slats for high lift, full-span flaperons (both ailerons and flaps), an all-flying rudder, and durable all-metal construction.
While the basic design has remained the same, many significant improvements have been introduced over the years, including a higher useful load, easier and quicker build kits, and more detailed drawings and step-by-step assembly instructions.
Short Takeoff and Landing Performance: Short-field performance is where the STOL CH 701 aircraft truly excels: It is airborne in less than 120 feet of unprepared grass, or 90 feet of hard surface, at gross weight. Rotation is possible by the time full throttle setting is applied, and lift-off can begin at 25 mph (in ground effect, with no wind) – all within less than four seconds from stand still. Of course, any headwind shortens the time and distance required for take off.
The STOL CH 701 was not designed to be just another ‘pretty’ light aircraft, but was engineered to offer outstanding short take-off and landing performance, all-metal durability, and unparalleled ease of construction. With form following function, the STOL CH701 looks like a ‘Sky Jeep’, as it is often called by its owners.
Popular since 1986, there are thousands of STOL CH 701 aircraft flying around the world! Not many of the STOL CH 701’s flying today can be found at airports – most are operated from short off-airport grass fields, in backyard fields and in remote areas. The aircraft’s all-metal construction makes it suitable for continuous outdoor storage – providing their owners with continuous cost savings (no hanger or tie-down fees).

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Видео 2021 STOL Drag World Championship: Winner Bronze Class канала Zenith Aircraft Company