Backcountry Pilot

This first installment of STOL Tips -- a series on operating aircraft in as short a distance for takeoff and landing as possible-- will cover final approach, and show how proper use of attitude flying can produce a stable landing with very little excess energy that could otherwise extend landing and rollout distance.

The second installment of STOL Tips -- a series on operating aircraft in as short a distance for takeoff and landing as possible -- will cover takeoff technique: An often overlooked but critical skill for backcountry performance and safety.

The third installment of STOL Tips -- a series on operating aircraft in as short a distance for takeoff and landing as possible -- covers landing technique. "Greasing it on" is often a luxury of long runways, but when short with no go-around is the objective, minimum speed and maximum control is in order.

In the 4th installment of STOL Tips-- a series on operating aircraft in as short a distance for takeoff and landing as possible-- we're talking about go-arounds and balked landings, a useful technique for safely aborting a landing or evaluating a landing zone, but also an action that can often increase the workload on the pilot.

In the 5th installment of STOL Tips-- a series on operating aircraft in as short a distance for takeoff and landing as possible-- we're going to look at the special considerations for operating tricycle-gear aircraft in the off-airport environment.