Valdez, Alaska — Stephen Spence, of Anchorage, Alaska, took the top spot in the 2022 Valdez STOL Contest in his modified 1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
The annual Short TakeOff and Landing Contest was held during the Valdez Fly-In, May 13-15, 2022.
Powered by a Lycoming 360 engine with an 80-inch Hartzell metal propeller, Stephen was airborne in 40 feet. He landed in 85 feet, taking first place in the Light Touring Class (below 2,300 MGTW).
He reports he was aided by 29-inch Alaska Bushwheels on his main gear, an 850 tire on his nosewheel, a Sportsman’s STOL Kit, and Micro AeroDynamics VGs.
Stephen adds that “shifty” winds this year “were very challenging.”
“A steady afternoon sea breeze that varied between gusty and dead calm required intense focus to maintain control on final,” he says.
It was Stephen’s second competition at Valdez and he won his class both times.
That airplane beat the Best Super Cub by 50 feet
Just read about this in the July issue of Sport Aviation and had to Googulate it to see if it was true. Found this news article.
Pure-T Crazy!