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National STOL Sodbusters Competition Launches at Hartford Airport Before Oshkosh
National STOL's annual Sodbusters event kicks off with pilot briefings and practice flights at Hartford Municipal Airport ahead of EAA AirVenture.
The gist
National STOL begins its Sodbusters contest at Hartford, Wisconsin, featuring practice and competition before the Oshkosh airshow.
National STOL officially started its Sodbusters competition on Friday at Hartford Municipal Airport in Wisconsin, located roughly 54 miles south of Oshkosh. This opening day focused primarily on essential pilot activities such as briefings and practice flights. It serves as a build-up to the scored competition scheduled to begin Saturday morning, just two days prior to the start of the famed EAA AirVenture event at Wittman Regional Airport.
Friday's schedule mandated attendance at a new-competitor briefing at 11 a.m., followed by a compulsory briefing for all pilots planning to practice. The actual practice window ran from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. National STOL requires any pilot new to its events, or those who haven't competed in the past two years, to participate in both the briefing and practice sessions to ensure safety and standardization.
Competition gates for spectators open Saturday at 9:30 a.m., with live scoring commencing at 10:30 a.m. The contest is expected to run through the afternoon, concluding between 3 and 4 p.m. After the day’s competition, an awards dinner will be held at 6 p.m., exclusively for competitors and invited guests, celebrating performance and sportsmanship.
Hartford Municipal Airport is providing transient aircraft parking and underwing camping space for attendees. However, organizers caution that camping accommodations are limited, urging pilots with interest to plan accordingly. The event's structure and facilities support the growing popularity of STOL (short takeoff and landing) contests as a prelude to the larger Oshkosh airshow gathering.
The competition uses a combined-distance scoring system, where pilots are ranked based on the total distance required to take off and to land. The goal is to minimize the sum of these distances; the pilot with the lowest cumulative score wins their class. The 2026 rules specifically ban high-angle-of-attack takeoffs and abrupt maneuvers to maintain control and fairness.
Rookie pilots participate without earning season points, providing a developmental platform before competing fully in future events. Meanwhile, veterans accumulate points towards the season-long National STOL championship, adding a competitive season framework to the Sodbusters as part of the wider National STOL circuit.
Sodbusters has become a regular stop on the National STOL calendar and serves as a strategic warm-up for many pilots ahead of the major EAA AirVenture convention, which runs from July 20 to 26. The competition concludes Sunday with camping sites closing at 11 a.m., allowing pilots to reposition northwards for the Oshkosh event beginning the following Monday.
Frequently asked questions
- What activities take place on the first day of the National STOL Sodbusters competition?
- The first day is dedicated to pilot briefings for new competitors and those practicing, followed by a practice session from early afternoon to evening at Hartford Municipal Airport.
- How is the scoring determined in the National STOL Sodbusters competition?
- Competitors are scored by the combined distance of their takeoff and landing, with the lowest total winning each class; high-angle-of-attack takeoffs and abrupt maneuvers are prohibited.
- Does the National STOL Sodbusters event connect with EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh?
- Yes, the Sodbusters competition is held just before EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, serving as a preparatory event for many competitors who move north for the AirVenture show starting soon after.
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