STOL Bush Flying

STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) bush flying is backcountry aviation at its purest — landing on gravel bars, mountain ridges, and remote strips that no commercial aircraft could reach. Alaska is the spiritual home of bush flying, where Super Cubs and Carbon Cubs access some of the last true wilderness on Earth. A private pilot license is the prerequisite; bush flying courses then teach short-field technique, off-airport landings, and mountain flying. The annual Valdez STOL competition showcases the world's best bush pilots landing in under 20 feet.