Page 57 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

NEWS

SHE STOL THE SHOW

By Amelia Walsh

Champion Scout and a TBM
850.
Northwest Arkansas’
rugged terrain drew seasoned HOW MUCH FLIGHT
aviators and enthusiastic TIME DO YOU HAVE?
spectators to its inaugural A little over 300 total time -
ArkanSTOL Ozark Backwoods about 150 in the Cub, 70 in the
Challenge in September. Cessna, 80 in the Sling and just
And while most competitors a few in the Scout and TBM 850.
have been flying for years
or even decades, it’s a WAS THE ARKANSTOL
newcomer - 17-year-old Jaden EVENT YOUR FIRST TIME Jaden Newman with her ArkanSTOL hat, a
Newman - who proved she’s COMPETING? badge of honor only awarded to ArkanSTOL
the one to watch, having placed pilots. Photo courtesy of Tanya Newman
second after earning her pilot Yes and it was the time of my
certificate earlier this year. life!!!! Flying in a Carbon Cub as a [MX Aircraft] MX2.
Taking place at Byrd’s backcountry flight instructor, a
Adventure Centre, the event WHAT DO YOU ENJOY corporate pilot or a crop duster. I HOW DOES IT FEEL
was unlike any other STOL MOST ABOUT FLYING? would also like to train young kids TO BEAT OUT SOME
competition. Pilots were tested The freedom it gives me and in aviation. SEASONED PROS AS A
on their skills and judgment overcoming the challenge to land YOUNG COMPETITOR?
while dealing with extreme at new spots. WHAT HAS BEEN THE
terrain and challenges, MOST CHALLENGING It came as a shock! When I first
including unpredictable DO YOU HAVE ANY PART OF FLYING FOR YOU? arrived, I was just happy to have
river valley winds. Despite the AVIATION ROLE MODELS? the opportunity to try and qualify.
challenge, Newman gave the Trying to find the time to pull After I qualified, I was honored to
competitors a run for their Mike Patey, Steve Henry, Trent myself out of the airplane to study participate in the [event]. I had [no]
money - finishing second in the Palmer, Jonas Marcinko, Kevin for all the written exams. expectations to do so well.
light sport category just half a Quinn, Cory Robin, my flight
second behind winner Steve instructor - Dennis Duggan and WHAT’S THE BEST FLYING IS THERE ANYTHING
Henry with a time of 2:38.7 my dad! I also met a new one at TIP ANYONE HAS GIVEN YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT
minutes. ArkanSTOL -my new mentor and YOU? YOURSELF ALONG THE
One of 26 competitors, someone I look up to- Joe Edwards. I can’t think of just one, but here WAY?
Newman put on an impressive are a few of them: Learn what I have learned to always know
performance in her 2009 Super HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE the airplane is going to do before there is more to learn and listen
Sport Cub, though she admitted DID YOU HAVE WITH it does it. Feel the airplane and to those who want to share their
she had no expectations of BACKCOUNTRY FLYING become one with it. A good pilot knowledge and experience.
doing so well. With just 300 PRIOR TO THE ARKANSTOL is a smooth pilot. Never quit flying I would also like to give a huge
hours of flight time, it’s clear COMPETITION? the airplane. Thanks to those who supported me
she’s made a real name for After I received my tailwheel before, during and after the event.
herself. endorsement on February 22, DO YOU HAVE ANY So many spectators (Mary Deatrick,
AOPA caught up with 2020, I would fly low-and-slow INTEREST IN AEROBATICS/ Greg Simmons, Warren Grob, Jay
Newman to talk about the almost every evening after school AIR RACING OR Stanford and Chuck Kinberger),
ArkanSTOL competition and her in the adobe hills next to Montrose, ANYTHING SIMILAR? other participants (Rob Brady, Levi
experiences flying as a young Colorado. I also spent a lot of my Noguess, Steve Henry and Steve
competitor. flying time exploring new landing Yes! STOL competitions, aerobatics Pierce and Dale Mitchell), news
spots in Moab, Utah, and around and air racing are all on my list crews, event volunteers (Rob and
WHAT GOT YOU INTO the Uncompahgre Plateau. of things to accomplish and be Andrea Hill) and event coordinators
proficient at.
FLYING? (John Young, Rusty Coonfield,
I went up with my mom and dad on DO YOU WANT TO IS THE CUB YOUR IDEAL and Joe Edwards). I made so
CONTINUE FLYING AS A
a test flight with an instructor and I CAREER OR AS A HOBBY? PLANE TO COMPETE IN, many new friends that I now call
really enjoyed the experience. OR IS THERE ANOTHER family. I would also like to thank my
I would like to continue making AIRCRAFT YOU’D LOVE TO sponsor: Acme Aero (Matt Mcswain
WHAT AIRCRAFT DO YOU flying a career and a hobby! FLY? and Eric Robinson) who believed
in me. Also my mom, dad, brother
FLY? Yes, for STOL competitions I love (Dustin, who is in the Air Force
I fly a 2009 CubCrafters [Carbon WHERE DO YOU SEE flying the Cub. I would also love to stationed in Anchorage, Alaska!)
YOURSELF IN THE
Cub SS], I also fly a Cessna 172 and FUTURE? fly an F–16 or an FA–18. If I could and family who have been there
a Sling 2, I have flown an American fly aerobatics, I would love to fly an throughout this whole process. Q
World Airnews | November Extra 2020
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