AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2014 - 63

BODY SLAM

The SuperSTOL borrows heavily from two
of the most well-known STOL aircraft in
aviation history. The A-frame landing
gear is based on the Pilatus Porter, and the
mechanical leading-edge slats are reminiscent of the Helio Courier-as are the
40-degree Fowler flaps. The locking tailwheel is beefed up for extreme rough-field
operations with its own pneumatic shock
absorber.
Cabin entry is a simple matter of climbing the landing gear and swinging into the
left seat. A top-hinged Plexiglas door is
latched at the bottom. "There's nothing
inside that's breakable, so get in however
you want," Woodland says.
The control stick and hydraulic toe
brakes are conventional. A mechanical flap
handle is mounted between the two seats,
and the flaps are deployed by pulling up on
the handle. (There are two flap detents, at
20 degrees and 40 degrees.)
Starting is normal for the 100-horsepower, dual-carbureted Rotax 912ULS.
The airplane's high deck angle puts the
occupants in a semi-reclined position on
the ground. Visibility is very good out the
Plexiglas sides and somewhat limited over
the nose.
Taxi steering on grass or pavement is
positive, mostly because of the oversized
rudder and significant amount of weight
on the tailwheel. The SuperSTOL's main

landing gear are well forward of the cen- SPEC SHEET
ter of gravity to decrease the odds of nosing
JUST AIRCRAFT SUPERSTOL
over from heavy braking. This also puts
Price $36,650 kit price (excluding engine,
more weight than usual on the tailwheel.
prop, instruments, covering)
The SuperSTOL can take off at any flap
setting-or with no flaps at all. Woodland
Empty weight | 779 lb
typically uses one notch, or lift flaps, for
Max gross weight | 1,320 lb
(if registered as LSA)
takeoff. Acceleration is brisk and short.
1,500 lb (Experimental)
On a flat grass surface at an elevation of
Fuel capacity | 30 gallons
900 feet with calm surface winds and stan(27 gallons in wings)
dard air temperature, forward stick brings
Cabin width | 44 in
the tail up in about two seconds, and brisk
Wings | Folding wings
aft stick horses the airplane off the ground
in 150 feet. With two adults, 25 pounds of
baggage, and half fuel, the airplane climbs at an estimated 40-degree angle at 50 mph.
Level at 1,000 feet agl, I raise the flaps and accelerate, and air pressure pushes the slats in against the
leading edges of the wings when we reach 75 mph.
The three-blade composite propeller is optimized for
climb, and that reduces cruise performance. With the
power set at 5,400 engine rpm, the SuperSTOL cruises
at 90 mph.
Control forces are moderate and the rudder is
slightly heavier than the ailerons and elevator. Steep
turns are conventional, and the overhead skylight
provides excellent visibility in turns. The ailerons
are activated by pulleys and are quite crisp and effective, with a maximum roll rate of about 70 degrees per
second.
But the SuperSTOL is all about slow flight, and it is
here that the airplane comes into its own.
The slats deploy in level flight at about 55 mph, and
the SuperSTOL's personality changes to something quite

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2014

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