Friday Is for Everyone, Saturday Is for Six: The National STOL Finals at Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport

Practice runs start this afternoon at 3 p.m. on the runways off Cessna Drive. Over the next three days, small planes will take off in the length of a few parking spaces and set down nearly as short. A national series that has spent all year flying at airports around the country will crown its annual champions in Sulphur Springs.

The weekend has two parts, and they are different events. Friday's Lonestar STOL is a regular-season competition open to any pilot who registers. Saturday's National Finals allow no more than six pilots per class. Which day you go decides what you see.

Why the Season Ends Here

National STOL's event page describes Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport as the "home of American Legend Aircraft," the company that builds Legend Cub aircraft right on the field. That partnership is the reason a national series comes to town for its finale.

When the event first came to Sulphur Springs in 2023, the announcement in Front Porch News Texas listed American Legend Aircraft as the presenting sponsor. It also quoted Tom Wolf, a founding member of the series:

"Our continued partnership with American Legend Aircraft, and the opportunity to bring the National Finals to their home in the community of Sulphur Springs, bodes well for making this the largest event to date."

KSST reported that 2024 was the event's second year in Sulphur Springs. It came back again in 2025, with Lonestar STOL on a Friday and the National Finals on Saturday, November 1.

The city's books show the effect. In its November 2025 report, the City Manager's office said STOL traffic pushed up airport operations on November 1. The airport logged 2,558 operations that month. For comparison, the August 2026 City Manager's report counted 2,523 operations for August, an average of 81 a day. It also listed "LoneStar and National STOL" among the aviation events Airport & Tourism staff were planning.

Since American Legend is based here, you can also visit the factory this weekend. The organizer's schedule lists free tours of American Legend Aircraft at 4 p.m. Thursday, at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Friday, and at 9:15 and 9:45 a.m. Saturday. Tours are free, but you must reserve a spot in advance.

Friday Is the Open Field

Friday's Lonestar STOL runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Any pilot can enter, and the day carries one set of points toward the annual standings. First-time competitors, and anyone who hasn't competed in more than two years, must fly one of the practice sessions on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. On Friday, first-time competitors fly the same course as the season's points leaders.

The 2026 roster lists nine classes: Rookie, Touring, Wilderness, Adventure, Backcountry, Cub, Vintage Cub, Sport and Unlimited. Under the 2026 National STOL rules, planes are sorted by make, model, certification and weight. Rookie is a practice-oriented class for new competitors. Unlimited is the open class, scored in feet. National STOL has described scoring as combining each pilot's shortest takeoff with their shortest landing.

The planes on the pre-event roster range in age from a 1946 build to a 2025 one:

• Kimberly Jackson, 1966 Cessna 150, Rookie
• Garry Holcomb, 1946 Aeronca Champ, Vintage Cub
• Nick Ardillo, 2014 CubCrafters SS, Cub
• Scott Tyree, 1998 Kitfox 4-1200, Sport
• Brandon Corn, 2024 Backcountry Supercub, Wilderness
• Ronnie Saner, 2025 Badlands Traveller, Unlimited

Rosters change up to the last minute, so treat the list as a preview, not a promise.

Saturday Allows Six Per Class at Most

The rules for reaching Saturday's National Finals are strict:

1. The top five pilots in each class by season points advance automatically. Points earned Friday count toward that total.
2. A pilot who finishes in the top three on Friday but doesn't qualify on points gets a wild card.
3. Each class gets only one wild card. If two Friday finishers both fall short on points, the higher finisher takes the spot.

So each class can send no more than six pilots to Saturday. Finalists are announced at the Friday night dinner. The finals begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and organizers expect them to wrap up between 2:30 and 3 p.m.

What Last Year's Results Show

The official 2025 results show how the two days compare. Here are the first-place finishers in each class, Friday next to Saturday.

Five of the eight classes held on both days had the same winner twice. Touring, Backcountry and Sport changed hands between Friday and Saturday. The Rookie class flew only on Friday, so Friday afternoon is the one time all weekend to watch new pilots compete. Saturday's smaller field settles each season title in a single session.

Three Days at a Glance

Thursday, October 29

• 3 to 6 p.m.: practice session #1
• 4 p.m.: American Legend Aircraft tour, reservation required

Friday, October 30

• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: practice session #2
• Noon: gates open for Lonestar STOL
• 1 to 5 p.m.: Lonestar STOL competition
• 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Trunk or Treat Fly-In and competitor meet-and-greet

Saturday, October 31

• 9 a.m.: gates open for spectators
• 10:30 a.m.: National Finals begin, expected to end between 2:30 and 3 p.m.

The organizer calls this schedule tentative and subject to change. Check nationalstol.com/lonestar before you head out.

The $5 Way In

On Friday evening, the airport hosts a Trunk or Treat. KSST's preview promised costumes, decorated aircraft areas and candy. It runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m., right after Friday's competition ends.

If you already have an event ticket, Trunk or Treat entry is included. Adults without one can get in for $5, and that purchase comes with a $5 coupon toward Saturday general admission. Anyone who wants to decorate a car or plane for the display can register it for $10. The organizer describes these as Halloween displays, not a car show.

Regular tickets for ages 13 and up cost:

• $25 for Friday
• $30 for Saturday
• $50 for a weekend pass
• $140 for weekend VIP, which includes chairs, shade, light snacks and non-alcoholic drinks

Early online discounts ended September 30, so these are the prices for this weekend. Children 12 and under get in free, but they still need a ticket added to the order. VIP is sold only as an advance weekend pass, though day upgrades on site may be possible if space remains.

So an adult who skips Friday afternoon and arrives for the 5:30 Trunk or Treat pays $5 that evening. With the coupon, Saturday general admission drops from $30 to $25.

Before You Drive Out Cessna Drive

The venue is Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport, 1220 Cessna Drive. A few things to know before you go:

• The ticket gate comes before parking. Have your QR code or payment ready as you pull in.
• Leave golf carts and side-by-sides at home. Personal ones aren't allowed. Volunteers can give rides from parking to the spectator area for anyone who needs one.
• Bring a chair. General-admission guests should bring their own.
• Small coolers and water bottles are allowed. Outside alcohol isn't, and food trucks and local vendors are expected.
• Dress for the weather. Organizers suggest hats, sunscreen, jackets or rain gear, depending on the forecast.
• Camping must be reserved in advance. A $150 spot covers underwing, tent or RV camping and includes weekend admission for two adults. Sites are primitive, with no water or electric hookups, and reservations are nonrefundable.

National STOL also notes that most of its events are run by volunteers, and volunteers get in free. You can sign up through the volunteer page.

Our team at Renee Real Estate Group lives and works in Hopkins County, and we love weekends when a national event lands in our own backyard. If you see us out at the airport this weekend, come say hello. And if you ever have questions about country property near the airport or anywhere else in the area, we're always glad to talk. Contact Us.