Troy Woodland of Just Aircraft Receives EAA’s August Raspet Award
Troy Woodland, a partner in the Just Aircraft Company, was selected by the EAA for the prestigious August Raspet Award in 2014. The award is given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of light aircraft design.
Oshkosh, WI - Troy Woodland, a partner in the Just Aircraft Company, was selected by the EAA for the prestigious August Raspet Award in 2014. The award is given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of light aircraft design. Woodland began designing in the 1990s, but it was his SuperSTOL that set him apart as he explored new technology in the design. Included in his latest effort are self-adjusting slats on the leading edge of the wings, Fowler flaps, hydraulic strut landing gear with more than 20 inches of stroke and a locking, shock-absorbing tail wheel. He is currently in the process of refining spoilers that deploy with the ailerons to increase roll response, especially at very slow speeds. The SuperSTOL also include tundra tires to cushion landings at very high angles of attack. In receiving the award, Woodland follows others like Curtiss Pitts, Burt Rutan, Paul Poberezny, Ladislao Pazmaney, Dick VanGrunsven, and the Klapmeier brothers. "It took awhile for the meaning of the award to sink in," said Woodland, "but then I realized that I'm joining a very exclusive club of honorees and it is truly a humbling experience. It's like the thrill of that first flight in the SuperSTOL." Woodland previously designed the Escapade and Highlander, but he refers to the SuperSTOL as his "creative effort toward making airports optional". For more information on Troy and Just Aircraft, visit JustAircraft.com.
