shorttakeoff

Shorttakeoff refers to the capability of an aircraft to become airborne after a relatively short ground roll, a characteristic commonly associated with STOL (short takeoff and landing) flight. While STOL describes both takeoff and landing performance on short fields, some aircraft are specifically optimized for short takeoff distances and liftoff at low speeds. Takeoff performance is typically described by the takeoff distance or the ground roll required to reach liftoff speed, with longer distances needed at higher weights, altitudes, or poorer runway conditions.

Design and performance factors that enable short takeoffs include high-lift wing configurations, such as flaps and slats, lightweight airframes, and propulsion that provides strong low-speed acceleration. In practice, manufacturers combine reduced empty weight, efficient propulsion, and aerodynamics that favor lift at low speeds to shorten the distance needed to reach liftoff. Environmental factors such as density altitude and surface condition strongly influence performance.

Applications of short takeoff capability are common in bush flying, remote logistics, and operations from unprepared or limited runways. Notable examples of aircraft known for strong short-field performance include the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, and the Cessna 208 Caravan. The Antonov An-2 is famous for exceptional STOL performance on rough or undeveloped strips. Short takeoff is often pursued at the expense of maximum speed or fuel efficiency, and performance varies with weight, altitude, temperature, and runway surface.