The Role of the STOL Transport in Counterinsurgency, Requirements and Capabilities

The world-wide operation of existing STOL aircraft is discussed, and the lengths of available airstrips are compared with the performance of contemporary transport aircraft.

Surface conditions appropriate to unprepared field operations are described with implications in design. Low speed performance, stability and control characteristics with reference to short field, paradrop and LOLEX missions are discussed with suggestions for appropriate measures in design.

An estimate of the cost of small package and emergency shipments indicates that the STOL aircraft is less expensive than the offloaded conventional transport. Examination of the cost of establishing and maintaining an air logistic system shows similar results.

The paper concludes with comments on complexity and safety.