The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, improves, and creates airstrips for recreational access.

The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, improves, and creates airstrips for recreational access.

Donate Today

The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, improves, and creates airstrips for recreational access.

Donate Today

The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, improves, and creates airstrips for recreational access.

Donate Today

HOW DO I JOIN?

Join Now

The RAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, however, we are not a membership organization. We rely solely on donations to fulfill the RAF mission. To become an RAF supporter, click the Join Now button or click the Donate button in the website menu. To become a volunteer, click the Volunteer button to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer

Welcome to the RECREATIONAL AVIATION FOUNDATION

The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) was founded by a group of Montana pilots who realized that the threat of recreational airstrip closure was of national concern. They also recognized that there was the need for a unified effort by pilots everywhere to protect public recreational opportunities. The RAF is dedicated to preserving existing airstrips and creating new public-use recreational airstrips throughout the United States.

RAF Event Calendar

Team RAF

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Volunteer

Support our work with your tax-deductible donation. The RAF is a 501(c)(3) organization.

GET TO KNOW US

The RAF Way

Ryan Barn, MT

Trigger Gap, AR

The RAF implements its mission through these Guiding Principles:

We believe that aviation is a valid form of accessing recreational resources on public and private lands.

We believe in collaboration with both public and private entities to arrive at solutions that provide benefit to all parties.

We value the relationships of all stakeholders – both public and private – and commit to fostering relationships based upon integrity and transparency.

We believe that creation of new recreational airstrips will encourage the general aviation community to get out and recreate as well as provide more dispersed recreational opportunities.

We prioritize safety - from pre-flight planning to the experiences on the ground where our planes have taken us - and consider it a lifetime commitment, rather than an isolated event.

DID YOU HEAR? RAF supporters will receive a $1,000 discount on the purchase of Hartzell Propeller's Voyager, Pathfinder, Explorer, and Trailblazer propellers through 2025. Read the Press Release!

Latest News

DOES THE RAF MISSION MATTER TO YOU?

September 16, 2025

The RAF depends on folks who are passionate about preserving, improving, and creating airstrips for recreational access throughout the country. If this mission appeals to you, you might be interested in the rewarding volunteer role of RAF Liaison. To capture the spirit and purpose of an RAF Liaison, we’re unveiling the new RAF Liaison video, created by our good friends at Voortex…

RAF AWARDS GRANT FOR MONTICELLO, UTAH AREA AIRSTRIP CULTURAL STUDY

September 16, 2025

RAF Liaison Wendy Lessig continues her efforts to preserve scenic Utah airstrips on BLM land. She was just awarded an RAF grant to help fund five cultural surveys in the Monticello region through the BLM Monticello Field Office in Utah’s San Juan County. “The purpose of these cultural surveys is to help the BLM in their required review process to…

FEATURED RAF SUPPORTER: JERRY LATVALA

September 15, 2025

“If you give of your time and labor, you tend to get back more than you put in,” Jerry Latvala says, and that keeps him motivated to help the RAF anytime he can, whether it’s near his home in coastal Georgia, or far away. Jerry flew his Mooney over 1,800 nm to tent camp at…