Archive for 2011
Bozeman, Mont. — The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) and BackcountryPilot.org (BCP), under guidance of the National Park Service (NPS), have combined efforts to successfully reopen the legendary “Chicken Strip.” Thanks to a group of hard-working volunteers, the Chicken Strip, closed by the NPS in August, due to safety concerns, reopened on October 15. Following weeks…
RAF and NPS Reach Agreement on September 27, 2011 to Reopen the Chicken Strip The Recreational Aviation Foundation and the National Park Service in cooperation with Chief Ranger, Brent Pennington reached an agreement under the existing Memorandum of Understanding to reopening the Chicken Strip. The Chicken Strip airstrip is located in Saline Valley, and is…
Fort Kent Airfield Re-Opens September 19, 2011 The RAF has been informed by the Fish River Flying Club that Fort Kent Airport is now available for aircraft operations. The 2200 foot grass airstrip in the very northern portion of Maine is restricted use rather than public use, so a call to Mr. Tom Voisine at 207-834-5685…
What could be better than the option to land “wet” or “dry”? The weekend of August 19th, at Sullivan Lake, WA (09S), just south of the Canadian border, gave pilots that option. Some came on floats, some on wheels. Few sites offer the opportunity to land on either – Sullivan Lake is one of those…
GREAT FALLS, MT – August 9, 2011– Last week, a Federal Judge ruled in favor of both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) in response to a 2009 lawsuit brought against the agency by the Montana Wilderness Society and Western Watersheds Project. The RAF, with support from the Montana Pilots…
A blue sky, perfect temperature, fun group of people, and one of the prettiest places in the West…That was Russian Flat last weekend. RAF volunteers from Montana, New Mexico, Idaho, and Washington spent much of the day clearing brush and rocks from the campground area, felling some dead trees, and bucking them up into firewood. As the shadows…
The “Chicken Strip” at Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park, which was recently closed for safety reasons, should reopen soon due to quick action by the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) with the full support of National Park Service (NPS) managers. Death Valley Chief Ranger Brent Pennington reported that a local volunteer, Lizard Lee, had…
In Fort Kent, Maine a small group of pilots has contacted the town requesting that they be allowed to re-open the local municipal airport near the Fish River. They formed the Fish River Flying Club and have now signed a lease agreement with the town to repair, maintain and operate the 3,200 foot grass runway. John Nadeau of the Recreational…
On July 7, 2011 Pennsylvania became the ninth state to include aviation in its Recreational Use Statute (RUS). House Bill 870 was sponsored by Representative Garth Everett and strongly supported by Representative Tina Pickett along with twenty two other co-sponsors, and was approved last week by Governor Tom Corbett. HB 870 added the words “recreational noncommercial aircraft…
The New Mexico Pilots Association Recreational Airstrip Committee (NM-RAC) has organized a work party for April 29 through May 1, 2011 at the Negrito Airstrip (0NM7) in South West New Mexico. A rain date is set for the following weekend. The Negrito Airstrip is located at N33° 31.253667′ W108° 32.570200′ (estimated by AirNav). Its elevation is…
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You know the feeling. You set the airplane down somewhere spectacular, shut off the engine, and enjoy the pristine landscape in front of you. This is why you fly. Keeping airstrips pristine is everyone's responsibility. But one item that doesn’t always make it into the airplane is a good trash bag. Not for the trash you planned to make. For the trash you didn’t. Cans left in a fire ring, fishing line along the river, or food wrappers working their way through the brush. None of it came in your airplane, but you have the ability to get it out. That’s reason enough to tuck a couple of heavy-duty contractor bags in with your tie-down gear. They earn their space in other ways, too. A contractor bag can keep wet or muddy gear out of the baggage compartment, cover equipment in a downpour, collect rainwater, or become an emergency poncho or windbreak. It weighs almost nothing and takes up very little room. Throw a few in the airplane and leave them there. You may not need one for your own trash, but there is a good chance you’ll find another use for it—or find something worth carrying out. Submitted September 9, 2026 By Stef Goza, Etiquette Chair, Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee
RAF Colorado Liaison Ken Long, Ambassador Mike Langersmith, and other RAF volunteers participated in an August work event at Marble, Colorado, a mountain airfield about 20 nm up the Crystal River drainage south of Carbondale. Airfield Manager Susan Blue put together the task list and oversaw the event that brought 21 volunteers in ten aircraft and four dogs.
FEATURING: SMARTWOOL SOCKS Whether you’re flying into the backcountry, hitting the trail, or simply going about your day, a comfortable pair of socks can make all the difference. Smartwool Socks are designed for outdoor adventures and everyday wear, offering the comfort, support, and durability you need wherever the day takes you. Made by Smartwool and finished with the RAF logo, they’re a practical way to bring a little backcountry spirit along for the journey. Get your feet backcountry-ready and show your support for the RAF from the ground up!
The tradition continues — RAF 2026 Photo Contest! We’re excited to announce the upcoming RAF 2026 Photo Contest! It’s time to look through your photos and find your favorites. Once again, we’ll include the “RAF Mission” category, recognizing photos that best capture people enjoying recreational aviation, no matter the region. Each winning photographer will receive a package of high-quality greeting cards featuring their photo on the front and photo credit on the back — just in time for the holidays! New this year: We’re especially excited to see your photos from our Expanding The Map airstrips! Submit a photo taken at one of these airstrips, and we’ll send you a small gift from the RAF Outfitter as a thank-you for sharing it with us. Stay tuned for our next announcement, which will include everything you need to know to enter this year’s contest. Eligibility: The contest is open to all RAF supporters, amateur and professional photographers alike, including those aged 18 and under. Our judges are the RAF’s volunteer VPs of Appreciation, who also handwrite the RAF’s thank-you cards each week. They especially enjoy photos featuring airplanes, beautiful scenery, and people experiencing the fun and adventure of recreational aviation. The contest opens October 1, and winners will be announced November 15. Start looking through those camera rolls — we can’t wait to see where recreational aviation has taken you! Submitted September 3, 2026
When pilot Eric Johnson of Canby, Oregon steps up to help on RAF projects, he says he’s motivated to preserve these opportunities now and for future generations. Eric is a third-generation pilot himself, and he and his wife Elle have three children, all under age five as of this writing. Eric says, “Jett, the oldest, is obsessed with airplanes,” and Grandpa Kevin Johnson treats Jett to donuts at the local FBO on Fridays so they can watch airplanes. Kevin Johnson’s name should be familiar to readers, since he has supported the RAF all over the West. He has designed, delivered, and assembled a number of camping structures and other amenities at RAF-supported airfields, often assisted by Eric, who loves to contribute his precious spare time on these projects, saying, “Our family values tradition and hard work, which is a big part of what the RAF is. That’s how all the work parties are. Everyone shares the same goal and is happy to be there.” Eric earned his private pilot license in 2012 in the same Cessna 172 that his grandfather and Kevin bought in 1976, and that he now co-owns with Kevin. “We hangar it at the home that we live in, that my grandfather built in 1990,” Eric says. Elle is a private pilot as well, and worked for Columbia Helicopters until becoming a stay-at-home mom. Her father is building an RV4, so “Aviation is on both sides of our family,” Eric says. A licensed General Contractor, Eric has transitioned into property management, helping oversee the family’s 277-space manufactured home park and industrial properties in northwestern Oregon. Eric has made flights into OSH for AirVenture. He says, “The biggest adventure of the 16-hour flight is the last five minutes.” Anyone who has also nosed into that swarm of approaching traffic will probably agree. At Airventure he became acquainted with the RAF at a presentation on backcountry flying. “The mission aligns perfectly with my other outdoor hobbies,” he says. Rafting the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon line in the Hells Canyon Wilderness, he’s looked up toward the many airstrips near the river. “The only time I’ve seen Moose Creek airstrip is floating and fishing the Selway,” he added. Now he looks forward to landing, pitching his tent, and maybe helping one of his kids tie a line to fish these rivers, perhaps sparking another lifelong passion in the next generation. Submitted September 3, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray
