May 2017 - Recreational Aviation Foundation

RAF VOLUNTEERS GATHER IN TN

The Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, TN hosted the third RAF Mini Education Conference, (RMEC) May 27. “There could not have been a better venue to host passionate aviators, nor more gracious hosts than John, Charlotte and Charles Parish. They rolled out the ‘orange’ carpet for the RAF,” said Administrative Director Tricia McKenna. RAF President…

ARIZONA’S GRAPEVINE OPENS, X REMOVED FROM CHART

Another success in keeping with the RAF mission happened as the new Phoenix FAA sectional shows no X through the Grapevine Airstrip symbol. It’s taken nearly five years of collaboration between the RAF, Arizona Pilots’ Association (APA) and the US Forest Service – including the signing of the national MOU between the RAF and the USFS – to remove…

RAF TRAIL #3 BLACKWATER, FLORIDA

The RAF’s third Inaugural Trail stop at Blackwater, FL coincided with Blackwater’s fourth annual Fly-in. The strip was in beautiful shape, thanks to volunteers from Florida Sport Aviation Antique and Classic Assoc. (FSAACA) and the RAF. They weeded, and re-set the tires lining the runway and gave them a fresh coat of paint. They cleared and increased…

UPDATES FROM RAF NEW MEXICO STATE LIAISON – RON KELLER

Gila National Forest update New Mexico pilots have responded to RAF Calls To Action regarding Forest Service plan revisions and have written comments. We appreciate their time and effort! Joyce and I collaborated on comments to Gila NF on behalf of NMPA, while Rol Murrow commented on behalf of the RAF. Several people have taken…

FIRST ANNUAL KERN VALLEY BACKCOUNTRY FLY-IN

In spite of a poor forecast, gusty winds and scattered clouds, around thirty-five airplanes and more than fifty people attended the RAF Kern Valley Airport Fly-In May 5-7, organized in large part by RAF member Anthony Longobardo. Being the first of an annual event, RAF California Liaison and Airport Manager Rick Lach said, “We expect 50 or more…

NEW NEBRASKA STATE LIAISON – DAN KELLER

The RAF is pleased to introduce new Nebraska State Liaison, Dan Keller. During his freshman year in college, a “Learn to Fly Here” flyer caught Dan Keller’s eye. Four years later he graduated with an ag business degree. It was post-911 and “two thousand pilots had just been laid off. My flight instructors from four years prior…

RAF WORKING WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN ALASKA

We are excited to announce a cooperative agreement between the RAF, EAA Chapter 42 and the National Park Service in Alaska. It’s an opportunity for a fly-in community service project to make Jake’s Bar (AKO) a safer place to operate. The strip is an unimproved 1,000-ft gravel bar along the Chitina River in Wrangell-St. Elias National…

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: RYAN FIELD, MT

Each month we will be highlighting an airstrip that the RAF has had an impact on. We hope that you will get out and enjoy these airstrips. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Ryan Field (2MT1). Ryan Field (2MT1), a private airstrip co-owned by the RAF and Ben and Butchie Ryan, is located one mile southeast of West…