Archive for May 2019
Sue Mann
For a woman who works full time as a surgical nurse for the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Portland, OR it’s amazing to consider all the other things Sue Mann manages to accomplish. Each year for the past dozen, Sue and her husband Jeff have gone to Guatemala where she assists other volunteer medical providers bringing…
Read MoreFEATURED AIRSTRIP: MEXICAN MOUNTAIN
Each month we highlight an airstrip that the RAF has positively impacted. We hope that you will get out and enjoy these airstrips. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Mexican Mountain in Utah. Mexican Mountain airstrip in southern Utah is considered by some to be the “best backcountry strip in Utah.” It lies within a Wilderness Study Area, and…
Read MoreDREW LYONS
MA and RI State Liaison RAF MA and RI Liaison Drew Lyons was born and raised near Boston, always dreaming of being an airline pilot, but “life eventually had different plans,” he said. After serving in the US Army 82nd Airborne Division and finishing college, Drew finally achieved his dream of becoming a pilot, earning…
Read MorePATRICK ROMANO
Colorado State Liaison Patrick Romano always knew he wanted to fly. So it was not a surprise to anyone when he took his first lesson at age 14 and started instructing by the time he was 18. After a decade of flying everything from helicopters to business jets, he had to get a real job. …
Read MoreBOBBY CAPOZZI
Florida State Liaison Like many others, Bobby Capozzi started his quest for aviation by building and flying model airplanes. Model aircraft were the stepping stones to Bobby soloing at 16, achieving his private at 17, and purchasing a 1953 PA-22 two weeks later. “I bought it as a time builder and continued preparing for my…
Read MoreTOM HAEFELI
Colorado State Liaison Tom was intrigued with flying from the very beginning as a child, in a family whose business was beekeeping in southern Colorado “I worked in the business through high school then – being a typical teen – I couldn’t wait to get out into the world,” Tom says. He earned his first…
Read MoreRICHARD "RICK" LACH
California State Liaison Richard “Rick” Lach, from Kernville, CA, has had a passion for aviation from an early age. He can recall riding his bike to Van Nuys Airport, where he would sit on the railroad tracks and watch planes land. After joining the Air Force he spent four years maintaining F-100, F-101, and F-105…
Read MoreDAVE POWELL
Arkansas State Liaison Few pilots can say they began flying in a Texan T-6 at the age of 12. That’s when Dave Powell was first exposed to flying by his father. They also flew a Navion his dad’s company used for business. Once out of college and working, Dave made the time and had the…
Read MoreMARK SPENCER
Arizona State Liaison and Public Lands Liaison Mark has lived in Arizona since 1974 and has had a long career in the Aerospace industry beginning with Sperry Flight Systems in the early 80’s. From Sperry he moved on to W.L. Gore & Associates where he was involved in microwave coaxial interconnect designs used in avionics,…
Read MoreAL CLAYTON
Alaska State Liaison Al was born in Alaska and has been stuck there ever since. As a teenager, he got a ride in the back seat of a Super Cub to a remote hunting camp in the Wrangell Mountains, which convinced him he needed wings. He went off to Oregon for college with a plan get smart…
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