May 2020 - Recreational Aviation Foundation

CITY KEEPS ISLE AIRPORT OPEN

RAF Minnesota Liaison Kurt Pennuto received word from Dave Retka, president of the Isle Airport Association, (IAA) that the city council voted to keep the Isle airport, (MY72) open. “I want to thank everyone for their hard work, letters of support and commitment to keeping Isle Airport open for future generations of pilots,” Kurt said. …

Aaron Trueblood

Seventeen-year-old Aaron Trueblood has always been excited about flying. He took time off from his ramp duties at Glacier Jet Center in Kalispell one June day and headed to Missoula for the AOPA Regional Fly-in. It may have changed his life. As he strolled along the impressive lineup of GA aircraft, he was attracted by…

CORN HOLE COMES TO RYAN FIELD

RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower noticed the popularity of Corn Hole lawn games during last year’s Ryan Fly-in. Caterer Mike Lindemer had kindly brought a set for guests to use throughout the weekend, and folks of all ages enjoyed friendly competition. Scott decided that the field needed its own setup, and had these all-weather Corn…

RYAN FIELD UNDERGOES CHANGE

Ryan Field (2MT1) near West Glacier is open for use this Spring. Pilots approaching Ryan Field will no longer see a cluster of buildings to use for a landmark. Instead, they will see a backcountry airstrip with the green-roofed rustic pilot shelter on its west side. Prior to use, pilots must receive the current pilot…

CARING FOR UTAH’S ESCALANTE SHELTER

The rustic pilot shelter at Escalante, (1L7) was built with funds and volunteer labor from the RAF, the Utah Back Country Pilots, many private donors and local volunteers, and was dedicated to the late Paul Bowmar in 2013. Readers may recall the RAF’s “A ten-spot for a tent-spot” campaign which brought donations from all over the…

RAF GRANT FUNDS MCKENZIE BRIDGE AIRPORT MAINTENANCE

RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes was granted funds toward maintenance at McKenzie Bridge Airport, (00S) in the Willamette National Forest. “McKenzie Bridge Airport is popular with recreational aviators,” Mayes said. “It provides access to the McKenzie River, McKenzie River Mountain Bike Trail, and remote camping.” The RAF observes pandemic recommendations, and this project differs from…

“HUMP DAY” HANGAR PRESENTATIONS

Former RAF Director Steve Johnson invites all to tune into his Hump Day Hangar Presentations. As founder and administrator for the popular forum SuperCub.org, Steve has initiated weekly free virtual hangar talk presentations available to anyone. “With all the uncertainty in 2020, I felt like something needed to happen to keep people connected, so I started the Hump Day Hangar Presentations with…

TRES CLINTON

Tres Clinton is a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma, earning his B.S. in Aviation Management. He began flying in 2004, with the goal of becoming an airline pilot. “Landing a Super Cub for the first time, my path was altered,” he says. Owner of C3 Air flight school in Burnet, TX, Tres instructs for tailwheel and seaplane endorsements in…

OREGON’S RAGER AIRSTRIP IMPROVEMENTS

The RAF and the US Forest Service (USFS) have collaborated to make improvements to the primitive airstrip adjacent to the Rager Ranger Station. Located in the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon, the Rager Ranger Station served as the administrative site for the Paulina Ranger District for over 105 years. Administration of the ranger station was…

ZACH MONROE

Maine Ambassador Day job: Maine Forest Ranger Favorite airstrip: Lindbergh Field (08ME) Next adventure: Flying my Taylorcraft back to its birthplace in Alliance, Ohio