September 2021 - Recreational Aviation Foundation

RYAN FIELD FALL WORK ACCOMPLISHED

The weather was September spectacular, and folks arrived to help with seasonal chores and projects at Ryan Field the weekend of September 24-26. It was a busy weekend for RAF volunteers across the country as other airfield improvements were in progress from California to Connecticut. Winters are tough near West Glacier, and volunteers finished installing…

RAF HELPS REOPEN TEXAS RIVERBEDS TO AVIATION

Not all RAF initiatives are accomplished by flying into the backcountry with work gloves and hand tools. RAF Texas Liaison Tres Clinton saw the need to commit some time within the halls of the Texas State Capitol wearing his best suit, with positive results. In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a law to protect riverbeds and freshwater areas from…

LOCAL PILOTS JOIN RAF FOR CONNECTICUT AIRFIELD IMPROVEMENTS

“It was a beautiful day for a work party, with good local support for our campsite buildout at Waterbury,” RAF Connecticut Liaison Drew Lyons said of the September work weekend. Waterbury-Plymouth (N41) lies 20 nm northwest of New Haven, Connecticut and has two turf runways, the longest of which is 2,000 feet. This pastoral area is only about 80…

MARCY FIELD SAFETY PROJECT COMPLETED

The second successful cooperative project between the RAF and the Town of Keene has been completed at Marcy Field, (1I1) a 2,390 turf airfield near Keene, NY in the Adirondacks. The field lies in an area popular for recreation and the summer farm market. “There is world class fishing on the Ausable river and local…

INGALLS FIELD, VA PROJECT FEATURED ON AOPA LIVE THIS WEEK

The Ingalls Field, Virginia RAF work project is covered in the September 23 edition of AOPA LIVE. The work project clip begins at 6:35 in the video link below. The RAF thanks AOPA for their coverage of the work at Ingalls Field! https://aopalive.aopa.org/detail/videos/aopa-live-this-week/video/6273950488001/aopa-live-this-week—september-23-2021?autoStart=true Submitted on October 20, 2021.

GA NEWS SHARES RYAN FIELD HOST’S PHOTO GALLERY

Our friends at GA News published this photo gallery by Glenn Brasch with a brief recap of what he observed during his month at Ryan Field, near Glacier Park in northwest Montana. Since 2005, RAF volunteers have created amenities and made safety improvements at the 2,500-foot airfield at an elevation of 3,660 feet. Now it attracts visitors…

Jay PerryCook

“I discovered the RAF while searching online for fun places to fly and camp,” says Jay PerryCook, of Gig Harbor, Washington. “My long-time friend, Tim Riley invited me to Ryan Field to help put the roof on the new barn. I did, and met some wonderful people, slept in my tent and ate some great…

VOLUNTEERS ESTABLISH “NEW” MOWER AT SCHAFER MEADOWS

RAF Montana Liaison and Montana Pilots Association Past President Scott Newpower reported that a half dozen planes and a helicopter landed at Schafer Meadows for a short-notice work party September 3-4. Schafer Meadows is Montana’s only airstrip within a Wilderness area, and as such, mechanized equipment cannot be used for maintenance. MPA volunteers have historically…

RAF 2021 PHOTO CONTEST RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER

The tradition continues! Thanks to your great response in past years, we’re once again kicking off the RAF 2021 Photo Contest! It’s time again to submit your favorites. From October 1-31, send us your best photos of scenic, recreational airstrips. Again this year, we are including the “RAF Mission” category, for photos we feel best illustrate people…

GILA AIRSTRIPS HISTORY OF EFFECTIVE USFS PARTNERSHIP

The New Mexico Pilots Association Gila Regional Fly-in was a huge success. Perfect weather enabled 37 planes and 56 folks to attend. Based at Reserve, New Mexico, T16, pilots could explore some of the six Gila area backcountry airstrips during the weekend. The privilege to access these places is the result of a long term partnership…