Archive for May 2024

Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This month’s guest editorial is by Joyce Woods, an RAF friend and volunteer who also facilitates the NM Airstrip Network. “Value is Created with Partners” was my new manufacturing boss’s mantra in the…

After a year of planning the project and logistics with Seth Roseberry, Recreation Management Specialist with the US Forest Service in Ketchikan, RAF Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest organized a seven-day volunteer work party for maintenance at the SE Heckman Lake public use cabin. With the help of an RAF grant, the USFS had approved DeFreest’s plan, and the project…

Cavanaugh Bay homeowner, Idaho Aviation Association member, and RAF supporter Steve Pryor reports that thanks to well organized teamwork, an irrigation installation was completed at Cavanaugh Bay, 66S the weekend of May 4-5. Improvements at the parklike airport have been provided by Idaho Aeronautics, Idaho Aviation Association and the RAF. A substantial amount of volunteer work has…

Ambassador Ray Ballantyne has moved to a State Liaison volunteer role in Washington, joining current Liaison Dave Whitelaw. Ray was born into an aviator family as his father was a WWII CG-4A Combat Glider pilot who met his mother at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX while she was training to be a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot).…

Seventeen volunteers tackled annual spring cleanup and readiness at Ryan Field near West Glacier the first weekend of May. Working throughout typical Montana spring weather, they added eight tie-downs, set out chairs and picnic tables, cleaned bear boxes, removed brush, cut trees, bucked and stacked firewood, and seeded, fertilized and dragged runway areas. The barn…

Split Interest Gifts to a Charity, such as the RAFAs the name implies, a split interest gift involves two or more parties. One is the donor, the second is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 charity like the RAF. This is an irrevocable gift of an asset – typically a highly appreciated, yet previously untaxed one – to…

The snow has started to melt in our part of the world, the grass is greening up and it’s that time of year when heading to your favorite backcountry strip seems like just the right thing to do. It’s also a real good time to brush the dust off your flight manual and do some…