Archive for July 2025

An RAF grant helped fund the recent work party to renovate Black Bear Lake cabin, a remote USFS fly-in public use cabin in southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. RAF Michigan/Alaska Ambassador Rob Aho initially applied for the RAF grant, and funds for the project were also provided by the National Forest Foundation, the US Forest…

Pilot Ken “Cowboy” Winiarski owns Cowboys Air Ranch, 84ME in Maine’s “Sunrise” Washington County — the easternmost point where the sun first rises on the nation. The airfield and camping facilities are open for public use, but the runway, at 1,500 feet long, was not suitable for a wide range of GA use. To make…

Again this year, the RAF was highly visible and active throughout AirVenture week at Oshkosh July 21-27. Beginning Monday morning at Daher’s press conference, the RAF awarded Daher CEO Nicolas Chabbert with its prestigious Golden Pulaski for his commitment to the RAF mission. “We were proud to present him with this well-deserved award,” RAF President…

Volunteers flew to Alaska’s Peavine airstrip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve on July 12. They removed brush and completed airstrip maintenance on the gravel runway. “Thirteen airplanes and twenty-one volunteers were on site,” RAF Alaska Liaison Stef Goza reported. “Volunteers came from a variety of groups including RAF supporters, EAA Chapter 42, and Pioneers of Alaska members,” she added.…

“This year’s Schafer work party had fourteen airplanes and twenty-three people in attendance,” RAF Montana Liaison and former Montana Pilots Association president Scott Newpower said. A group from the Deer Park, Washington area had heard about the work party and flew over to help out as well. Newpower schedules these annual USFS/MPA/RAF cooperative work parties.…

The RAF honored Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert with its “Golden Pulaski” award July 21, 2025 during AirVenture’s opening day. Chabbert was recognized for his outstanding contributions toward the RAF’s mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. RAF President Bill McGlynn and Directors Steve Taylor and Matt Foster handed the smiling Chabbert…

A couple of weeks ago, fellow RAF director Joe Brown and I were discussing the idea of tipping the line person for fueling our aircraft, or the person who offers some other form of assistance. I felt good to be able to tell Joe that, yes, I do hand a few bucks to the person…

In July, the RAF continued cooperative work on Alaska’s Nugget Creek airstrip located near a US National Park Service public use cabin. “RAF Supporter Dave Cruz led a remarkable effort to bring Nugget Creek airstrip back to a safe and usable condition,” RAF Alaska Liaison Stef Goza said. Cruz and his crew drove 15 miles…

In Lone Pine, California, the Friends of Lone Pine Airport (FLPA) used an RAF grant for materials to help restore the historic terminal building at O26, the airport just west of the Inyo Range near Death Valley National Park. RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov had applied for the funds, and after FLPA and RAF volunteers…