WORTH THE READ: LUKE LACHENDRO GUEST EDITORIAL

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 guest editorial is by Luke Lachendro, a Wisconsin pilot and an RAF Ambassador.

Preserving More Than Airstrips

In aviation, we often talk about freedom. The ability to lift off from the ground and chase horizons few others get to see. But for me, the real freedom in aviation comes not just from where we can fly, but from who we meet when we land.

As a younger aviator who grew up on a private airstrip in south-central Wisconsin, I’ve been incredibly lucky. Not just to fly over 80 different types of airplanes, but to be surrounded by a tribe of aviators, mentors, and friends who have helped shape my path. That sense of community and shared purpose is at the heart of why I fly, and why I believe so deeply in the mission of the Recreational Aviation Foundation.

Backcountry aviation and grassroots flying are full of technical challenges, regulatory work, and physical labor. But what keeps it moving forward is the people. The airstrip owner who hands you a wrench and a story. The couple who opens their hangar and fires up a grill. The mentor who walks you through your first “real” cross-country. These relationships don’t just make flying better, they make it sustainable, meaningful, and worth protecting.

I’ve found that my aviation family isn’t about blood, it’s about shared passion. The people I’ve met through aviation have opened doors I never knew existed. Opportunities to fly new aircraft, to grow a business, to take on leadership roles, and to give back. And in return, I try to do the same. That spirit of paying it forward and lifting others as you grow is a thread I see woven into every RAF volunteer I’ve had the pleasure to meet.

The RAF understands this better than anyone. Their work isn’t just about preserving airstrips; it’s about preserving access. Not only to places, but also to relationships (very important to focus on this with the next generation of aviators). Every time the RAF protects a backcountry airfield, they’re safeguarding a gathering place. A space where friendships are born over donuts by a windsock, or where a kid gets their first airplane ride that changes the direction of their life.

The beauty of RAF-supported airstrips isn’t just in the views or the remoteness. It’s in the connections. They bring us together in ways that’s unexplainable. In a world that often feels disconnected, aviation remains one of the few places where a stranger on the radio becomes a friend by the time you shut down the engine. As a fellow RAF supporter likes to say, “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation is possible.” The RAF is an excellent steward of explaining the necessity of keeping the impossible, possible!

I’m still early in my aviation journey, and I know there’s a lot left to learn. But one thing has become clear. You can’t solo your way through aviation. You can’t fake it until you make it. You need the hangar talks, the right-seat rides, the advice that only comes from years of experience, trial, and a few mistakes along the way.

To those who have guided me so far, thank you. And to those just starting out: don’t chase the ratings without also chasing the relationships. Because when you need advice, a part, or a place to land, your logbook won’t have the answer. Your friends, mentors, and RAF family will.

Supporting the RAF isn’t just about making a donation (please keep doing that though). It’s about joining a culture that believes flying isn’t a solo act, but a shared experience. It’s about saying yes to being part of something meaningful and lasting. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about where you can land. It’s about who’s there when you do. And if you land at my home airstrip, you want my mom to be there because there’s nothing that beats her dark chocolate chip banana bread after a flight.

Submitted June 26, 2025