Posts by ewhite

The BLM has progressed in the process of revising its Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) and invites public comments to guide their final decision. The BLM is proposing that aircraft only be allowed to take off and land at the Bluff Airport and the Fry Canyon Airstrip. By placing…

This year’s RAF Ryan Field Fly-In takes place June 28-30 among the blooming beargrass near Glacier Park, Montana. Registration is free, but required for planning. Click here to register. Due to space limits, registration will be capped, so don’t wait. The Ryan Field Safety Briefing is required prior to flying in. Text “A” to 406-223-8069 for current conditions from…

Beautiful fall weather greeted attendees of Bob and Judy Gillette’s annual fly-in and picnic at their home airstrip, Lakewood Lodge (14WS) in northern Wisconsin. The four-day event is an annual gathering of local EAA chapter 631 and RAF friends. This year, RAF supporters attended from as far away as Oklahoma and Florida. Bob and Judy, along with the help…

A June 2023 RAF grant to improve privately-owned Henderson Field, 95IL near Golconda Illinois, included a new RAF windsock, an RAF fire ring, and treating and smoothing the turf runway with a vibrating roller. This was partially matched with in-kind donations and volunteer labor. “Thanks to terrific weather and help from visiting pilots David Butler and Chris Erkmann, everything…

“Pilots’ comments on Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) during last year’s Call-To-Action were successful,” RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig reports. “Aviation is specifically mentioned in Chapter 3 of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each of the four management alternatives the BLM is considering. Thank you for your efforts to comment,” she added.…

On August 26, a celebration was held at Two Hearted (6Y5) in Michigan to acknowledge the airfield’s reopening, and to thank everyone involved for their help. Volunteers’ efforts were appreciated and Richard and Kathy Robinson of Rainbow Lodge were acknowledged for their kind hospitality. “If not for them, this could not have happened. We cannot…

Texas native John Cyrier became enamored with aviation at age 11, when his older brother flew him to a local airshow in a J3 Cub. He received his private pilot license shortly after graduating from Texas A&M University where he was in the Air Force ROTC and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. John currently owns…

Often, we are asked how this organization began, and how has it succeeded, so we created a brief summary of the RAF’s origin, its growth and many accomplishments.  We think you’ll enjoy viewing this snapshot, since so many of you have had an important role in all the RAF has accomplished, and you continue to…

Ryan Field now has four hard-sided camping cabins, thanks to the efforts of volunteers who wrapped up the project during the June 9-11 work party. RAF supporters flying in may reserve a cabin by emailing ryancabins@theraf.org. Twenty volunteers completed many other tasks to clean and prepare all the facilities for the flying season, including bear boxes, gutters,…

Each year, RAF volunteers help out at Bob and Judy Gillette’s beautiful Lakewood Lodge, Wisconsin, in appreciation for Gillettes welcoming the public to use their airfield, 14WS. RAF Director Jeff Russell reports that this year’s weather for the May 19-21 weekend work party was perfect, and over a dozen volunteers tackled all the projects Judy had listed. “We must…