Posts by ewhite

Come spend time with the RAF at Oshkosh AirVenture during the week of July 25-31! You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, July 26 at 12:45 pm for a special volunteer dedication of engraved tiles beneath the famous Brown Arch. A generous donor has provided an array of tiles for the RAF to commemorate past…

Beginning Thursday, June 23, aircraft began arriving under sunny skies for the annual RAF Ryan Fly-in. By mid-day Friday, winds were calm, and 47 aircraft were tied down along the emerald turf, colorful tents and camp chairs beneath the wings. Folks relaxed in the bright orange Adirondack chairs in the shade of the barn roof…

The Copper River washed out a highway bridge at Mile 50 on Alaska’s Copper River Highway to Cordova some five year ago, and the road has been closed ever since. RAF Alaska Liaison Al Clayton saw this as an opportunity for the RAF to cooperate in the creation and improvement of Childs Glacier Airstrip to access “a…

RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes reports another successful work party at McKenzie Bridge Airport (00S), in part funded with an RAF grant. “On June 4, six dedicated RAF supporters braved cool and very wet conditions to complete the spring maintenance activities,” he said.  McKenzie Bridge is located within the Willamette National Forest in Central Oregon’s…

The RAF is pleased to announce that Cornucopia Airport, 23W (formerly WI23) along Wisconsin’s shore of Lake Superior is now open for public access. RAF Director Jeff Russell of Waunakee obtained RAF grants and worked with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics for the past three years, organizing work parties and airfield improvements in cooperation with…

The RAF partnered with Montana State University’s Computer Science Software Factory to improve the Airfield Guide’s functionality, and incorporate ForeFlight usage. MSU has Montana’s highest ranking Computer Science (CS) department, and launched the Software Factory, an innovative way to expose students to real-life businesses and organizations. Dr Clemente Izurieta, PhD oversees the program that is run by senior CS…

RAF Oregon Ambassador Bill Ables reports that more than two dozen volunteers arrived to clean up airstrips in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area on April 23.  What may surprise some is that Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge. The Snake River is known for whitewater rafting, jet boating, fishing and access to native sacred…

RAF supporter and skilled fabricator Joel Wyttenbach learned that Cornucopia Airfield WI23 needed a turf roller to smooth mole hills and prepare the surface for aircraft use. “Organizations like this are made of people with a lot of different abilities,” he said. “I could help out Corny with a roller, and had to take the opportunity to…

The RAF announces a successful advocacy outcome for pilots who prefer to take off and land on turf, typically adjacent to hard-surfaced runways. The new FAA Advisory Circular  AC 150/5300-13B became official on March 31, and acknowledges turf operations within Runway Safety Areas(RSAs). RAF Director Jeff Russell began working with AOPA and EAA in July of 2019,…