Posts by ewhite

The RAF was invited to be the first of 13 parties to sign the New Mexico Airstrip Network (NMAN) Memorandum of Understanding renewal. “I’m proud to have been at the signing of the original MOU, and this renewal is proof that our combined efforts are worthwhile. The RAF will gladly shoulder our responsibilities going forward,” RAF…

RAF Maine Liaison Steve Mason has reported on a successful improvement project at Norridgewock, Maine, KOWK. The municipal airport has multiple asphalt runways and a parallel turf airstrip. Mason learned that the town would not maintain the turf airfield, so he obtained an RAF grant to reclaim and enhance safety at the strip. “The grass…

RAF President Bill McGlynn was a panelist on the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s “Back to the Back Country: 2021 in review” live webinar November 18. This presentation was a segment of the Air Safety Institute’s Backcountry Safety Initiative that the RAF participated in last May. The free webinar was a reflection on recent backcountry flight accidents in…

The RAF is adding podcasts of stories about flying, airplanes and how and why people bond with this organization. In our latest installment, Bill McGlynn talks to Director Bill Brine and discusses the steps involved in saving a recreational airstrip. Now you can enjoy The RAF and Backcountry Flying 30-minute podcasts on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, and Apple podcasts on your smartphone or laptop, or…

The weather was September spectacular, and folks arrived to help with seasonal chores and projects at Ryan Field the weekend of September 24-26. It was a busy weekend for RAF volunteers across the country as other airfield improvements were in progress from California to Connecticut.  Winters are tough near West Glacier, and volunteers finished installing…

Not all RAF initiatives are accomplished by flying into the backcountry with work gloves and hand tools. RAF Texas Liaison Tres Clinton saw the need to commit some time within the halls of the Texas State Capitol wearing his best suit, with positive results.  In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a law to protect riverbeds and freshwater areas from…

The RAF is excited to distribute Rich Stowell’s free “Learn to Turn” downloadable tutorial, subtitled “A Stick and Rudder Approach to Reducing Loss of Control”. Stowell credits the RAF for its dedication and contribution to safety education, and gives RAF’s Nevada Ambassador Fred Williams of Adventure Flying Services LLC a special thanks as well. Loss of control while…

The RAF and Tailwind Aviation Foundation are pleased to announce that the Airfield.Guide now lists over 300 airfields, with destinations in each US state. “The Airfield Guide began as a challenge to find all the grass strips in Arkansas,” RAF Arkansas Liaison Dave Powell said. Powell and RAF member and IT developer Chip Gibbons took up the challenge.…

Approaching Ryan Field at pattern altitude the weekend of June 12-13, the place looked verdant and ready for mowing. As RAF Director Mike Perkins cut big swaths with the John Deere tractor, Mike and Nancy Hines mounted their pair of John Deere mowers, and expertly steered around cones, trees, tents, and tight places to finish…