Kodi, Author at Recreational Aviation Foundation

BILL REPUCCI

South Carolina Ambassador Day Job: Global Analyst for ABB Favorite Airstrip: Williamsport Airpark (SC86); Creighton Island is a close second. Next Adventure: to continue working scratchbuilding my Spacewalker II and try to finish it in time for my son to learn to fly in it.

ANDREW TURNER

Pennsylvania State Liaison Andy Turner was introduced to aviation at a young age, buckled in the rear seat of his parents’ TriPacer. Always interested in outdoor pursuits, he earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Michigan State University, and now lives in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he works as a professor of Biology and Geosciences at…

JUDSON RUPERT

Pennsylvania State Liaison Jud was born and raised in central Pennsylvania where he says he helped his A&P/IA father, “as much as I was allowed.” He attended Penn State University where he received his BS in Aeronautical Engineering, followed up with his MAS from Embry-Riddle. He was a member of the US Naval Test Pilot…

RICHARD MAYES

Oregon State Liaison Richard grew up in Texas and earned his private pilot’s certificate at age 18. After completing a couple of engineering degrees in California, Richard decided – without much forethought– that his future lay in Alaska. Earning his commercial, instrument, MEL and SEL ratings, he flew to remote locations throughout the state for…

STEVE THOMPSON

Oklahoma State Liaison Steve Thompson was raised on a farm in southern Oklahoma. He was born in 1966 and since his earliest memories he knew what he wanted to do. Fly Airplanes. At age 14 his dad introduced him to a coworker that was in the Civil Air Patrol and soon he started taking flying…

FREEMAN SWANK

Ohio State Liaison RAF Ohio State Liaison Freeman Swank is as comfortable piloting a John Deere tractor or a motorcycle as he is flying his Piper Cherokee. An Ohio native, Freeman started flying in 1971. He was inspired by the Flying Farmers he met while he was in the Farm Science program at Ohio State. …

CHRISTINE MORTINE

Ohio State Liaison Following a career in classical music, Christine turned from conducting instruments to flying by them. She is an FAA appointed pilot examiner, maintains CFI-ing (especially tailwheel), a former AOPA safety seminar presenter, and when not flying in the back country, is thinking about it. Christine has a Cessna 185 and a Super…

BRIAN RAU

North Dakota State Liaison Brian is the first to admit that he’s a “flatlander”. “I do recognize that the world is round and not every place is as flat as North Dakota.” Actually, his portion of North Dakota – Prairie Coteau (French for “pot holes”) – is quite rugged with rolling hills. Brian and his…

RON KELLER

New Mexico State Liaison Toward the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Ron Keller was stationed in Albuquerque and has lived in New Mexico ever since. His first ride in a GA aircraft was with an Air Force co-worker. His interest in aviation began from a maintenance perspective, until he married his wife, Mary…

JOHN MEADE

New Hampshire State Liaison John grew up in New York and had the Navy take him away; eventually depositing him in Massachusetts. John’s father-in-law flew, and in the late 80s, John got bitten by the flying bug as well. Eventually a SuperCub on floats became his pride and joy. It became a convertible with Bushwheels,…