Kevin Johnson

A breakfast when Kevin Johnson was in high school determined his future as a pilot. “My dad had served in the US Air Force Reserve as load master on the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, then got his private pilot license when I was five, so we were around flying. But when he flew me to…

Read More

LONG TERM EFFORTS KEEP STOVEPIPE WELLS OPEN

“Success has many fathers,” RAF Director Tim Riley says, using the proverb to point out that many people put in a lot of time and effort toward preserving Stovepipe Wells airport in Death Valley National Park.  The Park Service had planned to close the airstrip in favor of stargazing. After meetings with aviation advocates, and…

Read More

VOLUNTEERS ADD CABINS; WRAP UP SEASON AT RYAN FIELD

Over extended weekends ending in October, skilled volunteers from literally all over the country met at Ryan Field, 2MT1 to build two more hard-sided camping cabins. The board commited to adding two cabins due to demand during flying season. These cabins are located along the west side of the field, a few minutes’ hike north…

Read More

JULIE POWELL

Born and raised in Michigan, Julie Powell relocated to Rogers, Arkansas with her husband Dave 35 years ago. They have two wonderful children, both gainfully employed and “off the pay roll” and still in close communication, so life is very good! Julie loves the outdoors; running, hiking, biking, camping, skiing and of course, backcountry flying. Arkansas…

Read More

LARRY GRENIER

Maine Ambassador Day Job: Project Manager for a Maintenance Contractor at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.  Favorite Airstrip: My Home base. Bowman Field (B10)  Next Adventure: To Be a camp host at Ryan Field. 

Read More

GRAPEVINE COST-SHARED REPAVING COMPLETED

Repaving at 3,800-foot Grapevine, (88AZ) has been completed, thanks to a Master Challenge Cost Share Agreement between the US Forest Service, Arizona Pilots Association, and the RAF, coordinated by RAF Arizona Liaison Mark Spencer. Each entity contributed funds. APA provided $10,000, the RAF provided $5,000, and the Tonto National Forest invested $15,000 for a total of $30,000 worth of work.  Years…

Read More

MATHIEU LABS

Vice President of Appreciation Mathieu’s love of aviation started at the age of 1 when his grandpa gave him a ride in his Cessna 150. Since then, he has been to OSH every year since 1990, either flying in with grandpa, flying himself, or just camping. He enjoys flying Young Eagles and is the President/Young…

Read More

CALL TO ACTION: BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT

The BLM is holding a Public Scoping period for the Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) until 10/31/2022 to gather topics and criteria that the public thinks are important for the BLM to consider as they prepare the Resource Management Plan (RMP) and corresponding Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), required by federal legislation.  RAF Utah Liaison and Utah Back…

Read More

RAF GRANT HELPS LONE PINE AIRPORT ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov received an RAF grant for infrastructure improvements at Lone Pine Airport (026) in California, and volunteers began work Sept. 17 and 18 to restore a historic small house that serves as the terminal, and repair the restroom building. “The work party at Lone Pine was a success and they kicked off a big portion of the project,”…

Read More

RAF GRANT AWARDED FOR NEW CUYAMA, CA

New Cuyama, L88 is located between the Southern California coast and Sierra mountain range about 32 nm north of Santa Barbara. Privately owned by The Blue Sky Center, a nonprofit community development organization that promotes an “offbeat but comfortable camping, retreat, or event experience,” it is open for public use. Built by Atlantic Richfield Company in…

Read More