Posts by Lisa Ellington

​Sugar Creek grass airstrip, four miles from Bentonville, was christened October 8 with a fly-in celebrating Summit Aviation’s tenth anniversary. Together with our partners Summit and Tailwind Foundation, we have the airport in great shape. About 100 customers, friends and family visited, some exposed to the airstrip for the first time.  Visitors enjoyed volleyball, horseshoes, beanbag throws, live music…

The RAF is thrilled to have created Trigger Gap, a new recreational airstrip, this time in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. This 3,000-ft airstrip lies on lands managed by The Nature Conservancy above the Kings River, what the TNC calls a “recreational treasure, famous for fishing, swimming and canoeing.” “Our success is the result of…

Chicken Strip in Death Valley National Park’s Saline Valley is back in operation again, thanks to RAF volunteers. The July rains had rutted the airstrip. As a safety precaution, the Park Service closed it until maintenance could be performed to bring the surface back to a safe condition. Joseph Dier, Pat Fagan and Joseph Bork answered California Liaison Rick Lach’s work…

The work party at Pelican Point (Oregon’s Owyhee Reservoir State Airport, 28U) brought out a highly motivated crew. Seven aircraft from California and Oregon landed and eight volunteers got a start on improving the runway surface.  We filled holes in the surface, removed large rocks, leveled the surface and broadcast grass seed. Volunteers also tidied up the aircraft parking…

The RAF raised funds for this new 3,000 ft. grass airstrip in the beautiful Ozark Mountains through private donations. It’s located on Nature Conservancy lands, and a long-term lease ensures its future. Local RAF volunteers helped construct the airport and have committed to ongoing maintenance. Trigger Gap is located 3.2 nm south of Carroll County…

Ragmuff is the first airstrip within the privately-held North Maine Woods to open for public use. “We’re considering this a test case, the first step in working with North Maine Woods ownership as other owners are watching,” said RAF Maine Liaison Andy Rowe. The source of its singular name is murky, but the beauty and proximity…

The North Fox Island work weekend on June 17-19 was a huge success according to Michigan State Liaison Brad Frederick. Seventeen aircraft brought 24 volunteers who cut brush and trees and mowed grass. RAF president John McKenna and board member Alan Metzler found their niche removing ant hills. George Stevens delivered the port-a-john and assembled…

RAF joins its aviation industry friends to sign FAA Reauthorization Letter. On June 8, a letter was sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act.  The letter states that aviation is vital to the U.S. economy, “contributing nearly $2 trillion in…

For pilots flying the Northwest, summer flying season is off to a great start! And the Recreational Aviation Foundation is “open for business” – that is, the serious business of safe and memorable recreation! Maybe you are headed north to Alaska and are looking for great places to land and camp or explore in Montana.…

The Green River Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association and the RAF held their annual work party at Greenwater/Ranger Creek Airport (21W) on Saturday, May 7.  About 40 volunteers and 15 planes showed up to get the airstrip ready to open for the season. They cleared the runway, raked, pulled weeds and tree sprouts, and replaced windsocks. A team assembled…