Posts by Lisa Ellington

Century Companies of Lewistown, Montana was awarded the Gold Pulaski by the Recreational Aviation Foundation at the Montana Aviation Conference held recently in Helena, Montana. The Gold Pulaski is the highest award given by the RAF. It signifies an outstanding contribution by a company or individual for work on the RAF mission. Century Companies under, the…

Download the press release here Submitted on September 17, 2010.

Following years of work and discussions, on July 2 Abigail Kimbell, Chief of the U. S. Forest Service, signed a directive acknowledging the long and proud history of aviation use and airstrips on forest service lands, and asked USFS managers at all levels to inventory and maintain existing facilities, and to support aviation as an…

The Ryan Field fly-in and dedication was held on Saturday June 21st 2008. Submitted on June 30, 2008.

Four years spent cooperating with the US Forest Service, planning, building trust and credibility has resulted in a new site for a recreational airstrip in the beautiful Russian Flat of central Montana, a short walk from the south fork of the Judith River where anglers enjoy catch-and-release fishing. Dan Prill of Sand Coulee, Montana, took…

A 24′ X 30′ pilot shelter is available at the RAF’s Ryan Field adjacent to Glacier Park in Montana. Submitted on October 13, 2007.

The RAF worked with the Bozeman, Montana Airport Authority in constructing a new pilot shelter at the BZN airport. The building can be used by local pilots and transient campers. Submitted on August 23, 2007.

The RAF recently received a generous grant from the Wolf Aviation Fund supported by Alfred L. and Constance C. Wolf. The grant dollars have been used to fund the legal research on Recreational Use Statutes in all 50 states with the goal of creating a database and identifying their strengths and weaknesses so that the…

Ben Ryan’s P-38 was out of control. The Lightning following him had just taken evasive action to avoid a collision and, in doing so, the other aircraft peeled the right-vertical stabilizer from Ben’s twin fighter. Ben was helpless; rudder and elevator, gone. His aircraft tucked into a steep dive and the roiling waters of the…

Tuweep The Grand Canyon Secret Few things are more disappointing to pilots than an enormous white “X” marking the threshold of their favorite recreational airstrip. Such is now the case at Tuweep (L50) airstrip on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Update: The RAF has been participating in the potential lease and reopening process of…