Posts by Lisa Ellington
MIDWEST RMEC EMPHASIZES COLLABORATION
Twenty RAF volunteers spent August 19 networking and learning ways to further the RAF mission at the “Midwest” RAF Mini Educational Conference (RMEC) hosted by JA Air Center in Aurora, Illinois. Guest speakers included state aviation officials, adding what RAF Michigan Liaison Brad Frederick called, “their great and enlightening input and perspective.” RAF President Alan…
Read MoreRAF SELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBER TODD SIMMONS
Aviation is in Todd’s DNA. His father was a U.S. Army flight surgeon; one grandfather a B-26 pilot during WWII, the other a crop duster. An uncle flew A-4’s in Vietnam; another uncle hunted enemy submarines in a Sea King for the Navy; yet another served as Beechcraft’s chief structures engineer for the Starship, the…
Read MoreSUNRISE VALLEY RANCH IN OREGON
Sunrise Valley Ranch is an 11,000 acre working cattle ranch located approximately 40 miles by air, or 85 miles by road, due east of Bend, Oregon. Nestled in a small valley surrounded by the Ochoco Mountains, the ranch is owned by Larry and Susan Fildes. Three generations of their extended family live on the ranch…
Read MoreSMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
It is clearly, or should I say not clearly, that time of year when fires tend to be a factor out west. This weekend I had planned to be a part of the annual Husky Flyin at the Root Ranch in the Central Idaho Wilderness. This annual event is hosted by RAF supporter and friend…
Read MoreFEATURED AIRSTRIP: WENTWORTH AERODROME, NH
Each month we will be highlighting an airstrip that the RAF has had an impact on. We hope that you will get out and enjoy these airstrips. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Wentworth Aerodrome (NH96). The RAF has a collaborative agreement with the owner to provide airstrip maintenance and upkeep in exchange for provisional use…
Read MoreBEN RYAN HEADS WEST
Ben William Ryan passed away peacefully July 26 at the Montana Veteran’s Home in Columbia Falls with his loving wife Agnes, “Butchie” and friends at his side. Ben began life March 21, 1923 in Belleflower, CA, the son of Ben and Mary Ryan. Ben had an older sister, T. Antoinette. His family moved to Three…
Read MoreRAF WEEKEND AT NEHALEM BAY STATE AIRPORT
RAF Oregon State Liaison Richard Mayes and Washington Liaison Dave Whitelaw teamed up to host a fly-in weekend at Nehalem Bay State Airport (3S7) July 15-16. Lovely sunny weather enticed 18 overnight campers to enjoy the facilities at Nehalem Bay State Park, the adjoining town of Manzanita, and the beautiful Oregon coast beaches. Several more…
Read More“NEXT OSHKOSH, I’M FLYING GA!”
The RAF is “saddling up” to shuttle Redbird Flight’s Charlie Gregoire from his home in Texas to Oshkosh departing July 20. It all started after Charlie described his dreadful 33-hour commercial flight into Oshkosh last year in Flying magazine, declaring, “Next Oshkosh, I’m flying GA!” RAF Chairman John McKenna took him at his word and challenged RAF members…
Read MoreFEATURED AIRSTRIP: SWANK FIELD, OH
Each month we will be highlighting an airstrip that the RAF has had an impact on. We hope that you will get out and enjoy these airstrips. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Swank Field (KMDF). Airport owner and RAF Ohio State Liaison, Freeman Swank, is happy to add Swank Field to the RAF map beginning with a successful RAF Fly…
Read MoreHAVANA ASTRONOMY NIGHT
It’s hard to top RAF Illinois Liaison Mike Purpura’s imaginative fly-in themes, especially when they’re “out of this world”! This time, he invited astronomers and astrophysicists from the University of Illinois Astronomy Club to Havana Regional Airport (9I0) for a fly-in June 23-24. The local EAA Chapter 1420 organized a Friday dinner, camping and a pancake breakfast.…
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