Posts by Lisa Ellington

The RAF has always worked hard on saving or creating recreational flying destinations and has many successes around the country. A couple of RAF State Liaisons recognized the need to encourage new pilots to experience the joys of using those recreational airstrips.  Bob Burley, RAF Vermont Liaison, makes the point that it is important that we encourage pilots to…

We’d heard glowing reports about Sullivan Lake State Airport (09S), which is nestled next to a serene lake in northeast Washington. We also heard how much pride and hard work the RAF, WPA and the state’s Aviation Department had put into the airfield. So when we Floridians had a chance to fly to the state, we included…

The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has been working for several years to re-open North Fox Island airstrip, located on a state-owned 820-acre island in Lake Michigan. Many volunteer man hours have gone into preparation and negotiations in order to reclaim and return the airstrip to a safe condition. North Fox Island is approximately 27 miles northwest of…

Today aviation lost a truly good friend. John Kounis passed away suddenly.  John, along with his best friend and brother George are the owners of Pilot Getaways magazine. John was one of those that continually looked for a way to make the world of aviation better.  He truly was a guy who could not only…

What do you do when flying to great recreational destinations is just not enough?  For some the answer is to pick up a camera and capture those moments and views to share with others.  Yesterday, we lost a grand master of aviation photography Jim Wark.For over 20 years Jim provided a view of our country from…

On May 10, 2015 RAF member Steve Mason had the great privilege to pilot his first Honor Flight.  He flew from Greenville (3B1) to Portland, Maine (PWM), picked up Harry Cary and flew him to Rangeley, in the western mountains of Maine, where he was met by his family.  He had a wonderful trip to…

Thanks to an abundance of willing labor, the old Double Circle Lodge in the US Forest Service Apache Sitgreaves​ Clifton District got a new porch roof May 8-10. The USFS and local support has made the Recreational Aviation Foundation’s efforts possible at the old Double Circle, and RAF’s work on the national scene helped grease…

The RAF joined forces with the Green River Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association and WSDOT Aviation to hold a Work Party and Chili Feed on May 9th to clean up and open Ranger Creek State Airport (21W).  This is an annual event the chapter holds at its adopted airport to prepare it for the summer flying season.  …

Each spring, the RAF “Order of the Orange” assembles in Lakeland, Florida for the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in.  Our mission at the springtime event is to reconnect with members, educate others about the RAF mission, and provide both entertaining and educational symposiums.  It is a week of fun and comradery to take us out of the…

Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) President John McKenna and Public Lands Liaison Mark Spencer of Arizona testified on March 18 before the U.S. House Department of Interior Appropriations Committee. Their goal was to request funding for the ongoing maintenance of airstrips on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Their prepared documents and…