Bob Rose
“I’ve had a lot of good fortune,” RAF Supporter Bob Rose says of his career path. Rather than be drafted and sent to Vietnam, Bob applied for pilot training in his hometown of Syracuse Air National Guard unit and was selected for a year of active duty at Laughlin AFB in Texas for Undergraduate Pilot…
Read MoreKevin 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 MoreRIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATES NEW CUYAMA REOPENING
An RAF grant funded improvements in conjunction with a major repaving project at New Cuyama airstrip in California, L88, and as planned, on October 13 folks gathered for a celebration. The ribbon was cut by key volunteers Steve and Nancy Sappington from the Blue Sky Center, who helped drive the project. Alex Guerrero, the craftsman of Warrior…
Read MoreLONG 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 MoreRAF, FRIENDS, COMPLETE LONE PINE IMPROVEMENTS
“Thanks to an RAF infrastructure improvement grant, California’s Lone Pine Airport now has new flushing toilets and enclosed restrooms with running water,” RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov reported. The work was completed as part of a greater rejuvenation effort by Friends of Lone Pine, a non-profit group of local volunteers who recognized the potential of…
Read MoreRAF AND USFS INK AGREEMENT ON GILA AIRSTRIPS
The RAF has just signed a Challenge Cost Share agreement with the Gila National Forest outlining cooperative maintenance to increase public access to five backcountry airstrips: Beaverhead, Jewett Mesa, Me-Own, Negrito, and Rainy Mesa. In addition, the agreement acknowledges mutual desire to return Sacaton airstrip to operational status to increase public access, promote tourism and…
Read MoreVOLUNTEERS 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 MoreJULIE 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 MoreLARRY 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 MoreGRAPEVINE 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