BRIAN RAU

North Dakota State Liaison

Brian is the first to admit that he’s a “flatlander”. “I do recognize that the world is round and not every place is as flat as North Dakota.” Actually, his portion of North Dakota – Prairie Coteau (French for “pot holes”) – is quite rugged with rolling hills. Brian and his wife Elly consider the Utah backcountry their favorite flying vacation spot. “The first time we visited the area, we rode our bicycles from the Canyonlands airport into Moab and back, UffDa!!” (Scandinavian for “bad idea”) The Utah area fits their limited flying opportunity well, as the strips are usually open and temperatures moderate in the late fall and early spring when they are not busy farming and flying as aerial applicators. (FAA for “crop dusters”) Brian is currently involved with the National Agricultural Aviation Association, which uses up most of his vacations.

Some consider aerial application as not being environmentally friendly. Brian says, “the truth is that high production agriculture, of which aerial application is an important part, is very good for the environment. High production agriculture allows food to be grown without as much fossil fuel use and with less land, which allows more land to remain for people and wildlife.” Brian’s knowledge and experience brings an important aspect of conservation to the RAF.


As in backcountry flying, agricultural flying is about how much weight you put in the airplane for the conditions at the time. “What’s different is that most of us flying into the backcountry don’t have the luxury of excessive power or turbine engines. If I get lazy with my 182 going into a backcountry strip, I am in big trouble,” Brian says.


Brian’s entry into backcountry flying was mostly self taught, lots of reading, talking to others and practicing short field landings and takeoffs, followed by very cautious trips into some of the less demanding strips before moving on to more difficult strips. “I believe that I achieved my experience safely, but in retrospect I could have saved myself a lot of time by hiring an instructor who knew the area well,” Brian says, adding, “the UBCPA has a list of instructors willing to help.”


Some may not consider caution characteristic of an Ag Pilot. “You will find that those who have flown ag for 30 years are the most cautious of all, as they have seen what the wrong attitude does to pilots and aircraft. One of my mentors told me as a young pilot, ‘ There are two things in life everyone must learn. First there is a God, and second, you are not Him.’ ”


Brian concludes, “I hope to meet all of you sometime in the backcountry”.


701-486-3414

brau@theraf.org

Recent Posts

RAF GRANT TO IMPROVE MAINE WOODS AIRSTRIP

By Carmine Mowbray • November 26, 2025
Ragmuff Airport lies in the heart of the North Maine Woods on private forest land. It had been closed and disused for decades when RAF Maine Liaisons Andy Rowe and Steve Mason recognized its recreational value. They worked hard with the landowner to get it reopened and charted with the FAA identifier ME26 in 2023. RAF Maine Ambassador Larry Grenier was just awarded an RAF grant to pay for materials for a new picnic table and fire ring that volunteers will install in the spring. “The Bowman Flying Club from B10 – about 100 nm south – is planning a work day to go up with a brush hog and tools to Ragmuff for field maintenance, clearing overgrowth around the runway and camping area,” Grenier said. Rowe says, “The west branch of the Penobscot is just a mile and a half hike and offers good fishing for brook trout and landlocked salmon. Fall is the premier time to be there – colors turn, it becomes bug-free and partridge and fishing seasons overlap.” Ragmuff is listed in the Airfield Guide, with Andy Rowe as the main contact. For more information about the airfield, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted November 26, 2025 By Carmine Mowbray

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: PAYSON, ARIZONA

By Taylin Trafton • November 24, 2025
Payson, Arizona, is billed as “Arizona’s Cool Mountain Town,” and recreational aviators give it a big thumbs-up. The airport (KPAN) lies at 5,157 feet elevation beneath the Mogollon Rim and has become a favorite stop for pilots. It’s 50 miles from the hubbub of the busy Phoenix region, yet it offers all the amenities a recreational flyer could want – an uncontrolled, small-town airport – a natural stop for resupply for exploring Arizona’s other backcountry strips. It has 24-hr avgas and Jet A, and a courtesy car, available with 24-hour prior reservation, so you can explore the area and discover a wealth of outdoor recreation and historical sites, trails, and Native ruins. Camping among pinyon pines can start right at the Payson airport, where you’ll find a dozen campsites, each with a picnic table, grill, fire ring, and stocked firewood. Join new friends in the ramada, or around the group fire ring under the clear night sky. There are ADA restrooms with hot showers. The Crosswinds Restaurant is right on the airport and welcomes you for breakfast and lunch. Patrons highly recommend their pies. Payson has a very active Parks and Recreation department that organizes events throughout the year. Of special interest to aviators is their annual Aerofair in October. Admission is free, and the ramp is lined with all kinds of vendors and displays. You may see a Marine VTOL demo, a T-34 formation flyover, or strap in a Huey or a Cobra for a helicopter ride. You can choose from a mouth-watering variety of local foods. Experience community spirit during other warm weather events like free movies in the park, pro rodeo weekends, and golf tournaments. Fall brings public 5K run-walk events, flag football, and hay rides; and Christmas is lit up with the annual parade of lights. Payson gleams with community pride, and you can see the full story here . Find more about the Payson Airport in the Airfield Guide .

REHAB WORK BEGINS ON CALIFORNIA'S WALKER RIDGE AIRSTRIP

By Taylin Trafton • November 24, 2025
RAF California Liaison Doug Lumgair received approval from the BLM to begin rehabilitating Walker Ridge airstrip located within the Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California, and his request for the first work party was abundantly answered in spite of the challenges of driving to the site. It was what he called “an incredible experience,” with every single volunteer a “true rockstar.”

WORTH THE READ: BRITT LINCOLN GUEST EDITORIAL

By Taylin Trafton • November 17, 2025
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Britt Lincoln, a pilot and RAF volunteer.

GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED SCIENTIST DR. RIC HAUER PASSES

By Taylin Trafton • November 17, 2025
The RAF is saddened to report the passing of Dr. Frederick “Ric” Richard Hauer. The RAF was the beneficiary of Hauer’s globally recognized expertise. In 2014, Dr. Hauer devoted his time and expertise to setting up and overseeing a pivotal study of the effect of aircraft noise on wildlife. The peer-reviewed results established the RAF as an organization with sound scientific authority. The study concluded with his statement, “ . . . there is no significant increase in stress levels among deer due to recreational aviation activity.” “It’s clear that early on Ric gave the RAF the authority we needed as we approached land managers to defend airstrips,” RAF Chairman John McKenna said. The entire study remains a reference in RAF guidelines for land managers. Hauer grew up in a small Michigan farming community, where his German immigrant father practiced medicine. He held B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Stream and River Ecology from the University of North Texas. He and his wife, Brenda, settled in Montana, where he enjoyed flying his red and white 1975 Skywagon extensively for research and pleasure. In addition to his passion for flying, he was a lifelong learner. Internationally, Dr. Hauer collaborated on research and policy development. He worked on US-Canada transboundary water issues, contributing to the preservation of Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley. His global impact extended to South America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia, where he participated in conferences, fieldwork, and policy discussions. As a tenured professor at the University of Montana, Dr. Hauer taught advanced courses, mentored graduate students, and directed major research initiatives. He founded the Institute for Ecosystems and the Systems Ecology graduate program and led over $70 million in environmental research. He published more than 125 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited the influential textbook Methods in Stream Ecology. He was an active member of the backcountry pilot community, and he and Brenda enjoyed RAF camaraderie. “I always learned something when Ric was talking,” RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower said. Submitted November 17, 2025. Featured photo credit: Legacy.com