CALL TO ACTION — MAINE AIRFIELD THREATENED WITH CLOSURE

Your action can make a difference!

Maine pilots learned that the town of Dover-Foxcroft is considering closing Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Airfield (44B) to install a four megawatt solar generating plant. RAF Maine Liaison Andy Rowe, Steve Mason and RAF New Hampshire Liaison John Meade are rallying pilots to protect the 2,926-ft scenic airfield. Camping is encouraged on the field, and it’s within a mile from town that lines the Piscataquis River.

A public meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 12 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building in Dover-Foxcroft.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you are asked to send emails of support to the Board of Selectmen.

Here are some relevant points:

• There are other suitable locations to site a solar plant, that would not close this historic airfield.

• Closing the airfield disregards the honor of the Charles A. Chase family, who dedicated the land for a public airport in the 1950s. The family supports its continued operation.

• Acreage exists surrounding the runway. The city could explore shared land use. Decommissioning the airfield is a permanent closure that simply is unnecessary.

• Open land is available close to a substation, near three-phase power.

• Solar arrays have been installed on landfill properties. Dover-Foxcroft’s is approximately 30 acres and would be an ideal location for solar panels.

• Recreational airfields have economic value to a community.

• There are pilot organizations such as the Recreational Aviation Foundation with willing volunteers that assist with maintaining airfields.

Please send your comments before Tuesday, November 12 to members of the Board of Selectmen:

Town Manager, Jack Clukey, 207-564-3318, jclukey@dover-foxcroft.org

Elwood E. Edgerly, Chairman, 207-564-8559 (no email listed)

Cindy Freeman Cyr, Vice Chairman, cynthia.cyr@gmail.com

Jane Conroy, jconroy@maine.edu

Gail D’Agostino, gdag2421@gmail.com

Stephen Grammont, islander307@gmail.com

Scott A. Taylor, staylor@pridesports.com

Ernie Thomas, ernie.thomas@foxcroftacademy.org

Submitted on October 31, 2019

Posted in News

RAF FIRE HUB INSTALLED AT BEECHCRAFT HERITAGE MUSEUM

October 21, 2026

The Beechcraft Heritage Museum at Tullahoma Regional Airport is the site of a new RAF Fire Hub, provided by an RAF grant submitted by Tennessee Ambassador Steve Lewis. The Parish family, who own the Beechcraft Museum, along with other RAF volunteers, contributed to the preparation and installation of the fire hub. They completed the project in time for folks to enjoy it during the annual Beech Party event over the October 10-11 weekend. The 20-foot diameter permanent concrete base was provided by a private donor. The fire ring and three 10-foot-long propeller blades were designed and fabricated by RAF Volunteer Pete Smith of Lewistown, Montana, with design assistance from Pete's son Matt Smith of Bozeman, Montana. The structure lies east of the 2,775-ft turf Parish Aerodrome runway adjacent to the Beechcraft Heritage Museum. “This permanent installation will showcase the RAF mission as the Museum draws visitors from around the country,” Lewis said. For more information on the airport, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted October 21, 2026

MICHIGAN VOLUNTEERS WORK AT HANLEY

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Michigan RAF volunteers had a very successful work party at Hanley Field (5Y7) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula the October 10-11 weekend. Led by Michigan Ambassador Ryan Minnick, the crew, including Michigan Liaison Tanmoy Ganguly, cut and stacked firewood, repaired the sink and water heater, and relocated the airport sign along the road for better visibility. “We had a great weekend and got a good amount of work done. It was great connecting with supporters from the area,” Minnick said. “The assistant airport manager was there and was very happy with the results that came out of the work party.” Fourteen remained to camp Saturday night. Find more about Hanley Field in the Airfield Guide . Submitted October 21, 2026