Featured Airstrip

If you’re looking to extend your backcountry flying season in the Southwest, consider plans to visit New Mexico’s Gila National Forest. Me-Own, 28 nm NE of Silver City, is one of Gila’s several recreational USFS airstrips, and has a 3,700 x 50 foot runway at an elevation of 7,554 feet. You can count on cool summer days and moderate winters among the ranges of desert grasses and mountain forests of ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, aspen, spruce, and fir. The Gila’s USFS backcountry airstrips are cooperatively maintained by RAF and New Mexico Pilots Association (NMPA) volunteers and provide access to this remote and beautiful region of the state. Sacaton, Rainy Mesa, Beaverhead, Negrito, and Jewett Mesa are "comfortably long and level runways [that] create a flying paradise,” according to the NMPA. Paved Reserve airport serves as a base for NMPA's annual Gila Regional Fly-In. Me-Own, 1NM0 offers trail access to the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, just past the vault toilet. Here’s where you can join Section 23 of the Grand Enchantment Trail that stretches 770 miles from the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix to the outskirts of Albuquerque. This remote and rugged Wilderness trail passes Gila cliff dwellings, traverses canyons and verdant creek bottoms, and offers sweeping views from elevations reaching 10,770 feet at Mogollon Baldy. The NMPA assures us that the sluggish but venomous Gila Monster is “rarely encountered.” RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller is working with the USFS to improve facilities at Me-Own thanks to the RAF’s cooperative Challenge Cost Share agreement with the Gila National Forest. The USFS requires prior permission to land at this airstrip. For permission, please call the Gila Dispatch at (800) 538-1644 and ask for the Aviation Branch. Me-Own is also used for firefighting. Check with the USFS office in Silver City for conditions prior to use at 575-388-8451. For the latest PIREPs, go to the NMPA website , and click "Backcountry PIREPs.” See the RAF Airfield Guide for more information. - By Carmine Mowbray Photo by Joyce Woods Submitted February 1, 2026

It’s flying season in Florida, and with mild seasonal temperatures and plenty of clear weather, it’s the perfect time to visit Blackwater Airfield, 8FD3 near Munson, FL. About 39 nm northeast of Pensacola, you can roll out on the smooth 4,000-ft turf airfield in the peaceful mixed pine State forest near Krul Lake Recreational Area. For years, the RAF has been especially proud of the many improvements brought about by hardworking volunteers with the help of RAF grants. Dedicated volunteers have worked together to preserve and improve this destination in cooperation with the Florida Department of Forestry. A scenic trail off the south end of the field takes you to 6.5-acre spring-fed Krul Lake for a refreshing dip. Wander a bit farther along the Sweetwater trail to the Sweetwater suspension bridge. Keep going eastward another hour to 107-acre Bear Lake, where a well-maintained trail circles the lake. To facilitate “leave no trace” use, you’ll find dumpsters in the campground. History buffs might enjoy exploring the nearby historic grist mill and Frick sawmill. As the sun dips low, your campfire comes to life, and so might the camaraderie with any others camped there. People gather for friendship and flying stories, and sometimes acoustic music breaks out beneath the starlight. If you happen to have your instrument, you’d be invited to join in! A team of RAF and other local volunteers recently spent a weekend refreshing the amenities, barbecue grills, and runway markings. “Arriving in twenty-one aircraft, it was an impressive turnout and a testament to the draw of Blackwater Field and the RAF community,” RAF Florida Ambassador Shane Hartman said, adding, “The sense of community that defines the RAF was on full display. From shared meals and campfire conversations to new friendships and lasting memories, Blackwater Field once again proved why it is such a special place.” For more information about Blackwater, and the required pre-arrival permission and safety briefing, see the Airfield Guide. By Carmine Mowbray  Submitted December 29, 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 .

Mount Tobe, N41, is a gem of an airfield, supported by the RAF and very devoted local volunteers who raise money for maintenance during their annual Mt.Toberfest fly-in, coming up October 10-12. Thanks to RAF Connecticut Liaison Brian Thomas, two RAF grants have enabled volunteers to improve amenities at the airfield a

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. The RAF is pleased to feature Olympic Field, between Port Townsend and Sequim, Washington, and announce the completion of its newest amenity, a multi-purpose solar kiosk for charging devices and displaying information. This project was supported by…

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Goodspeed Airport, 42B, a most deserving place that welcomes visitors to land, camp and stroll through the nearby traditional New England village of East Haddam, CT. Last year, RAF volunteers used an RAF grant to install four tent…

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Henderson Field, Illinois. Henderson Field, Illinois, 95IL lies near the Ohio River, bordering the southern unglaciated tip of Illinois with Kentucky. It’s among Illinois’ most scenic areas adjoining Shawnee National Forest, and near Garden-of-the-Gods, Cave-in-Rock, and the Lusk Creek Canyon Wilderness. Check out the forested River to River trail, known for hiking among a variety of wetlands, grasslands and bluffs. The 2,000-ft turf airfield is privately owned by John and Cindy Henderson who welcome visitors to enjoy camping in the shade of the trees, and swimming or fishing in the adjacent small lake. If your angling is successful, you can smoke your catch right there on the smoker! The RAF fire ring is stocked with firewood, and the owner graciously allows access to water and restroom in the shop building. To cool off in the lake, you may be able to use one of the canoes, or kayaks. Hendersons cooperated with RAF volunteers using an RAF grant to install a new windsock, the fire ring, and make safety improvements to the runway. Hay is grown on the runway, so the field is closed seasonally. Prior to landing, you must review the required Safety Briefing and contact owner John Henderson at 618-201-0293 or email at flyn5@hotmail.com . Henderson Field is one of Illinois’ darkest sky areas, making it a perfect spot for stargazers, and the local astronomical society enjoys bringing their telescopes to fly-in events at the field to explore the night sky. At last year’s event, one 30-inch diameter telescope was so large, it required its own trailer and a ladder to step up to the eyepiece.  Find out more about Henderson Field and acknowledge the required Safety Briefing in the Airfield Guide .

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Lone Pine, California. Lone Pine Airport, O26 is a great place to stage exploration of backcountry airstrips in the West, such as Panamint Springs Resort, and Death Valley National Park, including Chicken Strip in the Saline Valley; and Whitney Portal, a wooded canyon with campgrounds within towering granite cliffs. Trails from the Portal access the John Muir Wilderness, and Sequoia National Park. This airport has become highly appealing to recreational pilots and visitors, thanks to a crew of Friends of Lone Pine Airport volunteers who recognized the airport’s historic past, and its recreational potential. Since 2022, the RAF has awarded two grants to assist with infrastructure improvements. Visitors now enjoy modern flush toilets, and its refreshed historic 1940s terminal that now serves as a pilot shelter, meeting room, and kitchen for visitors’ use. Thanks to contributions from the RAF and local partners, more improvements are planned for the terminal building in 2025. The airport has a 3,990-foot asphalt runway, and dirt crosswind option, 24-hr fuel and AWOS. It’s close to the small town’s restaurants, diners, and hotels. At 3,678 elevation, visitors can look west a dozen miles and see 14,491-ft Mount Whitney, California’s highest peak. Phenomenally, just 60 miles to the east of Lone Pine is Death Valley’s Furnace Creek airport, where your altimeter winds backwards to below sea level as you roll onto final. You’re now in the Western Hemisphere’s lowest elevation. Lone Pine’s Backcountry Fly-in usually happens in early October, and locals lead fly-outs to unique and interesting airstrips in the surrounding desert – some of which are supported by the RAF. The old “Tunnel Air Camp” hangar – former headquarters for bush pilot guides – was also rejuvenated, and at the 2024 fly-in, a local band used it for a stage to entertain Lone Pine guests. The airport is owned by the City of Los Angeles, and leased for public access by Inyo County.  For more information on Lone Pine, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted January 29, 2025 By Carmine Mowbray

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Mexican Mountain, Utah. Viewing a full moon while camped in the pinyon-junipers alongside Utah’s San Rafael River at Mexican Mountain airstrip is an unforgettable experience. From its 4,460-ft elevation you can hike among multi-colored buttes, pinnacles, and alcoves. Mexican Mountain towers over the panoramic meandering canyon at 6,900 feet.  The region is rich with visible history, going back to the geologic formation of the 70-mile-long San Rafael Swell, obvious from the air east-southeast of the airstrip. Just a five minute walk from the airstrip you can view petroglyphs thought to have been left by peoples of the Fremont, Paiute, and Ute cultures that lived in the region from 2,000 to 700 years ago. More recent history includes gun skirmishes between Butch Cassidy’s “Robbers Roost Gang” and a local sheriff, detailed on a placard.