FEATURED AIRSTRIP: FLEURISH FARMS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Fleurish Farms, SD. We’ve all heard of flying farmers, but here’s a spread that a South Dakota flying farmer created for everyone to enjoy. Chad and Christy Heckathorn fashioned Fleurish Flower Farm and Design, an…

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VOLUNTEERS PREPARE LAKEWOOD LODGE FOR FLYING SEASON

A group of 27 volunteers organized by RAF Director Jeff Russell gathered at Gillette’s Lakewood Lodge, 14WS near the hamlet of Stone Lake, Wisconsin to prepare the airfield and property for summer flying and recreating. Russell reports that this annual spring work party was a great success in spite of challenging weather. “Regular Lakewood volunteers,…

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RAF GRANTS FUNDS FOR REPAIRS TO ALASKA USFS CABIN

RAF Alaska/Michigan Ambassador Rob Aho and Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest and his wife Ambassador Kari DeFreest were awarded an RAF grant toward reconstruction and repairs at the US Forest Service Black Bear Cabin on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. The fly-in cabin is 50 air miles west-northwest of Ketchikan and provides hiking, camping, hunting,…

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UTAH’S RUSTLER CANYON OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED

RAF Utah Liaison and Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP) board member Wendy Lessig has announced that Rustler Canyon airstrip near Bears Ears National Monument is the newest backcountry airstrip to be added to the aeronautical chart, and will appear as 09UT on the Denver Sectional and ForeFlight in June. The RAF assisted UBCP in the…

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RAF TO SERVE DONUTS AND COFFEE AT AOPA’S TOWN HALLS

Join the RAF at Bozeman International Airport (KBZN) Saturday, June 14 for your opportunity to meet AOPA’s new President, Darren Pleasance. He’s touring the country, sharing his vision for GA’s future and AOPA’s exciting mission to promote aviation and protect our freedom to fly. The RAF will be there in our orange shirts, beginning with…

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HANSELMAN REMEMBERED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION

Many of us still peruse our copies of the late Galen Hanselman’s pilot adventure guidebooks, Fly Idaho, Fly Utah, Air Baja, and Fly the Big Sky. Driven by his passion for the backcountry, Galen spent countless hours compiling these chunky field guides, full of useful aviation information, seasoned with photos, history, and folksy quips. Regrettably,…

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RAF SIGNS ON TO AIR TRAFFIC MODERNIZATION COALITION

The RAF has added its name to the over 50 aviation-related organizations, manufacturers and stakeholders that support Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s Air Traffic Control Modernization Plan. The US system handles more than 45,000 daily flights, and the FAA relies on aging radio equipment that air traffic controllers depend on to communicate with pilots. Some of those…

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YOU LIKELY ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER

I suspect there are times when you ask yourself – or someone you trust – a question you were scratching your head on. Questions like, “Should I or shouldn’t I? Right or wrong? Good idea or bad?” I’ll further speculate that when you ask one of those questions, you likely already know the answer. Or,…

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NEW PLACES AND ADVENTURES AWAIT IN THE AIRFIELD GUIDE

Have you explored the updated Airfield Guide yet? If discovering new places and adventures excites you, the Airfield Guide is the place to begin planning your next recreational flight!  Maybe you’re new to the RAF or just haven’t used the Airfield Guide. It’s fast and easy to sign up, and is free, without ads. You will appreciate…

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VOLUNTEERS UNDERTAKE REPAIRS ON NORTH FOX ISLAND

RAF Michigan Liaison General Grant reported that volunteers have met at North Fox Island on several occasions to take on clean up after a record early spring ice storm downed several hundred trees, many along the turf runway. “We’ve cleared the fire pit area and some tie down locations,” Grant said. Please note the taxiways remain closed due to downed trees. “This…

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