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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 .

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.”

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.

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

The 2025 RAF Photo Contest has concluded. Thanks to our supporters, we had a great turnout of submissions! Our VPs of Appreciation reviewed and judged them anonymously, selecting 19 winning photos. VP of Appreciation Cindy Cross said, “This year's photos illustrate the passion for flying into and around beautiful landscapes. It's great to have so many pilots, families, and friends enjoying our remarkable freedom to fly." Each winner will receive a package of high-quality greeting cards with their photo on the front and photo credit on the back. All photos – even those of the non-winners – are archived for possible future use in RAF publicity, including photo credit. Thank you to everyone who participated! It’s not too early to start thinking about photos for next year’s contest!

Another fine RAF video presentation by Voortex Productions explains the passion that blends aviation with the outdoors, and why the RAF began its efforts to preserve recreational aviation It’s not complicated. The RAF simply brings people together with a common interest, and together, they work to make things better. We call it the “RAF Legacy Video” because you’ll also see why the RAF's future is bright, and its Legacy is assured. We welcome you into this special family! Submitted November 12, 2025

Does your employer have a matching gift program? It's worth checking. Many companies will match employees' donations to recognized nonprofits, doubling the amount of a gift. Some even match employees’ volunteer time, doubling the effect of their efforts. We encourage you to explore this way of stretching your donation farther, leveraging your valuable time and dollars. Examples of employers who offer this matching program are Microsoft, Deloitte, GE, and IBM, but there are many more. You can learn more about matching gift programs, and if your employer has one, at Charity Navigator . Please consider the RAF as your selected charity to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. The RAF is a federally recognized 501(c)(3); EIN: 42-1613294. Submitted November 12, 2025

The RAF often features aviation enthusiasts old enough to have a little graying around the temples. This month, we are featuring 17-year-old twins Joshua and Caleb Turner, sons of RAF Pennsylvania Liaison Andy Turner. The boys have been flying since toddler age, buckled in the backseat of the family C172, among a week’s worth of camp gear and diapers — there are no diaper stores in Idaho’s and Montana’s backcountry. But you won’t see those cross-country hours in the boys’ logbooks. Instead, you’ll see pages filled with the glider hours each has accumulated since age 14. Caleb says topping his list of “bests” is the feeling of “ flying solo for the first time in a glider.” Now the boys are well on their way to their PPL, and have logged dual instruction beside their Dad, a CFI, in the RV-10 that Andy built. Andy and Sharon Turner were headed into Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness when they were first acquainted with the RAF. Since then, Andy and the boys have helped at RAF work parties every chance they had. A few years ago, they’d journeyed back to Montana and were camped at Meadow Creek. When Andy gave the young boys a choice between fishing the South Fork, hiking, or joining Saturday’s work party at Ryan Field, it was unanimous — both enthusiastically voted for the work. The 14-year-olds spent the day splitting and stacking firewood, painting, mowing grass, and clearing brush, then they enjoyed the fellowship around a potluck meal. They brought their camp chairs around the fire and were welcomed in to listen in on flying yarns under the stars. Josh says, “The RAF has given me an appreciation for flying and wild places. We use some of the airstrips to access the backcountry. Without the RAF helping keep strips open and maintained, I may not have had some of these backcountry experiences.” Caleb agrees, saying, “The RAF has definitely had a positive influence on me and my family. If not for the RAF, we wouldn’t have such wide access and nice facilities at all of these backcountry airstrips.” Aviation is high on the boys’ list of life goals, and Dad says both Josh and Caleb are good mechanics. Both have participated in regional motorcycle trail races. “There is a certain symmetry in their motorcycle avocation, but Caleb is a consistent high finisher, and he has won a couple of these races. Joshua won All-Conference cross-country honors and is a two-time high school state qualifier. So, they each have their area of excellence,” Andy added. Caleb will attend Penn College of Technology for a degree in aviation maintenance, pursuing that as a career. “Earning a commercial pilot license later on could open up a lot of opportunities,” he added. Josh plans to graduate from college with a degree in fisheries and wildlife science. He’s considering future instrument and commercial licenses. “I don’t know where I see myself, but I would like to continue traveling the country by air if I can,” he says. These young men, as they approach college and their individual goals, have set a high bar for what we used to call “good citizenship” – a willingness to contribute time and energy for something bigger than themselves. Here’s how Josh puts it, “Through the various work parties I have been a part of, I have gained an appreciation for the people who put in more work than I do. Those work parties gave me an opportunity to give my time to help others. Because of that, I have participated in and helped organize community service projects.” “The boys are very different, but they share aviation, and a large part of that is thanks to the RAF. For that, I’m very grateful,” Andy said.  As a postscript to this feature, Andy just added that on November 8, Josh soloed in the RV-10. Congratulations, Josh!

The RAF concluded four regional 2025 educational conferences, with the final gathering in Silver City, New Mexico in early October. Each conference began with a Friday evening dinner, then resumed Saturday for a full day of educational presentations to benefit RAF volunteers, beginning with RAF mission progress, RAF grant opportunities, and the safety and etiquette initiative. Liaisons and Ambassadors shared their efforts and successes collaborating with both private landowners and public agencies, like the US Forest Service, and partners such as AOPA. Speakers discussed backcountry airfield opportunities, and relevant state and federal policies addressed each group. "The regional educational conferences are an invaluable opportunity to meet with the other RAF key volunteers from our regions. It is a great chance to network and discuss projects and successful approaches to challenges. I have yet to go to one and not come home with a new idea to use in my own region," said Drew Lyons, and RAF Liaison for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. RAF volunteers and directors came from across the country at their own expense, beginning with the April meeting in AOPA’s Frederick, Maryland headquarters and a one-on-one conversation with new AOPA President Darren Pleasance. The Midwest event took place in May in Brainerd, Minnesota. Legendary Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina, was the site of September’s gathering, and owner Pat Hartness co-hosted the event with typical Southern hospitality. Most of the attendees tent camped in the spacious lawns of the underwing camping area. The final conference highlighted working with public lands, and New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller invited Camille Howes, Gila National Forest Supervisor, to address the group. “She had a great message of encouragement for everyone, as well as insights into how we can continue to assist our Forest Service partners in furthering recreational airstrip opportunities,” said RAF Operations Coordinator Kodi Myhre. "Our educational conferences are a key place to give our volunteers tools and information to continue to advocate for recreational aviation access and collaborate with each other," RAF Volunteer Coordinator Erin White said. "Having great aviation partners and guest speakers really elevates the level of education at the conferences, and we're continually impressed by the level of commitment and accomplishments of our volunteers."