News

RAF Arkansas Liaison Harper Goodwin has been awarded an RAF grant to improve Trigger Gap airfield in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Goodwin, Arkansas Liaison Dave Powell and other volunteers recently met at the field to start thinning trees and underbrush along the 3,000 ft turf runway. While the work party was successful, it was apparent that much more needed to be done. “The RAF funds the routine mowing of the runway and camping area, but this expanded effort will remove undesirable trees out to one hundred feet of the runway and camping areas,” Goodwin said. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the airfield, and during this time, the perimeter area has been kept under control using a large batwing mower by the farmer who runs cattle nearby, but Goodwin explained that he can no longer continue maintaining the area.  Goodwin and Ambassador Jake Hampton volunteered time to define the area, mark trees, and get bids on the project that will remove and mulch encroaching trees, brush, and briars. “By removing the unwanted trees and underbrush now and allowing a few select trees to grow to maturity, this airfield and mountain top will truly present a park-like setting and unlimited views,” Goodwin said. He anticipates a three-day project with a land management company handling the bulk of the work. The brush and trees, many having vicious thorns, will be mulched by a Fecon machine. He wishes to address it soon before it becomes a larger, more costly challenge, and has committed to being on site to oversee the work. The contractor selected for the job is "very enthusiastic about the project, the airfield, and our mission,” Goodwin added. This newly cleared perimeter will need to be maintained on an annual basis, and Adam Jones, Director of FLY OZ, will be providing a large batwing mower twice a year, which will be operated by volunteers. For information on Trigger Gap, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted February 11, 2026

Recreational pilots have a very special place to visit thanks to some dedicated Michigan pilots including Don Seelye. These folks understood the recreational value of North Fox Island in Lake Michigan, just 27 nm from Charlevoix. “We used to fly out there regularly with our family and friends and do some maintenance,” Don says. “It was privately owned, and our pay was the use of the island. We were able to enjoy the Tom Sawyer thing,” he says. Don was raised near Flint, MI. His father was an automotive engineer. Don left college and the restraint of a desk, preferring the outdoors and doing his own engineering, which led to a successful career manufacturing electronic controls for environmental research. His clients included JPL and Generac. His company patented a special controller. “We were told it was the first controller to survive the Antarctic winter.” Don never visited the frozen continent, preferring to explore Lake Michigan for shipwrecks. He bought a Cessna 120 and learned to fly. He’d fly over the lake, spotting telltale indications of something salvageable beneath the surface for his partner, who made furniture from legally salvaged wood. They would take their tugboat over the site and dive to the wreck. The best find, Don explains, was a three-masted schooner that had sunk over a hundred years before. It yielded beautifully preserved white oak. For vacations, Don would fly with his wife Carol and three small kids in the two-seat Cessna. “Once we flew to Mackinac Island. I signed in as ‘C-120 with five onboard’. I kinda expected an official phone call, but it never came,” he mused. Now, Don and his wife love flying the Lake Amphibian they bought in 1971. It has taken them over a good chunk of North America, from Key West to near Hudson Bay, he says, “We like to find remote lakes and camp. We find a somewhat sandy shoreline to beach the plane; maybe catch a big walleye.” In 2009, Don saw an RAF story in a flying magazine and called John McKenna, asking to get involved. “The McKennas came to Michigan and met us that July, and we met with Michigan Aeronautics. More RAF volunteers came in and joined us for local meetings with the DNR in Lansing. We finally pushed and pushed and got North Fox open,” he says.

With the departure of Darren Pleasance from AOPA last month, it seems like a couple of questions have landed in the public debate space. One of those questions is, did AOPA just lose a talented executive who had worked hard for a full year to establish himself as the new leader? And no matter your answer to that question, you might ask, do organizations such as AOPA really matter at all? I don’t often offer much commentary on organizational structure and worth, since I’ve never been considered an expert on the matter. However, I will suggest that organizations do matter. Good ones matter because they do their best to bring the collective voice of many to bear on matters we care about. When it comes to aviation, I believe it would be difficult to imagine our environment without an effective AOPA and the people who make it good. Having had the opportunity to peek behind the curtain, I can tell you that since day one of the RAF’s existence, AOPA has been there for us. I won’t take this space to describe each and every case, but trust me when I say they have been our friend, and they do matter. Probably a more vexing question is that of the people within an organization. I feel humbled on a daily basis to be a part of leading you, the RAF family, along with my fellow board members and leadership, on this journey we are on. So, what does that have to do with AOPA? I have, thanks to this RAF thing, come to know AOPA through the helping hands their team has extended. Craig Fuller was our grade school/high school teacher and mentor, giving us the foundational help we so needed at that time. Mark Baker became our friend and champion, lending us resources we could not have gained without his help. Darren Pleasance was well on his way to being that new leader, the one we knew we could count on. We are better for them all. So now what? I feel it is our turn to stand up for AOPA and help them through what is a difficult period. I hope it will pass soon. I am hopeful AOPA leadership will take this time to reflect on the decisions they have made and come out the back end of this better off. I am confident our friend Darren will find a place within aviation to be the kind of leader he was on track to be. And equally, I am optimistic that AOPA as an organization will continue its place of value in the General Aviation space. So, let’s all roll up our sleeves and do what we can to support a good organization that our industry needs. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted February 11, 2026

Our RAF Beanie Collection is proudly made in Bozeman, MT by our friends at Sauce. Designed to keep you warm on cold days, these beanies are perfect for winter adventures like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and—of course—flying! Available in adult one-size-fits-all and kids’ sizes. Get your RAF Beanie today and stay warm wherever your adventures take you! We’re excited to feature Shayla Swanson, founder of Sauce, in our latest RIF RAF newsletter. Originally from Alberta, Canada, Shayla is a competitive Nordic ski racer who launched her beanie company in Bozeman after relocating to complete her education. Learn more about Shayla’s journey and the story behind Sauce here .  If you have questions, please email contact@theraf.org or call 406-582-1723. Your RAF Outfitter purchase is greatly appreciated and furthers the mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. You can support the RAF mission all year by shopping at the RAF Outfitter online store. Products are being added regularly, and items are thoughtfully selected for durability and suitability for pilots, by pilots. We welcome photos of supporters using RAF gear! Please send your images to ewhite@theraf.org , and let us know if we have permission to post them on social media or our website. Submitted January 5, 2026.

Your RAF Directors met January 22-24 for their annual in-person board meeting in Bozeman, MT, with Director Bill Brine coming the farthest from his home on Martha’s Vineyard. Director Emeritus Alan Metzler of Pennsylvania attended, in spite of the heavy weather forecast in the Northeast. RAF Alaska Liaison Stef Goza attended, demonstrating the great distances these volunteers are willing to travel to be present. The RAF Board meets monthly, but this annual get-together allows time to explore opportunities in more detail, and set areas of focus. RAF Kansas Ambassador Bruce Latvala was elected as RAF Secretary, joining current RAF officers . Director Steve Taylor of the Seattle area is stepping down as an active board member, but will continue his wholehearted support of the RAF mission. This year’s meeting included special guests to discuss topics relevant to upcoming RAF initiatives. Director Emeritus Todd Simmons presented a new hub and spoke network of backcountry airfields in Tennessee, with the opportunity for RAF support. Director Matt Foster updated the group on the goals and responsibilities of the Safety, Education, and Etiquette (SEE) Committee. The board reviewed opportunities to support new airfield locations on both public and private lands; and were given a customary review of RAF financials. By Carmine Mowbray  Submitted January 29, 2026

RAF Chairman John McKenna and President Bill McGlynn met recently in Washington, DC with US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, who oversees the management of 193 million acres of public land across the nation. McKenna and McGlynn reviewed backcountry airstrips with Mr. Schultz, with an appeal to continue to maintain existing airstrips and possibly open some additional ones. Mr. Schultz said that some of the best recreational opportunities in the world are on Forest Service lands, and he desires to increase those opportunities. He was receptive to the RAF’s request to explore returning some of the airstrips to service. Mr. Schultz studied forestry at the University of Montana and is familiar with the western backcountry, as his career includes working for state agencies in both Montana and Idaho. In addition to the meeting with the Chief and other key team members of the USFS, McKenna & McGlynn met with Department of Interior staff to discuss opportunities on DOI & BLM lands. “These were productive and engaging meetings and will lead to continued opportunity for collaboration,” McGlynn said. “We're excited to work with the Forest Service on additional recreational airstrips on our public lands that can be enjoyed. - By Carmine Mowbray Submitted January 29, 2025

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

Competitive Nordic ski racing is, “Probably the hardest aerobic sport you can do,” says Shayla Swanson, former Canadian national team member. Shayla likens her passion for demanding outdoor mountain sports to starting and managing her successful Bozeman-based business, Sauce. “My tolerance for hard things is abnormally high,” she admits with a laugh. The RAF proudly selected Sauce as one of its local vendors, and Sauce headwear “flies” out of the RAF Outfitter store. The RAF was impressed with Sauce’s commitment to cottage industry service and versatile production capacity. Everything happens under one roof at their Bozeman, Montana location – from design, through manufacture, to packaging. “We choose to keep things local and domestic,” Shayla says. Now, Sauce products sell across North America and are worn by all ages, countless teams, and all kinds of sports clubs. “We are proud of the quality of everything that goes out of our door,” Shayla says in her company video. Shayla was raised among the Canadian Rockies in Canmore, Alberta, and from a very young age engaged in adventure and endurance sports. When she wasn’t outdoors, she was at her sewing machine practicing her “Middle School nerdy hobby” of making things out of fabric. She started making headwear for her ski team, then realized there was a market for warm hats that are so comfortable that people forget they’re wearing them. She moved to Bozeman to finish her education in Exercise Science from Montana State University, and explains that a coach with a good reputation, plus the chance to live among the Bridger and Gallatin Ranges, was enough draw to resettle in the US. Her enterprise became her professional focus, and she started with a few hat designs cut and sewn from bolts of pre-printed fabric, but she and her creative crew decided to design their own imagery. They invested in very specialized imprinting equipment to infuse their sprightly colors on plain fabric in a process called dye sublimation, committing themselves to working out all the new technology. “It was a tremendous leap in flexibility, quality, and waste reduction,” Shayla points out, adding, “Our machinery is one of a kind. We’re on our own if something goes wrong. The closest place for service is Seattle.” For the past dozen years, Sauce has offered its Sauce For a Cause program. Anyone is invited to submit design ideas, and the public votes for their favorite. Sauce produces the winning hat as a limited edition item and donates a portion of those sales to the design winner’s charity of choice. The contest has benefited Huntington’s disease research, The Cure Starts Now cancer research, Erin’s Hope Project, animal shelters, local schools, and the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness just to name a few. And why the quirky name, Sauce? “Our products add zest to your wardrobe, just like sauce adds zest to a dish you eat,” Shayla says. “Sauce is the perfect name for our spicy, colorful, and tasteful activewear.” See a short video on the Sauce story here . The RAF Outfitter offers Sauce items in adult and youth sizes. Color choices are Molten, Autumn Harvest, Dark Coral; or for warmer protection from northern winters, select fleece-lined Snowy Night or Grey Embers. See the Sauce selections in the RAF Outfitter here . By Carmine Mowbray Submitted January 19, 2026

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 Tanmoy Ganguly, a pilot and an RAF Michigan Liaison.