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The RAF depends on folks who are passionate about preserving, improving, and creating airstrips for recreational access throughout the country. If this mission appeals to you, you might be interested in the rewarding volunteer role of RAF Liaison.  To capture the spirit and purpose of an RAF Liaison, we’re unveiling the new RAF Liaison video, created by our good friends at Voortex…

RAF Liaison Wendy Lessig continues her efforts to preserve scenic Utah airstrips on BLM land. She was just awarded an RAF grant to help fund five cultural surveys in the Monticello region through the BLM Monticello Field Office in Utah’s San Juan County. “The purpose of these cultural surveys is to help the BLM in their required review process to…

 “If you give of your time and labor, you tend to get back more than you put in,” Jerry Latvala says, and that keeps him motivated to help the RAF anytime he can, whether it’s near his home in coastal Georgia, or far away. Jerry flew his Mooney over 1,800 nm to tent camp at…

We just returned from Triple Tree Aerodrome where the RAF held its third of four 2025 regional educational conferences for our key volunteers. It was not by chance that we chose Triple Tree for our event, which brings me to the title of this month’s theme. The RAF is at a point where whatever we…

This multi-use tote is an everyday bag that is well-designed and built to last a lifetime. Made with waterproof, 90lb tear strength industrial vinyl, these bags are made for any adventure. The bags have 1.5″ adjustable shoulder straps, padded and reinforced snapping handles, a removable felt base, and they fold flat for easy storage. Choose…

Charitable giving gets some new opportunity under the new “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The current standard deduction, $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for joint filers, makes it difficult to itemize over those amounts and get tax benefit for your charitable donations. But effective starting in 2026, “non-itemizers” will be able to deduct charitable…

Originally from India, Tanmoy Ganguly acted on his dream to become a pilot at multiple flight schools there. But he discovered India’s lack of GA opportunity meant that only career pilots could receive training. He then had an opportunity to move to the US for his IT career, settled in Michigan, and pursued his flight…

The RAF has added Safety and Education to its Backcountry Etiquette Team (BET), launching the combined RAF Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee, (SEE). “Etiquette, education, and safety are deeply interconnected,” RAF Director Matt Foster said, adding, “Behaviors promoted by the Etiquette Team overlap with educational efforts and directly impact safety.” To promote safe, responsible, ethical…

Idaho’s Big Creek state airport, U60 in the Payette National Forest attracts a large number of recreational pilots. Some camp in the adjacent campground, and some enjoy an overnight stay and breakfast at Idaho Aviation Foundation’s welcoming Big Creek Lodge. The condition of the Big Creek tie-down area needed improvements and Idaho’s Aeronautics Division was…