News

Near 100 mph winds struck Moose Creek Airfield (1U1) in Idaho on July 24, 2024, snapping off mature pine trees at mid-level and crushing two buildings at the historic Ranger Station. The campground located on the ‘triangle’ between the two runways was buried in waist-deep debris from downed trees and limbs. The Forest Service responded…

During the RAF’s biennial educational conference in Bozeman in May, the RAF debuted its Backcountry Etiquette Team and announced its partnership with Tread Lightly!, the national organization started in 1985 by the US Forest Service to address off-road usage. The organization became a nonprofit in 1990, and since then has garnered hundreds of partners from federal…

Philipp Kureck from Memmingen, Bavaria stopped by the Hartzell rooftop for RAF donuts and coffee during this year’s AirVenture. Several RAF volunteers gladly accompanied the 22-year-old around the event and learned about him, and his grand experience flying around the US two years ago. Philipp started flying gliders at 16 and got his glider license at 17. He…

The RAF had a great week at EAA’s Oshkosh AirVenture 2024, and we appreciate meeting and re-connecting with our fantastic supporters along the way. The energy around the RAF mission was apparent throughout the event grounds, with spontaneous happy reunions happening among supporters who easily recognized one another in their “RAF orange” attire. Attendance was…

You may recall that the RAF partnered with AOPA’s Air Safety Institute – GA’s safety experts – and drew on the results of a 2018 safety survey to produce a simple Safety Briefing Guide. It’s an online guide with practical and useful information, from initial flight planning to shut down. View this free guide and review it…

The conversation was as lively as June’s dynamic weather for the June 28-30 Fly-in this year at Ryan Field near West Glacier, Montana, especially when RAF Director Tim Riley landed and parked the spectacular RAF-branded Husky in front of the barn. Matt Hoefeldt from Aviat had arranged for this special aircraft to make an appearance…

Nearly 40 volunteers pitched in for what RAF Director Jeff Russell called, “A very successful RAF work party,” in early June at Gillette’s Lakewood Lodge, 14WS in northern Wisconsin. “One small measure of this success was the turnout of so many volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and dig in to help. Attendance was more than…

Improvements at two Connecticut airfields, Goodspeed, 42B near East Haddam, and Waterbury, N41 near Plymouth have been funded by RAF grants, thanks to RAF Connecticut Liaison Brian Thomas. At Goodspeed, Thomas has lined up volunteers, and will use the grant to purchase materials for four 10-ft x 10-ft tent platforms to establish a desirable camping…

Fourth-generation pilot, aircraft broker, and builder Clay Simmons sits on the RAF’s new Backcountry Etiquette Team. The group formed out of concern for the growing impact of increased backcountry activity by a variety of users. On the RAF podcast hosted by RAF President Bill McGlynn, Clay explains experiencing Idaho’s backcountry as a very young passenger. When his dad survived a serious airplane…