News

The RAF is thrilled to announce that its first Featured Item for 2023 is the popular Gerber Fastball folding knife. This limited-edition knife is engraved with our 20th Anniversary logo. The Gerber Fastball features an aircraft-grade aluminum handle, an intuitive finger flipper opening, and a pocket clip.  The RAF agrees with Gerber, that it’s important…

The RAF is excited to announce that Iowa Ambassador Ken Warren has stepped up to a Liaison role. Ken spent his early years in western Kentucky and Tennessee where he learned the joy of outdoor activities from his father, uncle, and grandfathers. In 1994 he moved to Indiana and earned an Electrical Engineering degree from…

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Chicken Strip in California. Just a short flight east of Lone Pine, California between the Inyo and Panamint Mountain ranges is the Saline Valley, a remote region of Death Valley National Park.…

What’s significant about your 20th anything? Most of us can likely recall turning 20 years old; some may recall their 20-year high school or college reunion …. Heck, when my children turned 20, I recalled just how quickly those years had elapsed. So, I am guessing most of us can look at some 20 year…

“Fifteen volunteers braved hours of rutted out 4×4 roads to come help rebuild Chicken Strip in Saline Valley on November 5 and 6,” RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov reported. It’s ironic that an airstrip in the driest place in North America suffers occasional flooding, but a regional deluge in July created washouts that closed the airstrip in Death Valley National…

“We just concluded our phase two work party at Sacaton landing strip, and I think we are about ninety percent finished,” RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller reported. Approval must come from the Glenwood District Ranger before Sacaton is open for general recreational use after decades of closure and neglect. As of now, usage is limited…

We are thrilled that our friends at Hartzell Propeller are extending their $1,000 discount for RAF supporters on four backcountry propeller models. In addition, Hartzell contributes $250 to the RAF mission for each new Hartzell prop sold due to this special offer now through 2023! “We are deeply grateful for Hartzell’s continued support,” RAF Chairman…

Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Grand Gulch, Arizona. It’s grand, and there’s a gulch. This aptly-named location in Arizona’s Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is just 50 nm south of St. George, UT. There are two dirt runways…

RAF supporters with the popular O-470 model engine will be thrilled to learn that Hartzell Propeller has expanded the applicability of its popular three-blade aluminum Voyager props. The Voyager is now STC approved for Cessna aircraft powered by Continental 470-A (s/n 41000 and higher) -J, -R, and -S engines. This includes models C – J with standard…

RAF Georgia Ambassador and Bonanza pilot Eric Davis and his father Gary evaded poor flying weather and made the four-hour drive and boat ride into Creighton Island in October to make a variety of improvements to the unique fly-in island setting. They have proven to be a multi-skilled “dynamic duo” when it comes to upkeep…