News

AOPA, with participation from the Minnesota Pilots Association and the Recreational Aviation Foundation, is holding an Isle, Minnesota Airport Town Hall: Airport Education and Fact Finding on March 4, 2020 at 6:30pm. The event will be held at McQuoid’s Inn and Event Center, 1325 Highway 47 N, Isle, Minnesota. This discussion will be about the future…

The RAF 2020 Winter Newsletter is now available! Issue 25 of the RAF’s biannual newsletter, prepared by RAF Publicity Liaison Carmine Mowbray, contains regional updates from State Liaison volunteers and other mission-related news. To obtain a printed copy of the newsletter, contact your local State Liaison or visit the “News” section of our website to…

The 37th annual Northwest Aviation Conference took place February 22-23 at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, and orange-clad RAF volunteers were there, answering questions and signing up new members.  Volunteering at the RAF booth wearing orange were RAF President Bill McGlynn, RAF Secretary/Treasurer Mike Perkins, RAF Washington Liaison Dave Whitelaw, RAF member…

Marcy Field, (1I1) is a 2,390 x 95-ft grass strip in the Adirondack Mountains in Keene, New York. Assistant Airport Manager Bob Rose reached out to the RAF to consider some needed airfield improvements. RAF New Hampshire Liaison John Meade is familiar with the airfield, and describes some of the recreational opportunities that are accessible…

The idea of an airfield guide came about in response to repeated requests for a comprehensive listing of recreational places to fly. Created in cooperation between the RAF and Tailwind Aviation Foundation, all of the work is provided by volunteers. With its genesis in Arkansas, it began with a majority of Arkansas recreational airfields. RAF member…

In May and September of 2019 the RAF organized volunteer work parties to clean and improve the campground and erect a gazebo adjacent to Montana’s West Yellowstone Airport (KWYS). “It has easy access for all levels of pilots and is a good airport and campground to get your feet wet in backcountry flying,” RAF Montana…

Arkansas’s Trigger Gap airfield, (17A) was restocked on Valentine’s weekend with plenty of firewood, split and ready for each of the two firepits within the camping areas. RAF supporter Harper Goodwin and his wife Dianne live near the field, and hosted a crew of RAF volunteers to clean up their front yard of downed trees,…

RAF Alaska Liaison Al Clayton shared a fascinating written account about the snow plane his father, Al Clayton, Sr. built in the mid 1950s. “It was a great vehicle to travel through snow, especially on frozen rivers in Interior Alaska,” the elder Clayton penned in a short story before his passing. He modeled it after vehicles he’d seen…

The RAF shared a double booth with the Arizona Pilots Association at Arizona’s annual Copperstate Fly-In Expo and Buckeye Air Fair February 6-9. Buckeye is west of Phoenix, and claims to be the third fastest-growing city in the US. The spread lining the 5,500-ft runway hosted several dozen outdoor displays, 38 indoor displays, plus four pavilions where…

The OZ1 Flying Club based in Bentonville, Arkansas presented a “Downed Aircraft” survival course at the beginning of February, based on techniques to stay alive until help arrives. The all-day course was held at Arkansas’s Sugar Creek airfield, (58AR). The class was limited to 25 participants and filled up with pilots who ranged in flying…