News

The RAF and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have signed an agreement allowing the RAF to manage recreational aviation use of the Red Pine airfield, located within TNC’s St John River Forest in northern Maine. RAF volunteers have worked to return the airstrip to a safe condition for backcountry use. Red Pine, a remote 2,470-ft paved…

RAF Liaison and Alaska native Al Clayton had been eying an uncharted airstrip at the toe of the Nizina Glacier locally known as Amphitheatre Creek strip. He envisioned that pilots with appropriate aircraft – bush types, or even C182s with 8.50 main tires, and Beavers, for example – could enjoy the views from this natural amphitheatre, and…

RAF supporters spent a day July 9 on repairs and maintenance at both Rager Guard Station airfield in Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest, and Big Rock Flat airfield in the Umatilla National Forest. “These two Forest Service aviation assets provide pilots with opportunities to access remote backcountry areas in Central Oregon,” RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes said. Visitors…

RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower reports that a dozen volunteers from both the RAF and Montana Pilots Association arrived Saturday, June 18 for the annual Meadow Creek, 0S1 work party. Montana Aeronautics supports these efforts, and Administrator Tim Conway and his wife Karen flew in to help. Volunteers brought chainsaws and felled and bucked many…

The Copper River washed out a highway bridge at Mile 50 on Alaska’s Copper River Highway to Cordova some five year ago, and the road has been closed ever since. RAF Alaska Liaison Al Clayton saw this as an opportunity for the RAF to cooperate in the creation and improvement of Childs Glacier Airstrip to access “a…

RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes reports another successful work party at McKenzie Bridge Airport (00S), in part funded with an RAF grant. “On June 4, six dedicated RAF supporters braved cool and very wet conditions to complete the spring maintenance activities,” he said.  McKenzie Bridge is located within the Willamette National Forest in Central Oregon’s…

“RAF 2022 – The RAF Way” was a three-day educational conference held near Milwaukee May 15-17. RAF liaisons, ambassadors, and other key volunteers gathered at their own expense in Pewaukee, WI. EAA CEO Jack Pelton welcomed early arrivals at Pioneer Field, and when the educational sessions began, the group was 110 folks from as far…

The RAF is pleased to announce that Cornucopia Airport, 23W (formerly WI23) along Wisconsin’s shore of Lake Superior is now open for public access. RAF Director Jeff Russell of Waunakee obtained RAF grants and worked with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics for the past three years, organizing work parties and airfield improvements in cooperation with…

The RAF partnered with Montana State University’s Computer Science Software Factory to improve the Airfield Guide’s functionality, and incorporate ForeFlight usage. MSU has Montana’s highest ranking Computer Science (CS) department, and launched the Software Factory, an innovative way to expose students to real-life businesses and organizations. Dr Clemente Izurieta, PhD oversees the program that is run by senior CS…