News
RAF PHOTO CONTEST STARTS OCT 1; RUNS THROUGH END OF MONTH
October 1st is the first day of the 2025 Photo Contest! It’s time to gather your favorites from the last year of flying. From October 1-31, send us your best photos of scenic, recreational airstrips. Again this year, we are including the “RAF Mission” category, for photos we feel best illustrate people enjoying recreational aviation,…
Read MoreFEATURED AIRSTRIP: MOUNT TOBE, CT (FORMERLY “WATERBURY”)
Mount Tobe, N41, is a gem of an airfield, supported by the RAF and very devoted local volunteers who raise money for maintenance during their annual Mt.Toberfest fly-in, coming up October 10-12. Thanks to RAF Connecticut Liaison Brian Thomas, two RAF grants have enabled volunteers to improve amenities at the airfield and maintain its two…
Read MoreEXCELLENCE IS NOT AN ACCIDENT
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…
Read MoreDOES THE RAF MISSION MATTER TO YOU?
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…
Read MoreFEATURED RAF SUPPORTER: JERRY LATVALA
“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…
Read MoreRAF AWARDS GRANT FOR MONTICELLO, UTAH AREA AIRSTRIP CULTURAL STUDY
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…
Read MoreRAF OUTFITTER SEPTEMBER FEATURED ITEM
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…
Read MoreWORTH THE READ: LIBBY MAUS GUEST EDITORIAL
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Libby Maus, a co-pilot and RAF volunteer. From the Right Seat: Less than 10 years ago, I was afraid to fly in an aircraft with only one engine…
Read More“BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” TAX IMPLICATIONS
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…
Read MoreTANMOY GANGULY JOINS GENERAL GRANT AS MICHIGAN LIAISON
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…
Read More