News

Volunteers gathered at California’s Lone Pine Death Valley Airport, O26 September 14-15 to paint the airport’s terminal building. RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov and RAF Nevada Ambassador Mike Bradford joined folks from Friends of Lone Pine Airport (FLPA), the non-profit group of local volunteers who recognize the airport’s historic past, and its importance to the community. In…

Another Spanish moss-draped oak-lined Georgia island airfield is being reclaimed from its fast-growing subtropical environment. Owners of Patterson Island airfield, G21 have already invested a huge effort reclaiming this overgrown 2,000-foot long runway that hadn’t been used in over a decade, “and have made it look like a fairway,” RAF Georgia Liaison Kevin Barry reports.…

RAF Illinois Ambassador Dave Warner invited the Carbondale-based Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois, AASI to bring a selection of professional quality telescopes to privately owned Henderson Field, 95IL last year. “It was an easy sell, since we have such dark skies,” he said. “ Again this year, Warner organized the gathering, and AASI provided several…

RAF Utah Liaison and Utah Back Country Pilots Board Member Wendy Lessig reports that the BLM has issued the Henry Mountains draft Travel Management Plan for public comment, open through October 26. “There are 30 airstrips in the Henry Mountains, roughly one fourth of all of Utah’s airstrips on BLM land,” Lessig said. This TMP…

RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig has been heavily involved in following and providing updates on Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) planning by the BLM. She submitted substantive comments on behalf of the RAF, and reports that the BLM released its final Resource Management Plan on August 30. The Boulder/New Home Bench airstrip will remain open…

RAF Supporter Mike Kuefler reports that the new Pavilion at the St. Ignatius Airport is ready for use. Funded in great part by an RAF grant secured by RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower, the total cost of the 16 x 24-ft structure, including its central fire ring was $12,764. “It’s a flagship model timber frame…

When Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher-Kodiak Aircraft, learned that a 350-pound 10-gauge steel bear box needed to be delivered to Montana’s Schafer Meadows, he enthusiastically offered to fly the mission in a Kodiak. His avid support stemmed from Daher Kodiak’s cordial relationship with the RAF, kindled in 2022. RAF Director and General Aviation Manufacturers Association…

This past couple of weeks brought this home to me in a pretty obvious showing. Moose Creek USFS airstrip in Idaho is a backcountry gem. Recently it endured a one-two punch from a never seen before windstorm, followed by a fierce forest fire. This, however did not stop a long-planned project to rebuild a mile…

A group of volunteers flew in and camped at Ryan Field on the October 11-13 weekend to prepare the airfield, the cabins, bear boxes and barn for Montana’s winter.   Nights were chilly and clear, making Northern Lights very visible. Daytime sunshine put fall colors on display, and made outdoor work very enjoyable. A half…