State Liaison Archives - Recreational Aviation Foundation

CHRIS ARNO

Chris was born, grew up, and now lives in Dover Foxcroft in central Maine. After high school, Chris took after his father in the utility power line trade and now owns a power line construction company that he started with his father who has since retired. Chris has always had a vast interest in aviation,…

BRIAN THOMAS

Brian Thomas is a self-proclaimed aviation nerd, having attended his first airshow with his father at eight years old. “From that point, I’ve been fascinated with aviation, and built large scale RC aircraft through my youth,” he says. He was also involved with the Civil Air Patrol cadet program at a young age. He enlisted in…

ROB AHO

Ever since attaining his tailwheel endorsement “at the turn of the century” in Helena, Montana in a club Citabria, Rob Aho says he has been hooked on backcountry flight. He has flown many sorties into and near the Bob Marshall Wilderness with the express purpose of camping and fly fishing. As an environmental remediation engineer working…

JOE FEILER

RAF supporter Joe Feiler of Casper, Wyoming loads his tools into his Cessna Cardinal and brings his skills where the RAF is making an impact. His support has included a donation of materials and his volunteer labor constructing Cabin 4 at Ryan Field. Joe created a plaque that is mounted on the front of the cabin honoring his father, a World…

JOHN CYRIER

Texas native John Cyrier became enamored with aviation at age 11, when his older brother flew him in a J3 Cub to a local airshow. He received his private pilot license shortly after graduating from Texas A&M University where he was in the Air Force ROTC and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. John currently owns…

BILL ABLES

It was natural for Bill Ables of Enterprise, Oregon, to take up backcountry flying and advocacy. He makes a stunning image when he approaches a forest strip in his beautiful 1952 red Cessna 170B. Bill has served as RAF Ambassador, but has made the commitment to step up as Liaison, joining RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes. Bill…

R.M. “BOB” BURLEY

Vermont State Liaison What began as frequent 12 mile bicycle rides to a local Vermont airport in the early 1950’s quickly evolved into a full-fledged airport rat manifestation. Along the way, peripheral excursions have included: retired international corporate executive (F-10 company), former Air Force officer, pilot, stints as Highway Engineer, logger, Operations Director for a…

KEN WARREN

Iowa State Liaison 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 Purdue University. Since 2002 Ken has lived in eastern Iowa and he is currently employed…

STEF GOZA

Alaska State Liaison New Alaska Liaison Stef Goza started flying as a teenager in Iowa’s flatlands, where she was born and raised. She earned her pilot certificate in her 20s and flew for the next few years, but like a lot of us, flying was set on the back burner. “I returned to aviation with grit and determination…

GENERAL GRANT

Michigan State Liaison In Michigan, we obsess over the northern part of our state, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in particular. It’s amazingly beautiful with beaches, rugged coastlines, waterfalls, boreal forests, bears, moose, the Pictured Rocks, Porcupine Mountains, hidden lakes with huge fish, and blue-ribbon trout streams. There are few places in the world where you can, in a…