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 a ‘41 Stearman biplane and a variety of other aircraft, including a ‘78 Woody Pusher, RV4, ’76 Citabria, ’64 Baron and a ’56 T-28C. John’s love of flying prompted him to build an 1800’ grass runway on his ranch in 2006, and he has embarked on many flying adventures from there ever since.

One of John’s most memorable aviation experiences was flying a CAF World War II fighter plane, the P-39Q Airacobra, to Oshkosh AirVenture in 2022 to honor 100-year-old WWII Triple Ace Bud Anderson. A historic formation flight with Bud flying in the back of a P-51 with all three of his fighters (P-39Q, P-51B and P-51D) decorated as OLD CROW off his wing topped off the event.


John owned a commercial general contracting firm for many years and served as a Texas State Representative from 2015-2023. He currently runs a consulting company called Someday Strategies. He is on the General Staff for the Commemorative Air Force and is Chair of the San Marcos Airport Advisory Board, Founder of the Lockhart Flying Club, Past Chair of the TX Legislature GA Caucus for 6 years, and a Lifetime member of AOPA, EAA and CAF.


John became involved with the RAF in 2015 as a supporter, and that same year, co-authored a bill to add aviation language to the Texas Recreational Use Statute. The bill did not pass, but he received an Attorney General’s opinion substantiating that protection for aviation already existed within the RUS. In recent years he has helped Texas Liaison Tres Clinton with a variety of efforts, including revitalizing several airstrip gems in West Texas. John also worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife to create a MOU with the RAF to help foster future runways and camping sites. Moving forward, he is enthusiastic about serving as a Co-Liaison with Tres to advance the RAF mission.


“The RAF combines my two passions in life of flying and providing people access to the great outdoors,” John said. “I am thrilled to be a part of this fantastic organization and look forward to helping serve its supporters into the next twenty years.”

    Recent Posts

IRENE ESQUIVEL

August 11, 2026
Andi Howell has been co-piloting (ok, sleeping) in the right seat of their RV9a since her husband, Pete, finished building it in 2006. Finding the RAF has allowed them to unite their interests: Andi’s for camping, hiking and the outdoors, and Pete’s for flying. Her other hobbies include reading, puzzles, games, theater and travel. Submitted on March 20, 2023.

AUTOMATION DOESN'T DO THE WORK OF THE RAF

By John McKenna • August 10, 2026
Any of you ever tried to deal with an issue where all you wanted was to simply talk to a real person for help? Sure you have, and each of us likely has our own methods to break through the automation to a real person. To quickly bypass customer service robots, I try trigger words like "Agent" or "Supervisor" and keep my answers short. Don’t over-explain your issue. If the bot persists, you can use “nuclear" phrases like "Cancel my service,” or just repeat gibberish until the system hopefully defaults to a human. But you won’t need these tricks if you reach out to the RAF. When the RAF looks over our nearly 25-year shoulder, what we see is direct involvement by an army of people. It is people who show up at public hearings, people who have dug the holes for pilot shelter foundations, fence posts, and yes, outhouses. It is people who show up at Oshkosh to share our message and celebrate all that we have accomplished, and it is people who make you feel like you have made the right call to be an RAF volunteer or supporter. It’s not to say that automation and AI are tools to be discarded, but they are not tools that the RAF has found effective for doing the people-facing work that we do. Work that is opening a bunch of new places to go, taking care of the ones that exist, and working on issues that we see that could affect our backcountry community. In a funny little way, the more the world automates, the better the playing field is for the RAF, because we are pretty good at the human connection part. That feeling when one human being really hears what the other is saying. Thank you for helping us be a trusted member of this community. Not easy to do, but we mean it when we say, “We care.” - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted August 10, 2026 

RAF OUTFITTER AUGUST FEATURED COLLECTION

August 5, 2026
FEATURING: TOOL ROLLS Whether you’re heading to the hangar, the backcountry, or your next work party, staying organized matters. The RAF Tool Roll keeps your essential tools secure, accessible, and ready when you need them most. Designed to fit conveniently in your airplane or vehicle, it features multiple zippered pouches, labeled compartments, and a durable roll-up design with built-in handles for easy transport. No more digging through a loose toolbox or searching for that one tool you need. Keep your gear organized to spend less time looking and more time flying!

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: TAYLOR FLAT, UT

By Carmine Mowbray • July 31, 2026
Landing and camping at Taylor Flat airstrip puts your tent only a stone’s throw from the wild and scenic Green River, as it carves through spectacular Utah canyons. You can tie down and camp under your wing along the north side of the airstrip, or walk to the river and camp. Just 34 nm northeast of Vernal, you can now land at this high, remote BLM airstrip and enjoy its world-class fly fishing, but be sure to get your license before you arrive. If you packed your kayak or inflatable, there’s a boat ramp just west of the public campground. An easy 1.8-mile walk from the airstrip takes you to the historic 1880 John Jarvie Ranch, an open-air museum with hands-on exhibits showing pioneer ranch life in this remote northeast corner of Utah. This airstrip had lain dormant for thirty years, and is now open for public non-commercial use, thanks to pilots who recognized its special recreational value. The RAF worked through the steps to see that the BLM reopened it. One restoration work weekend brought twenty-five volunteers from both Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP) and the RAF who hand-picked rocks from the airstrip, painted them, and used them to mark the runway corners and thresholds. UBCP provided a new windsock pole for the new RAF windsock. RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig said, “It was another demonstration of working together toward the same goal.” There are no other amenities, so be prepared with what you need, and as always, please pack everything out. Those using the airstrip are asked to be mindful of the sensitive environmental area, marked with 16-ft X’s, creating a displaced threshold on the east end of the dirt runway. The useable runway length is 2,500 feet, and the field elevation is 5,630. The area east of the runway is hazardous to aircraft operations. In addition to being a sensitive environmental area, it. is cross-crossed with ditches, and is not safe for aircraft use. Taylor Flat is another special recreational destination for pilots to visit as RAF works across the country on Expanding The Map! Find more on Taylor Flat in the Airfield Guide . You may also find user reports here on the UBCP website . Submitted July 31, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

RAF GRANT ADDS CAMPGROUND AMENITIES AT ESTCOURT STATION

July 30, 2026
RAF Maine Liaison Andy Rowe and former Maine Liaison/now Ambassador Steve Mason have long been advocating for and organizing improvements at several airfields in North Maine, in cooperation with North Maine Woods (NMW). Rowe was awarded an RAF grant for materials to add a shelter, picnic table, and outhouse at Estcourt Airfield (19ME) and organized RAF and NMW volunteers to provide labor.