KEN WARREN

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 by Collins Aerospace where he designs radio transmitters.


“I started flying later in life at the age of 46. I had always wanted to become a pilot but was deterred because pilots I knew quit flying after passing the checkride,” he says. He hid away his dream of flying for decades. “One day I walked into a fly-in breakfast in Monticello, Iowa and discovered how cheap one could buy a secondhand kit plane.” He purchased a Titan Tornado for about the same price as a good used car. When he was ready for his light-sport checkride, the 2-cycle Rotax engine needed a rebuild. Not deterred, Ken took some lessons in a Cessna 172 and went ahead to receive his PPL.


Due to his love of the outdoors Ken was drawn to recreational and backcountry flying from the beginning. He found the RAF about 2018 and was quickly recruited to be an RAF Ambassador. Ken still has the Titan Tornado, “but it doesn’t get much use since I bought a 1961 Piper Colt with a tailwheel conversion in 2021,” he says. He is also rebuilding a damaged Maule M5-235C. “In 2023, I’ll be on the fourth year of this two year project,” he muses. 


Ken’s main focus in aviation is having fun, and encouraging other pilots to remain active. Shortly after he passed his checkride, he committed to a social presence with the East Iowa Aviator Facebook Group with the goal to get other pilots and students on flyouts together. “It has been successful at keeping the fun in flying, and has even brought several rusty pilots back to the hobby they once enjoyed,” he says. 


Ken’s other hobbies include fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing and he has been a ham radio operator for over 30 years with the callsign AD4OS. He loves to combine these hobbies with flying whenever he can. 


In addition to the RAF, Ken also volunteers time with AOPA and EAA. Ken can be reached at kwarren@theraf.org.

    Recent Posts

MARCEL LEBLANC

By lellington • September 15, 2026

DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR

By John McKenna • September 14, 2026
Sometimes one needs to look no further than one's incoming correspondence to find inspiration. Just this past week, folks passionate about the RAF mission reached out to me with suggestions that would bring resources to the RAF. Whether they be one-off items that we might offer, or events like large fundraisers, these folks are offering some thoughts on how we might continue to pay the bills. Additionally, we’re receiving word from folks with new destinations on their mind, and some pretty cool ones at that. Along the way, my inbox – as well as my calendar – is filled with updates on our Expanding the Map effort, with an emphasis on Fly Rocky Top. The Fly Rocky Top initiative in Tennessee is generating strong interest, and for good reason. It feels great. Folks are showing up to pitch in, with significant work projects planned. Trish and I, along with other board members, will be there to lend a hand to this exciting project. We are coming up on our annual year-end letter, which you will be seeing not long from now. In addition to showcasing a few more of our successful projects, we will be seeking your support. Stand by. I’ll wrap this up by letting you know that we could not be more pleased with how you all are doing your part. Thank you. It is so healthy to have an organization that uses passion as a primary energy source. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted September 14, 2026

GARRISON DAM RECREATIONAL AIRPARK IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE

September 11, 2026
“We had a busy day at Garrison Dam Recreational Airpark, as we continue to work on the underwing camping area,” RAF North Dakota Liaison Brian Rau reported. Rau was awarded an RAF grant in spring of 2026 to convert an adjacent day-use park into an airport camping area, and had organized volunteers who began the project in May. The airport, 37N, is closed while the runway and taxiway are being upgraded by a contractor for the ND Aeronautics Commission.

PACK A TRASH BAG

By Stef Goza • September 9, 2026
You know the feeling. You set the airplane down somewhere spectacular, shut off the engine, and enjoy the pristine landscape in front of you. This is why you fly. Keeping airstrips pristine is everyone's responsibility. But one item that doesn’t always make it into the airplane is a good trash bag. Not for the trash you planned to make. For the trash you didn’t. Cans left in a fire ring, fishing line along the river, or food wrappers working their way through the brush. None of it came in your airplane, but you have the ability to get it out. That’s reason enough to tuck a couple of heavy-duty contractor bags in with your tie-down gear. They earn their space in other ways, too. A contractor bag can keep wet or muddy gear out of the baggage compartment, cover equipment in a downpour, collect rainwater, or become an emergency poncho or windbreak. It weighs almost nothing and takes up very little room. Throw a few in the airplane and leave them there. You may not need one for your own trash, but there is a good chance you’ll find another use for it—or find something worth carrying out. Submitted September 9, 2026 By Stef Goza, Etiquette Chair, Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR WILLOWS, TREES FROM MARBLE AIRFIELD

September 8, 2026
RAF Colorado Liaison Ken Long, Ambassador Mike Langersmith, and other RAF volunteers participated in an August work event at Marble, Colorado, a mountain airfield about 20 nm up the Crystal River drainage south of Carbondale. Airfield Manager Susan Blue put together the task list and oversaw the event that brought 21 volunteers in ten aircraft and four dogs.