Not sure about you, but I likely have been both. As a recent blog post suggested, not smart is a passive act, remedied with learning, experience, and thought; while stupid is active – the result of someone who should have or could have known better, but decided to do something selfish, impulsive, or dangerous anyway.
“NOT SMART” VS “STUPID”
As an organization we have concluded it is a good thing to lean in on the idea of safety and etiquette in the world of backcountry flying. Since we are in the middle of our busier summer flying season, this subject might be worth a little space.
The RAF has two pretty simple reasons for our attention to the subject.
We want to continue to see you out there in the backcountry with friends and fellow aviators enjoying this special way to see the world.
We want to make sure we do our best to be good stewards so as to attract more people to what we do, and less who want us to go away.
Aviation is unique in that the penalty for being stupid is pretty high. As a friend of mine said, “Airplanes are just not built to crash.” So we need to think about and learn from the not smart things we have done, and not sink to the stupid things we know better than to do.
The RAF has assembled a team of folks, both within the RAF as well as friends associated with the RAF to tell the safety and etiquette story as best we can. We surely don’t know it all, and would like to think of our community as best in class when it comes to willingness to learn.
With that in mind I am going to ask that you help us out. For sure, we want you to get out in the backcountry. After all, the reason we exist is to protect the ability to access and enjoy these special places. So here is what I would like you to do for me. Please leave a comment on this story with your best or favorite tip that pertains to backcountry safety and or etiquette. I am betting we will learn some things from each of you. If we might already know it, well, it won’t hurt to be reminded.
And last but not least, if you see something either not smart or worse yet – stupid…say something. The best way for us to be a better community is to talk to one another. Do your best to be both constructive and positive. No better way to promote safety and etiquette.
Looking forward to seeing you out flying.
– John McKenna, RAF Chairman
Submitted July 15, 2025
Posted in Uncategorized
Recent Posts
JEFF LEISZ
A group of ten volunteers from the RAF and the Mandan, ND chapter of EAA showed up on May 20 to help RAF North Dakota Liaison Brian Rau develop under-wing camping at Garrison Dam Recreational Airpark (37N). Rau was awarded an RAF grant to convert an adjacent day-use park with flush toilets, a picnic area, horseshoe and basketball facilities into a camping area. Visitors will be able to tie down, pitch a tent, and enjoy the amenities.
RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine and Noble County Airport Board members hosted a work party on May 31 at the Wolf Run Fly In Campground, Noble County Airport (I10). Volunteers cleared downed trees to generate plenty of firewood for four fire rings: one located at each of the three tent platforms, and the RAF-branded fire ring in the large gathering area by the new pilot shelter/storage shed. The two outhouses were cleaned, leaves were raked away from the tent platforms, and volunteers created a raised kindling area. “The Noble County Airport Board provided a full cookout lunch, complete with homemade potato salad and chocolate chip cookies,” Mortine said. “We sat at the picnic tables and shared ideas about new RAF projects sparking in Ohio and gave a heartfelt thank you to the board members, who have contributed a tremendous amount of support with materials and their skills to Wolf Run Fly-In campground.” To celebrate and enjoy this unique destination in Ohio, a fly-in has been scheduled Friday-Sunday, September 11-13, 2026. Mark your calendars for the opportunity to land on the 3,800-ft paved runway, and explore the large forested camping area along the lake nearby. RAF carts are available to haul your gear to the perfect camping spot. Watch the RAF Event Calendar for more details. Find more about Noble County Airport in the Airfield Guide . Submitted June 8, 2026
A source of community pride, New Hampshire’s Parlin Field Airport (2B3) is now more appealing than ever. An RAF volunteer crew of eight met on May 23 and set out picnic tables at each of the six campsites; cleared trees and brush from the south windsock and replaced it to make it highly visible. A volunteer also weeded around the flagpole and planted blooming flowers that RAF New Hampshire Liaison John Meade had purchased. “Airport manager Heath Marsden was extremely appreciative of the progress made and spring cleanup,” Meade said. Parlin was one of the RAF’s earliest grant beneficiaries, thanks to Meade’s goal to add improvements for visitors to access. Visitors landing on either the 1,981-ft turf, or 3,450-ft asphalt runway may access the “base ops” building for shelter and restrooms. Nearby the airfield camping area is the Sugar River, known for trout, and the local Sugar Hill Recreation Trails can be accessed across the historic covered bridge with use of airport loaner bicycles. Find more about Parlin Airfield in the Airfield Guide . Submitted June 8, 2026
In 2003, when the newly formed RAF Board of Directors decided to put the RAF logo on shirts, they turned to local Bozeman outdoors apparel and wader manufacturer Simms. Their fishing shirts were known for their proven outdoors-tested quality. The short list of colors came down to two: an earthy, moss green and an almost iridescent orange. They decided to try both colors, and the choice was made at Florida’s Sun ’n Fun that year when RAF attendees discovered that they could see each other quickly in the large crowd wearing the orange shirts. RAF then-Director Tim Clifford said, “Obviously, the orange is our color. We can own it.” The RAF adopted orange, and from that point forward, the orange brand color became woven into the RAF culture. RAF attendees turned heads when they showed up for local, state, and federal land use and planning meetings. The RAF became known and respected as “the guys in orange.” The RAF orange is also a sensible choice for outdoors activities we enjoy, especially flying. Consider a scenario where you want to spot, or be spotted. It’s definitely noticeable. To illustrate, we asked RAF supporter and videographer Charley Voorhis and RAF President Bill McGlynn to take to the air and help us prove that RAF orange really does stand out (photo below). Whether you are in a crowd at Sun ’n Fun, Oshkosh, or out flying the backcountry — if you want to be seen, wear RAF orange!
