Presley Melton

After years of experience flying his Boeing Stearman, Decathlons, an RV8, his award-winning 1943 Howard DGA, and a variety of other aircraft, RAF Ambassador Presley Melton of Arkansas says he has the most fun in his open-cockpit AirCam. 

Years ago, Presley journeyed out west in his RV8, enjoying Idaho’s groomed turf airfields, but realized he wanted something that he could safely take into more backcountry places. He decided on the AirCam, an aircraft that was originally a one-off creation, specifically built to fly photographers over Africa’s jungle canopy, where a forced landing could drop you near the den of a hungry lion or poisonous snake. It provided the safety and redundancy of two engines and a very slow stall speed. “It’s like flying a canoe, or a motorcycle. Your elbows are out in the breeze and the view is incredible,” Presley says. Due to public demand, the AirCam design was turned into a kit, and there are now several hundred flying. 

“It’s a long way to Idaho from Arkansas at eighty miles an hour, though,” he added, and now Presley has a Murphy Super Rebel, that he describes as an Experimental Cessna 180. The faster Murphy with an enclosed cockpit makes very long trips much easier. He looks forward to many more years of recreational flying. “Flying is a team sport” he says. When he announced his plans to fly to Big Bend National Park in Texas, “which is on the way to nowhere else,” he was joined by seven other aircraft. “I’ve been very blessed to have made a bunch of friends through aviation,” he says.

While enjoying South Carolina’s Triple Tree fly-in, he was invited to join Mark Baker and John McKenna’s breakfast conversation and became motivated to help the RAF and its mission. Presley retired from a three-generation business, having turned his casket sales business over to his two sons. Now he typically flies between 120 to 150 hours per year. It is very likely RAF members will spot him in any one of his current airplanes at an event. 

Presley and about ten other pilots and family members volunteered recently to assist The Nature Conservancy on a restoration project along a tributary of the Kings River in northern Arkansas. The group planted hundreds of trees. “It was our way to give back, in appreciation for what The Nature Conservancy has given us,” he said, referring to Trigger Gap, (17A) the airfield that the RAF and Arkansas volunteers created near Bentonville on land leased from TNC. 

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VOLUNTEERS USE RAF GRANT TO BUILD LEAN-TO AT PARLIN

July 24, 2026
RAF New Hampshire and Vermont Liaison John Meade was awarded a second grant for additional camping amenities at New Hampshire’s Parlin Field, 2B3. This time, the RAF has helped fund a covered camping shelter built by local volunteers for use in case of inclement weather. The shelter will soon have a roll-down tarp for use when occupied. Campers will also soon find solar shower bags and portable charging stations available at the campsites, as part of the grant. Pilots have enjoyed the six campsites with picnic tables and fire rings funded by a 2019 RAF grant, with local pilots providing the volunteer labor. “Over the past few years, the Parlin campsites have served pilots flying into New Hampshire to camp. I know that many visitors use this as a hub of operation to see all of New England,” Meade said. He points out that the FBO can be opened with a key code for access to a restroom and conference table. There are bicycles if one wishes to tour the Sugar Hill Trail System or ride the two miles to town for groceries – including local maple syrup – and restaurants. There is self-serve 100LL available. The field is both paved and has two turf runways. In May, Meade had organized volunteers to provide seasonal cleanup, in cooperation with Heath Marsden, part-time airport manager.  Find out more about Parlin in the Airfield Guide .

JOE WALTZ

By lellington • July 24, 2026
TX Ambassador

GOING TO OSHKOSH? CELEBRATE OUR BIG NEWS WITH US!

July 16, 2026
We have a BIG announcement planned for AirVenture this year, and you're invited to join us to celebrate the news. Put these special events on your AirVenture schedule for Tuesday, July 21: 8:30 - 10:30 am: Donuts & Coffee at the Redbird Booth, #301 11:30 am - 12:45 pm: RAF Forum - Beyond The Pavement by Mike Goulian, Forum Stage #10 We can't wait to share what our volunteers have been working on. Submitted June 15, 2026

MONACHE MEADOWS, CA RESTORED: RAF CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE MAP

By Carmine Mowbray • July 14, 2026
“It's hard to describe the emotions associated with this effort,” said RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov of the restoration of Monache Meadows airstrip, on the Kern Plateau south of California’s Mount Whitney. This High Sierra airstrip had been accessed for recreation for years until the US Forest Service unofficially closed it in the 1970s citing the Wilderness Act, although the strip is not in a Wilderness area; it lies between the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wildernesses. The RAF is thrilled to announce that Monache Meadows is officially charted as L80, and has been brought back into safe operation after many years of neglect. It is open for public access, thanks to years of effort and support by RAF volunteers and donors. RAF California Liaison Rick Lach first learned of the airstrip in the 80s on a Jeep excursion planting trout in the High Sierras. Lach became an RAF Liaison in 2011, and determined ways to approach the appropriate land managers about restoring the airstrip for use after being abandoned. Persevering for 15 years with respectful communications with a series of District Rangers, he finally delivered a breakthrough in 2024 when the Forest Service agreed to include Monache Meadows in its scope of work, allocating some funds in cooperation with RAF volunteer efforts. "After years of patience and persistence, I am glad to announce that we have restored Monache Meadows back to safe operation to be enjoyed by pilots once again," said Lach. Both Lach and Barilov organized repeated work parties, seeing as many as 20 volunteers making the arduous drive to help. A Monache resident and RAF supporter donated the windsock. The remote area is popular for camping, hiking, and fishing, and up until now was only accessible seasonally by a rough and rocky road, requiring high-clearance 4WD vehicles. The road becomes soft and impassable during wet conditions and closes due to snow. Barilov said, “We appreciate everyone's help. The strip ended up nearly 2,400 feet in length, is very flat, and is covered with grass. Frankly, it looks like one of the best grass airstrips I have ever landed on.” The airstrip lies at an elevation of 7,874, so those wishing to access it must consider density altitude, and that it seasonally gets heavy snows. The RAF's Expanding the Map initiative is a nationwide effort focused on opening, improving, and restoring access to airstrips, helping connect aviators to more of the places they love to explore. Learn more about Monache Meadows Airstrip and how the RAF is Expanding The Map . Submitted July 15, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

PURPOSEFUL PRACTICE...AT HOME

By Matt Foster • July 14, 2026
By Matt Foster - Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee Chair Your backcountry adventure likely involves a heavily loaded airplane, a short strip, challenging terrain, and limited options. Your practice should reflect those realities – at your home airport. Weave exercises into your normal flying, and consider bringing someone along to observe and keep you honest. Make your normal operations backcountry-ready operations. Seek out an instructor with backcountry experience or challenge your local instructor to learn about your upcoming mission and play a role in your preparation. Load the airplane as you expect to fly it. Bring the camping gear, survival equipment, and ballast that simulates your expected weight and center of gravity. You’ll learn more about how the airplane performs when it's configured for the mission…not when it's empty and light. Make all your landings “spot” landings (remember: your “worst” landing is your standard). Know your performance for takeoff distance and power settings. Learn to lean for density altitude. Practice these calculations for your aircraft. Fly non-standard patterns where airports allow. Practice go-arounds with varying flap settings. Practice slow flight and canyon turns. You can do many of these on every local mission with only a little more thought and purpose…and it can be fun and rewarding. Visualize the adventure, and practice before you launch your adventure. The backcountry is no place to discover your limitations. Submitted July 14, 2026 Photo Credit: Bill Brine