RAF AND NEW MEXICO PILOTS ASSOCIATION WORKING TOGETHER ON NEGRITO AIRSTRIP

The New Mexico Pilots Association Recreational Airstrip Committee (NM-RAC) has organized a work party for April 29 through May 1, 2011 at the Negrito Airstrip (0NM7) in South West New Mexico.  A rain date is set for the following weekend.  The Negrito Airstrip is located at N33° 31.253667′ W108° 32.570200′ (estimated by  AirNav ).  Its elevation is 8,143 ft and it hosts two runways.  The main runway (17/35) is 7,500 ft long and 60 ft. wide.  The secondary runway (3/21) is 4,000 ft long and 60 ft wide (all information from  AirNav ).  The airstrip is located 18 miles SE of Reserve, NM.

The  NM-RAC  organized a fly-in there last fall and representatives have been talking to Bob Madil, the local US Forest Service District Ranger, about enhancing the airstrip.  The work party will remove rocks from the sides of the runway to improve the parking along the airstrip.  Larry Filener, Chairman of the  NM-RAC , warns pilots flying in to stop their aircraft on the runway and walk the area they want to park before moving their plane into parking.  Many of the rocks are big enough to catch a prop, and they are usually hidden in the grass.  The New Mexico Pilots Association and the RAF are very excited to announce their growing partnership with the National Forest Service in an effort to insure the future of the airstrip and its maintenance.

Negrito airstrip is managed by the United States Forest Service as a fire base and prior permission is required for use.  Pilots should make arrangements to attend the work party by contacting Larry Filener through the New Mexico Pilot Association (NMPA) website at  http://nmpilots.org.  He will provide briefing information including frequencies and will add pilots’ names to the work party list.

The airstrip is located in the beautiful  Gila National Forest.  There are no amenities at this time but the NM-RAC is working to establish permanent facilities at the airstrip.  In addition to the work contemplated for this year, NMPA has requested that the Forest Service allow them to begin planning for installation of a latrine, shelter and picnic tables.  Both NMPA and RAF are very excited at this development as it will further our vision of having Negrito become one of the Nation’s premier backcountry airstrips. The president of the Recreational Aviation Foundation,  John McKenna , says “The airstrip is a great asset for the State of New Mexico and it is great to see it being preserved.  The New Mexico pilots are working to fulfill the RAF mission of  “Keeping the legacy of recreational aviation strong by preserving, maintaining and creating public use recreational and backcountry airstrips nationwide.” Rol Morrow , RAF Director and New Mexico State Liaison says, “I am very excited about the progress the NM-RAC has made with the US Forest Service in the preservation of the backcountry airstrips in New Mexico.”

The NM-RAC is working on other airstrips also so stay tuned to learn more. You can also learn more about the New Mexico Pilots Association and the Negrito Airstrip Fly-In by visiting their website at http://nmpilots.org.

Submitted on April 12, 2011.

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By lellington • June 26, 2026
RAF President Bill McGlynn met in mid-June with the US Forest Service, Idaho Dept of Aeronautics, and Idaho Aviation Association to evaluate steps to improve Magee (S77) airstrip, 23 nm east of Coeur d’Alene. On the way, Bill picked up Joe Sober, one of two airport engineers from Oklahoma City who have volunteered their professional services, and have been instrumental in creating maintenance and remediation plans on Idaho backcountry airstrips. “The Forest Service engineering teams have too much on their plate just addressing roads, so having this resource to make airstrip engineering assessments and plans is instrumental to resolving challenges on USFS airstrips like Magee,” McGlynn said. The improvement project at Magee has been organized through a Cost Share Agreement the RAF has with the USFS. McGlynn, Sober, Willy Acton of the Idaho Airstrip Network, along with USFS District Ranger Holly Hampton, Don Macintosh of IAA, Dan Conner of Idaho Aeronautics, and RAF Idaho Ambassador George Weaver investigated the sources of flooding that plague Magee airstrip every spring and analyzed means of re-directing the problematic water. Magee airstrip was created in the 1940s by the Corp of Engineers as a hidden fighter base in case of Japanese attack on the western US coast. A dike that was built to channel water away from the runway has eroded over the eighty years. Sober took numerous measurements and will develop a plan to submit to the USFS for approval. Work could begin over the next year or two to recover about 700 feet of runway. “We truly could not do this work without our volunteer engineers and are very fortunate to have their expertise,” McGlynn said. Weaver said, “The airstrip is a real gem, and the restoration work will make it a great backcountry destination.”

TEAMWORK GETS THINGS DONE AT HISTORIC MEDICINE BOW, WYOMING

June 26, 2026
“It was really nice to spend some time with Wyoming folks cleaning up a little piece of history,” RAF WY/UT Ambassador Karen Larson said of the May 30 work party at Medicine Bow airport, on the historic US airmail route. RAF Wyoming Liaison Joe Feiler organized the work and reports that about 15 people with a wide range of backgrounds arrived at 9 am to help. Attendees included RAF supporters, EAA Chapter 420 members, local residents, as well as Lee Cook, Medicine Bow airport board member and town council member.

STEVE JONES

By lellington • June 25, 2026
Steve Jones was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio just an hour from the birthplace of aviation. He fell in love with airplanes at an early age and has been flying ever since. That passion grew exponentially when he landed off-airport in a tailwheel airplane for the first time and discovered the world of backcountry aviation. He first encountered the RAF while attending a “Peaks to Pavement” seminar in 2019, where he met Ohio State Liaison Christine Mortine. Since that time he has enjoyed supporting the RAF including getting his hands dirty helping with campsite improvements at Noble County Airport. He has also supported technology projects for the HQ team and RAF volunteers. As a State Liaison for Ohio he will be focused on initiating new grant projects, adding more recreational airports in Ohio to the RAF Airfield Guide, and increasing RAF engagement and collaboration. Steve is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BA in Aviation Management and is a loyal Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. He works in Flight Operations for a large private aviation company where he has worked for the past twenty years. He resides in Pickerington, Ohio with his wife Kasey who is also an aviation enthusiast. Steve can be reached at sjones@theraf.org (614) 353-8895 

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Joining RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine is Steve Jones, who is stepping into a Liaison role from having volunteered on RAF technology projects. Raised in Columbus, Ohio just an hour from the birthplace of aviation, Steve fell in love with airplanes at an early age. That passion grew exponentially when he discovered the world of backcountry aviation. He first encountered the RAF while attending a “Peaks to Pavement” seminar in 2019, where he met Christine. Since then, he has enjoyed supporting the RAF by helping on campsite improvements at Noble County Airport. As a new Ohio Liaison, he will focus on initiating new grant projects, adding more recreational airports in Ohio to the RAF Airfield Guide, and increasing RAF engagement and collaboration. Steve is a graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Aviation Management and is a loyal Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. For the last twenty years, he has worked in Flight Operations for a large private aviation company. He resides in Pickerington, Ohio with his wife Kasey who is also an aviation enthusiast. Steve can be reached at sjones@theraf.org

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