RECREATIONAL AVIATION FOUNDATION RYAN FIELD AIRSTRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Adjacent to the towering mountains of Glacier National Park lies a recreational airstrip that will soon be available for the enjoyment by capable pilots with suitable aircraft. The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) announces that Ryan Field, near West Glacier, Montana, (Great Falls Sectional Chart) will be open in the summer of 2009 for general use by qualified recreational pilots, but only with prior contact with the RAF. There will be no commercial use of the airstrip. The airstrip is jointly owned by the RAF and Ben and Agnes (Butchie) Ryan who built the airstrip and have lived on the property for forty years.

The 2500’ airstrip is, as Ben says, a “bush strip”, surrounded by trees. Visitor facilities now feature a campground complete with a 24’ X 30’ shelter and a wood cook stove, two level tent sites, several picnic tables and an outside fire pit. Nearby is a porta-potty. Across the grass runway are three well-marked tiedown spots. There is a courtesy van on site for access to Glacier National Park only four miles away.

The Ryans are looking forward to hosting visitors to this special place they have carved out of the surrounding forest. See their three homebuilt aircraft, marvel at the work they have put into their property and hike through the surrounding forest.

Submitted on March 25, 2009.