SULLIVAN LAKE – PERFECT FOR A SUMMER DIP

Washington Liaison Dave Whitelaw and his brother John report that the annual Sullivan Lake (09S) fly-in near Metaline Falls in northeast Washington State (August 2-4) was a success. “We had beautiful weather after being hampered by fires and thick smoke the last three years,” Dave said.

Twenty-two aircraft flew in, including two by water that beached on the nice gravel. Around 30 folks enjoyed the weekend, some donning official orange vests in order to repair fence and fill gopher holes under the supervision of Washington State Transportation Airport Manager Paul Wolf.

Several hiked the trails along the lake, cooling off with a refreshing swim afterward. Saturday evening’s potluck came together around the Whitelaw’s New York Italian sausage with sautéed onions and peppers, along with barbecued salmon. Others contributed their favorite side dishes and desserts.

Around the evening campfire, RAF member Don Goodman shared his and his wife Natala’s experience landing at the municipal or county airport in each of Washington State’s 39 counties in one day. The flight required a lot of planning, resulting in a long 14-hour day with 10 hours of stick time. The reward was a sunrise departure, beautiful varied scenery, and some new friends along the way.

“We all are looking forward to next year’s Sullivan Lake Fly-in,” Dave said.

Submitted on August 22, 2019

Posted in News

WORTH THE READ: CINDY CROSS GUEST EDITORIAL

October 22, 2026

Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Cindy Cross, RAF VP of Appreciation.

RAF FIRE HUB INSTALLED AT BEECHCRAFT HERITAGE MUSEUM

October 21, 2026

The Beechcraft Heritage Museum at Tullahoma Regional Airport is the site of a new RAF Fire Hub, provided by an RAF grant submitted by Tennessee Ambassador Steve Lewis. The Parish family, who own the Beechcraft Museum, along with other RAF volunteers, contributed to the preparation and installation of the fire hub. They completed the project in time for folks to enjoy it during the annual Beech Party event over the October 10-11 weekend. The 20-foot diameter permanent concrete base was provided by a private donor. The fire ring and three 10-foot-long propeller blades were designed and fabricated by RAF Volunteer Pete Smith of Lewistown, Montana, with design assistance from Pete's son Matt Smith of Bozeman, Montana. The structure lies east of the 2,775-ft turf Parish Aerodrome runway adjacent to the Beechcraft Heritage Museum. “This permanent installation will showcase the RAF mission as the Museum draws visitors from around the country,” Lewis said. For more information on the airport, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted October 21, 2026

MICHIGAN VOLUNTEERS WORK AT HANLEY

October 21, 2026

Michigan RAF volunteers had a very successful work party at Hanley Field (5Y7) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula the October 10-11 weekend. Led by Michigan Ambassador Ryan Minnick, the crew, including Michigan Liaison Tanmoy Ganguly, cut and stacked firewood, repaired the sink and water heater, and relocated the airport sign along the road for better visibility. “We had a great weekend and got a good amount of work done. It was great connecting with supporters from the area,” Minnick said. “The assistant airport manager was there and was very happy with the results that came out of the work party.” Fourteen remained to camp Saturday night. Find more about Hanley Field in the Airfield Guide . Submitted October 21, 2026