VOLUNTEERS BRING SHADE TREES TO TRIGGER GAP

Trigger Gap Airfield, 17A was built in 2016 on Arkansas’ Pension Mountain through the generosity of The Nature Conservancy, and volunteers and funding from the RAF and Fly Oz, as well as The Walton Foundation.


Lying in a large clearing, there is little shade. RAF Arkansas Liaisons Dave Powell and Harper Goodwin and their wives Julie and Diane have spent a good bit of time working on improvements there, and began taking action to create more shade. “Our long term plan is to let selected volunteer pine trees grow here and there. However, when campers take shelter in the shadow of the pavilion chimney, one starts thinking of a solution,” Goodwin said. He visited nurseries, talked to The Nature Conservancy people and local area ranchers. He met Michael Bays of Instashade who specializes in transporting and planting large trees. They are sourcing trees from what Goodwin calls, “a tree farm that finds itself in the path of urban sprawl. It’s only a matter of time until these trees are replaced by a sea of grey rooftops.” Bays is transplanting these trees at what Goodwin considers a very fair price, funded by a Walton Family Foundation grant. 

Plans to accomplish the transplanting in 2022 were delayed, so the crew started looking at late fall 2023 but rains prevented Bays from accessing the tree farm with his trucks. In February, Harper was able to select seven Nuttall Oaks, “substantial trees that will provide beauty and shade for a hundred years,” he announced.


A massive spade accomplished the transplanting over four days. “The distance and hard ground took its toll and a mini excavator had to be rented to complete three of the holes,” Goodwin said.

Next came the obligation to water the trees, about 100 gallons of water each every week now, and throughout summer. “So now I have a 150 gallon collapsable water bag in the back of my pickup,” Goodwin said. He fills it from their well at home, then tops it off a couple of times at a local rancher’s home near the airfield. 


Always managing maintenance, these volunteers will host a work party to stake the trees, remove rocks, smooth soil, and assemble picnic tables. “Dave and myself are very proud of what has been accomplished here at Trigger Gap,” Goodwin says. “It would not have been possible without the help of The Nature Conservancy, The Walton Foundation, the RAF, Fly OZ and their dedicated volunteers. Come fly in and enjoy the view and now the ever-increasing shade!”

Submitted March 4, 2024
by Carmine Mowbray

Posted in News

    Recent Posts

RAF AND USFS COLLABORATE ON LOST CREEK, MI IMPROVEMENTS

August 28, 2026
RAF Michigan Liaisons Tanmoy Ganguly and Scott Anttila met with district U.S. Forest Service staff prior to starting work at Lost Creek airstrip, now MI45, (formerly 5Y4) in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in north-central Michigan. “We had a very constructive discussion about what the RAF does, and what we envision for future amenities at Lost Creek airstrip,” Ganguly said. The mid-August work weekend attracted 16 aircraft and 20 volunteers, including new MI Ambassador Ryan Minnick, MI Ambassador Ehsan Hamtaei, and IN Liaison Bill Steinmetz, many of whom enjoyed camping overnight in the forested setting. The crew was joined by nearby residents who donated their time, tools, and machinery to help and provided snacks.

RAF LOUISIANA LIAISON CAPTAIN MARCEL LEBLANC (RET)

August 27, 2026
Submitted August 27, 2025

PUBLIC COMMENTS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO 10 OF UTAH'S BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS

August 25, 2026
CALL TO ACTION: Public Comments Requested to Support Access to 10 of Utah's Sensational Backcountry Airstrips The BLM has issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the following ten Moab-Monticello backcountry airstrips. Pilot comments will help to open access to the airstrips. Your Comments are Needed by Thursday, September 3. Please use the link below to state in your own words why you support access to these backcountry airstrips: Nokai Dome Piute Canyon Potato Ridge Playa Big Flat Red Canyon Spring Canyon Castle Creek Steer Ridge West Wee Hope Mine

WORTH THE READ: BILL MCGLYNN EDITORIAL

August 25, 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 Bill McGlynn, President of the RAF.

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR GLACIER CREEK WITH HAND TOOLS

August 25, 2026
Nestled in among awe-inspiring mountains, Glacier Creek (KGZ) airstrip is 15 nm east of McCarthy in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. On July 11, a work party drawing 25 volunteers was held there, led by RAF Alaska Liaison Stef Goza, her husband Randy, and Alaska Ambassador Bri Norby. They were joined by a group of National Park Service maintenance crew members who’d been flown in the night before and cleared the trail from the airstrip to the cabin before volunteers arrived.