VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE IMPROVING HISTORIC WATERBURY

“Thanks to a group of thirteen volunteers, we were able to have a successful RAF work party,” Brian Thomas, RAF Connecticut Liaison reported of the June 23 gathering at the Waterbury Airport, N41. He reports that the airport owners are very appreciative of the collective efforts from the local pilot community to keep Waterbury looking good through the summer flying season. 


“Planes have been rolling on this emerald strip of grass nestled in the quiet rolling hills of Connecticut since 1926. In fact if you could have been here in 1936 you would have been able to get a ride with Clarence Chamberlin in his Curtiss Condor for only a dollar,” Thomas says. To preserve its appeal, in 2023 he applied for and was awarded an RAF grant for improvements including a low-maintenance composting outhouse, picnic tables, several park style barbecue grills and upgrades to the two existing fire pits. Volunteers had previously added tent platforms and stocked plenty of firewood.


The recent work party was plagued by heat and “pop-up” thunderstorms but the group accomplished many tasks. They did all the weed whacking requested by the owners, and mowed around fire pits and tent platforms, making them safe to use for the season. Some spread wood chips along the stairway to the airfield and sprayed weeds. An outhouse gutter was installed for rainwater collection. They cleaned all the picnic tables and outhouse woodwork, and installed the new composite floor in the shower.

“Thank you to all the volunteers that showed up and braved the elements! We could not have done it without you,” Thomas added. Future work parties to finish the last few tasks will be posted on the RAF Event Calendar. 


For more information on Waterbury, see the Airfield Guide.


Submitted on June 27, 2024
By Carmine Mowbray

Posted in News

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FEATURED AIRSTRIP: KEG KNOLL, UT

By Carmine Mowbray • August 28, 2026
Some outdoor enthusiasts experience Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness from the flat and peaceful water of the Green River as it goosenecks between Navajo Sandstone canyon walls, spires, and side arches. From a vantage high above, this region of stunning geologic and cultural wonders is equally as stunning. Thanks to the diligence of the RAF’s Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig, pilots may now land on a mesa overlooking the vast San Rafael Desert at Keg Knoll airstrip. This public airstrip is truly a gateway to some of Utah's most remarkable canyon country near Horseshoe Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks, offering a quiet alternative to the busy national park trails. Lessig led an effort over the past three years to advocate for the reopening of Keg Knoll airstrip. Various meetings were organized with the BLM to explore whether the airstrip could be reopened as allowed by the Wilderness Act, leading to the BLM's decision to authorize public access earlier this year. Lessig is planning a work party at Keg Knoll this fall with BLM and Utah Back Country Pilots to further improve the airstrip. Keg Knoll Airstrip has outstanding recreational value and offers pilots ready access to a true wilderness experience. Trails take visitors past ancient stories etched in desert varnish and painted on stone. Or to Colonnade Arch – just two miles from the airstrip – much-photographed for its five time-honed windows in the sandstone. Pilots are reminded that this airstrip lies within a Wilderness Area and all wilderness rules apply, including leaving all motorized and mechanized devices at home; no bicycles, drones, power tools, etc. The southwest 700 feet of the original airstrip is closed to aircraft due to sensitive vegetation. Those seeking a remote, dark sky experience should put Keg Knoll on their travel plan. Bring your self-reliance, and leave nothing behind. The RAF is thrilled that this airstrip has opened this year as part of its nationwide Expanding the Map initiative. Find out more about Keg Knoll airstrip in the Airfield Guide and on our dedicated web page . Submitted August 28, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

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