Archive for June 2019
Product Photography Volunteer Jake has spent his whole life in photography. Having grown up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, Jake found a love of the outdoor world at a young age. In 2006 Jake came up to Bozeman, MT to attend classes at MSU, but like so many other people after four years…
The Recreational Aviation Foundation is pleased to have teamed up with AOPA’s Air Safety Institute on more than fifty of their in-person live seminars, “From Peaks to Pavement: Applying Lessons from the Backcountry”. This ambitious six-month series just concluded, with 88 separate two-hour sessions held across the country. A total of 8,526 people attended the seminars. Thirty-five key RAF…
The Recreational Aviation Foundation is pleased to have teamed up with AOPA’s Air Safety Institute on more than fifty of their in-person live seminars, “From Peaks to Pavement: Applying Lessons from the Backcountry”. This ambitious six-month series just concluded, with 88 separate two-hour sessions held across the country. A total of 8,526 people attended the seminars. Thirty-five key RAF…
In Oregon recently, the RAF worked in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) to maintain McKenzie Bridge State Airport (00S), a premier backcountry airfield located in the Cascade Range. “We had an excellent turnout, everyone contributed and had a good time,” RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes said of the June 1 work party. Approximately 30…
In Oregon recently, the RAF worked in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) to maintain McKenzie Bridge State Airport (00S), a premier backcountry airfield located in the Cascade Range. “We had an excellent turnout, everyone contributed and had a good time,” RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes said of the June 1 work party. Approximately 30…
RAF Minnesota Liaison Kurt Pennuto reports that the May 31-June 2 Bowstring work party weekend was “a huge success.” Volunteers completed two campsites, one with four tent pads and one with five tent pads. Each site now has an RAF fire ring, a picnic table and is just a short walk to a newly constructed outhouse. They…
Recent Posts
John was blessed to have two neighbors with 1000s of hours in Cessna 185s, and obtained his private pilot license with their encouragement in 2013. They introduced him to the magic of backcountry Idaho and the amazing capabilities of a 185. He purchased his own at the Big Creek Lodge in 2014. John was introduced to the RAF in 2018, at a fly-out to Seeley Lake around AOPA’s Missoula fly-in, and a few weeks later at RAF’s fly-in at Ryan Field. He is a firm believer in the RAF’s mission. Without RAF’s advocacy, he fears the steady loss of precious resources. John retired from the Coca-Cola system in 2017 after 25 years of service. His career prior to Coke included five years in operations consulting with Booz Allen & Hamilton, and three years with Hewlett Packard in Boise, Idaho – where his love of the west was born. When not flying, John enjoys tennis, photography and woodworking – a skill he is actively applying to a new house he and his wife Blythe are building in Longboat Key, FL. His border collie, Tot (pictured here perched on her RTIC cooler throne), isn’t a fan of how loud a 185 is, but thinks Johnson Creek’s airstrip is the most amazing place to chase a frisbee on the planet. jhodgson@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Liz grew up in Louisiana, but she has lived in Georgia with her husband, Mike, for the past 35 years. They have two grown sons, John and Will. Liz’s interests include reading, DIY projects, walking/hiking, hanging out with friends, and accompanying Mike on camping trips, fishing excursions, or flights in his Carbon Cub. She enjoys spending time at their lake house and especially at their home in Driggs, Idaho. Her favorite vacations usually involve a national park. ltouchstone@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Ed wanted to fly as long as he could remember. Growing up as an “Air Force Brat,” his early life involved living on air bases, watching airplanes and living among Air Force pilots. His father flew P-47, P-38 and P-51 fighters in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Ed has enjoyed GA flying since getting his license to fly in 1977. He was exposed to and fell in love with backcountry flying only a few years ago. Among other airplanes, Ed has flown several types of backcountry planes. He currently flies a C182 King Katmai. Ed believes in the RAF and wants to do all he can to support the RAF Mission. ecooper@theraf.org Submitted October 30, 2025
Posted in Idaho Ambassador
Paul Kosubinsky’s logbook tells the story of his true love affair with flight – from the J-3 Cub to the Boeing 747. Though he’s flown many different airplanes, “My heart has always remained in the Cub,” he says. Paul has stepped up to take on the role of RAF Virginia Liaison and will team up…
