Archive for 2021
Five inches of new snow didn’t deter a hardy group of 11 RAF volunteers who traveled to the northernmost village in Wisconsin in mid December to cut trees and remove brush at the Cornucopia airfield, WI23. “The snowstorm the previous week didn’t appear to impede the skid steer or the volunteers,” RAF Director Jeff Russell…
After nearly two years, RAF Florida Liaison Bobby Capozzi decided it was time to gather his team of “Gettin’ it Done” RAF volunteers to refresh Blackwater, 8FD3. The group endured a light drizzle, but two aircraft flew in and camped. RAF Alabama Liaison Dan Barnhill and his parents joined the group. “All planned projects were completed,” Capozzi…
In preparation for a December 3-5 Creighton Island fly-in, Georgia Ambassador Eric Davis reported, “We had great weather and a solid showing by our Creighton Island diehards,” in mid-November. Davis was joined by RAF Georgia Liaison Kevin Barry and Ambassador Lou Furlong for a work party at this privately-owned coastal island airfield. The team mowed…
Sporty’s Tailwheel Checkout Course is out, and the RAF appreciates that its final segment shares the RAF mission, and the importance of preserving recreational and backcountry airstrips. Some of the RAF’s accomplishments are shown, while the narrator points out that there is probably a recreational airfield within an hour of your home. There is an illustration of…
January 3 is Butchie Ryan’s 100th birthday. To honor this remarkable woman, we’re sharing a few highlights of her very full life. The RAF will be forever grateful to Butchie and her late husband Ben for donating their Ryan Field property near West Glacier, Montana to the RAF so it can be enjoyed by all.…
A substantial volunteer effort took place at Two Hearted airstrip (6Y5) during the last two weeks of October. RAF supporter Jerry Ness donated his time and use of his equipment to re-grade a significant portion of the airstrip, with Michigan Liaison Brad Frederick, Leon Everhart and Mike Hintz also contributing time and energy to the project. Frederick explains that Two Hearted airstrip, 6Y5 is closed until the State…
The RAF was invited to be the first of 13 parties to sign the New Mexico Airstrip Network (NMAN) Memorandum of Understanding renewal. “I’m proud to have been at the signing of the original MOU, and this renewal is proof that our combined efforts are worthwhile. The RAF will gladly shoulder our responsibilities going forward,” RAF…
RAF Maine Liaison Steve Mason has reported on a successful improvement project at Norridgewock, Maine, KOWK. The municipal airport has multiple asphalt runways and a parallel turf airstrip. Mason learned that the town would not maintain the turf airfield, so he obtained an RAF grant to reclaim and enhance safety at the strip. “The grass…
RAF President Bill McGlynn was a panelist on the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s “Back to the Back Country: 2021 in review” live webinar November 18. This presentation was a segment of the Air Safety Institute’s Backcountry Safety Initiative that the RAF participated in last May. The free webinar was a reflection on recent backcountry flight accidents in…
RAF Florida Liaison Bobby Capozzi has been awarded an RAF grant for continued maintenance at Blackwater airfield (8FD3) near Munson, Florida, 33 nm northeast of Pensacola. “This grant will benefit the aviation community and continue our current relationship that the RAF enjoys with the Florida State Forestry who owns the airfield,” Capozzi says. This grant will…
Recent Posts
West Virginia’s Cheat River Island (56WV) was the site of a May 2026 work party coordinated by RAF West Virginia Liaison Robert Miller. RAF Virginia Liaison Paul Kosubinsky and WV Ambassador Kevin Rudisill assisted, along with a dozen other volunteers. The airfield is just outside Rowlesburg, West Virginia, about 68nm SSE of Pittsburgh, and is owned by Dave and Pam Graybill. With the help of Dave's excavator and the volunteer crew helping by hand, about 1,500 feet of brush and trees were cleared along the runway.
Thanks to the efforts of RAF California Liaison Doug Lumgair and dedicated volunteers, an abandoned, overgrown airstrip on BLM land has been reclaimed from encroaching vegetation. Now known as Walker Ridge, this northern California airstrip offers a remote, secluded experience within easy reach of pilots in the Sacramento/Central Valley and San Francisco Bay regions. Camping at the south end of the 1,800-ft strip offers a gorgeous view of the valley — and after dark, with no artificial lighting for miles, the night sky turns breathtaking. The recreational opportunities at this airstrip are plenty. Hunting is allowed in the area, which includes deer, wild boar, turkey, and quail. Along with this, biking and hiking trails surround the area, with a main trail that is located right next to the airstrip. Not far from Walker Ridge is Wilbur Hot Springs, a natural hot mineral spring centered within a nature preserve, and open to the public on a reservation basis. Lumgair’s organized work parties have been described as “magical” — as the stunning setting makes a deep impression on everyone. Pitch your tent and enjoy the valley overlook— beautiful at any time of day, especially because no structures are visible. Lumgair prepared a detailed work proposal for the BLM, and monitored the request throughout the agency's approval process. By October 2025, the RAF obtained approval to reclaim and rehabilitate the airstrip for increased safety and recreational access. The initial work on the overgrown strip proved challenging, beginning with the rough drive to the site and throughout the arduous removal of protruding boulders right in the runway. Now, the strip is usable by most backcountry-suitable aircraft, and pilots comfortable with a narrow runway. Please see the Airfield Guide for more information on Walker Ridge and videos. Note that there are no water or bathroom facilities available on site. Read more about Walker Ridge and how the RAF is Expanding The Map here . Submitted June 1, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray
This year, the RAF is Expanding The Map - and it's shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in our history. Beginning in 2026, the RAF plans to announce the opening and reopening of more than 15 airstrips across the country! We are expanding backcountry access like never before, and we are excited for aviators to explore the growing number of destinations where you can share the joys of recreational aviation with family and friends. This nationwide initiative is focused on opening, improving, and restoring access to airstrips across the United States, helping connect aviators to more of the places they love to explore. The Expanding the Map initiative begins with the reopening of Walker Ridge Airstrip . RAF volunteers, led by RAF California Liaison Doug Lumgair, have reclaimed northern California's Walker Ridge, a once-abandoned BLM airstrip featuring underwing camping and magical views. Walker Ridge airstrip offers a remote, secluded backcountry airstrip experience within easy reach of pilots in the Sacramento / Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area regions. There are very few opportunities like this for pilots in these large metropolitan areas to fly out to a genuinely remote location and camp with their airplane just a few hours from home. The combination of dark skies, sweeping valley views, dispersed camping right at the airstrip, and true seclusion makes Walker Ridge a rare and special destination. Nestled within the protected landscape of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Walker Ridge offers an experience that is both uniquely accessible and remarkably wild. This is the first Expanding the Map airstrip announcement of many, so stay tuned for the next one coming soon ! We have dedicated a new section of our website to highlight the RAF's Expanding the Map initiative. You can also find a wealth of information about Walker Ridge and the RAF’s efforts to reopen the airstrip here . Walker Ridge now appears in the RAF Airfield Guide , an important resource where pilots find helpful airstrip information and safety briefings. Submitted April 1, 2026
Ryan Field, 2MT1, remains CLOSED temporarily. In October, the runway was closed to begin restoring bare areas with new soil and grass. After the Montana winter and spring seasons, the new grass is coming in nicely; however, the field will remain closed until the turf has had adequate time to fully establish. We will keep you updated, but as of June 1, 2026, Ryan Field remains CLOSED to operations. Submitted May 28, 2026
RAF Massachusetts/Rhode Island Liaison Andrew Lyons has been awarded an RAF grant for the addition of a rustic camper cabin at Nadeau’s Airfield in Acton, ME. The 2,400-ft turf field (02ME) is owned by longtime RAF volunteer John Nadeau, who now serves as one of the RAF's Recreational Use Statute Liaisons. Nadeau welcomes visitors to experience backcountry flying not far from the populated eastern seaboard, and envisions the airfield as a gathering spot for RAF enthusiasts in the region. Not far to the west are clusters of New Hampshire’s mountains, and coastal flying opportunities to the east. “The airfield is well located to serve as a hub for exploring much of what New England has to offer,” Lyons said. There is a small pond on the airfield for visitors to try a bit of fishing. The camping area plan includes the installation of a pre-cut kit cabin manufactured locally in New England, with the addition of sleeping platforms and an RAF fire ring. The cabin will serve as a comfortable shelter, and tools and other items will be stored in the unit as well. Pilots are welcome to camp underwing at 02ME. “We anticipate no shortage of volunteers for this project,” Lyons said. A team will pick the cabin kit up from the manufacturer in Vermont to save shipping costs. Lyons expects the cabin will be completed in early summer 2026. Currently, there is a port-a-john, and future plans include the addition of a plumbed restroom and shower at the field. Find more about Nadeau’s Field in the Airfield Guide . Submitted May 27, 2026
