Archive for September 2021
The weather was September spectacular, and folks arrived to help with seasonal chores and projects at Ryan Field the weekend of September 24-26. It was a busy weekend for RAF volunteers across the country as other airfield improvements were in progress from California to Connecticut. Winters are tough near West Glacier, and volunteers finished installing…
Not all RAF initiatives are accomplished by flying into the backcountry with work gloves and hand tools. RAF Texas Liaison Tres Clinton saw the need to commit some time within the halls of the Texas State Capitol wearing his best suit, with positive results. In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a law to protect riverbeds and freshwater areas from…
“It was a beautiful day for a work party, with good local support for our campsite buildout at Waterbury,” RAF Connecticut Liaison Drew Lyons said of the September work weekend. Waterbury-Plymouth (N41) lies 20 nm northwest of New Haven, Connecticut and has two turf runways, the longest of which is 2,000 feet. This pastoral area is only about 80…
The second successful cooperative project between the RAF and the Town of Keene has been completed at Marcy Field, (1I1) a 2,390 turf airfield near Keene, NY in the Adirondacks. The field lies in an area popular for recreation and the summer farm market. “There is world class fishing on the Ausable river and local…
RAF Montana Liaison and Montana Pilots Association Past President Scott Newpower reported that a half dozen planes and a helicopter landed at Schafer Meadows for a short-notice work party September 3-4. Schafer Meadows is Montana’s only airstrip within a Wilderness area, and as such, mechanized equipment cannot be used for maintenance. MPA volunteers have historically…
The New Mexico Pilots Association Gila Regional Fly-in was a huge success. Perfect weather enabled 37 planes and 56 folks to attend. Based at Reserve, New Mexico, T16, pilots could explore some of the six Gila area backcountry airstrips during the weekend. The privilege to access these places is the result of a long term partnership…
Connecticut Ambassador Day job: High School Science and Engineering Teacher Favorite airstrip: The dream of flying came early. As a kid I loved going to the top of Route 254 in Thomaston, CT with my grandfather or my Dad to watch the gliders soar above Waterbury Airport (locally known as Mt. Tobe). This was my…
Chris Arno of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine manages to mix his passion for flying in with his family of six, and the company he owns with his father, Northern Line Construction that builds and maintains utility power lines. He acted on his long-standing love of flying in Bar Harbor, Maine in May of 2019. “I happened to…
Annie McGlynn-Wright, her husband, and their two small children decided to ride out Hurricane Ida in their home in New Orleans. They survived the powerful storm and their home was only slightly damaged, but they were stranded with no power, water or sewer during the city’s hottest days of summer. Annie is the daughter of…
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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…
