Archive for May 2022
The Copper River washed out a highway bridge at Mile 50 on Alaska’s Copper River Highway to Cordova some five year ago, and the road has been closed ever since. RAF Alaska Liaison Al Clayton saw this as an opportunity for the RAF to cooperate in the creation and improvement of Childs Glacier Airstrip to access “a…
RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes reports another successful work party at McKenzie Bridge Airport (00S), in part funded with an RAF grant. “On June 4, six dedicated RAF supporters braved cool and very wet conditions to complete the spring maintenance activities,” he said. McKenzie Bridge is located within the Willamette National Forest in Central Oregon’s…
Cavanaugh Bay Airport, 66S lies on the shoreline of Idaho’s pristine Priest Lake. “It offers wonderful campsites and access for fishing, hiking, boating, golfing, Cavanaugh Bay Resort, and a place to celebrate campfire food,” RAF Idaho Liaison Sparky Parker says. “Camping and the views are spectacular and the airport is actively used by general aviation,”…
Michigan State Liaison In Michigan, we obsess over the northern part of our state, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in particular. It’s amazingly beautiful with beaches, rugged coastlines, waterfalls, boreal forests, bears, moose, the Pictured Rocks, Porcupine Mountains, hidden lakes with huge fish, and blue-ribbon trout streams. There are few places in the world where you can, in a…
Montana Ambassador Day job: Full-time Adventure Seeker Favorite airstrip: Chamberlain Basin in Idaho Next adventure: Girls airplane camping trip to Schafer Meadows, which is located within a designated wilderness area near my home in Montana. Submitted on June 13, 2022.
“RAF 2022 – The RAF Way” was a three-day educational conference held near Milwaukee May 15-17. RAF liaisons, ambassadors, and other key volunteers gathered at their own expense in Pewaukee, WI. EAA CEO Jack Pelton welcomed early arrivals at Pioneer Field, and when the educational sessions began, the group was 110 folks from as far…
South Dakota State Liaison Karl Jungclaus, born and raised on a small farm in southern Indiana with a grass strip, was surrounded by his father’s passion for all things aviation, from RC models, homebuilts, ultralights to GA aircraft. His maternal grandfather was a corporate pilot, instructor and A&P. “Their early influences set the path for…
The RAF is pleased to announce that Cornucopia Airport, 23W (formerly WI23) along Wisconsin’s shore of Lake Superior is now open for public access. RAF Director Jeff Russell of Waunakee obtained RAF grants and worked with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics for the past three years, organizing work parties and airfield improvements in cooperation with…
The RAF partnered with Montana State University’s Computer Science Software Factory to improve the Airfield Guide’s functionality, and incorporate ForeFlight usage. MSU has Montana’s highest ranking Computer Science (CS) department, and launched the Software Factory, an innovative way to expose students to real-life businesses and organizations. Dr Clemente Izurieta, PhD oversees the program that is run by senior CS…
During the past two years Noble County Airport Manager Ed Crock completely leveled, rolled, created drainage, and seeded the area near the trail entrance to adjacent Wolf Run Fly-In campground, providing aircraft parking on turf for campers. RAF Ohio Liaison Christine Mortine reports that it’s in excellent condition. Mr. Crock also designed and built the…
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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…
