Archive for July 2024
Herrens Bess Hollow airport, LL77 at Kamaroo Farms is as interesting a place as its name. Located near Kampsville, IL, the airfield has hiking trails, fishing ponds, and a “gold mine” for kids to explore. Exotic farm animals such as camels, kangaroos ostriches, and emus make this a family friendly destination. You can camp under an old walnut tree and…
Nevada Ambassador Day job: Retired business owner/CPA.Next adventure: This summer flying cross country with three friends to First Flight (FFA)-Kill Devil Hills/Kitty Hawk. Then to Dayton-Wright Brothers home and USAF Museum. Then to Oshkosh for Airventure and on to Ryan Field where I am hosting during August.
National RUS Liaison The high, lonesome sound of a passing plane is one of Rick’s earliest memories. He became a practitioner of the aviation arts on earning his private license in 1977, followed soon after by various other tickets. Instrument flying and soaring have been highlights. He’s owned his Bonanza since 1993.
Day job: Slowly retiring from my Wind Tunnel Test Engineer job Favorite airstrips: Las Trancas, CA – Ryan Field, MT – Stehekin, WA, Nokai Dome, UT Next adventure: Heading north for the Ryan Field Fly-in
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This month’s guest editorial is by Steve Maus, an RAF Ambassador and estate/business succession planning professional. What’s This About a Turtle? Sitting in an orange rocker on the porch o
Philipp Kureck from Memmingen, Bavaria stopped by the Hartzell rooftop for RAF donuts and coffee during this year’s AirVenture. Several RAF volunteers gladly accompanied the 22-year-old around the event and learned about him, and his grand experience flying around the US two years ago. Philipp started flying gliders at
During the RAF’s biennial educational conference in Bozeman in May, the RAF debuted its Backcountry Etiquette Team and announced its partnership with Tread Lightly!, the national organization started in 1985 by the US Forest Service to address off-road usage. The organization became a nonprofit in 1990, and since then
Near 100 mph winds struck Moose Creek Airfield (1U1) in Idaho on July 24, 2024, snapping off mature pine trees at mid-level and crushing two buildings at the historic Ranger Station. The campground located on the ‘triangle’ between the two runways was buried in waist-deep debris from downed trees and limbs. The Forest
Maine Ambassador Larry Greiner was awarded an RAF grant for a portion of the materials needed to build new restroom facilities at Bowman Field, B10 in Livermore Falls, Maine. A group of local volunteers, headed up by Bowman Field Flying Club President Nathan Hurd, will provide all the labor. The airport is privately ow
Philipp came to the US from Germany to build ticket time. He used the RAF Airfield Guide to fly around the Western US and learned what backcountry flying was all about. You can view Philipp’s photos of his adventures at instagram.com/philipp.kur
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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…
