AIDAN OLSON
Admin Volunteer
Aidan grew up camping and hiking all around the country, allowing him to grow fond of nature and all that it has to offer for all types of recreation. He turned that passion into a degree from the University of Wisconsin in Forest Sciences. This progressed to a year of backcountry skiing and living in the mountains with his dog as he was working in forest preservation and restoration, further expanding his love for the outdoors.
After a few glider flights and a ride in a 150, Aidan knew he wanted to be a pilot, and after his year in the mountains he went to flight school in Arizona. The desert offered him many new adventures and introduced him to the world of aviation. His goal is to combine his love of the outdoors and his love of aviation into a long and enjoyable career.
Currently a cargo pilot flying as a First Officer on the Embraer 120 for Freight Runners Express, Aidan lives in Milwaukee and when he isn't flying, he still enjoys going on hikes with his dog and canoe camping in the Boundary Waters as well as the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin. He hopes that one day he can paddle and portage the entire Wisconsin river...then fly the length of it in a float plane!
Recent Posts
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Idaho Ambassador
RAF Oregon Ambassador Sarah Brown and RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes have been awarded an RAF grant to rehabilitate the campground at Siletz Bay State Airport (S45), near the small community of Lincoln Beach on the Oregon coast. “Once an extremely popular place for pilot gatherings, this campground saw up to twenty-five airplanes at a time for weekend camping in its heyday,” Brown said. However, the campground has become overgrown and nearly forgotten over the years. Local RAF supporter Bruce Dunlop suggested the recreational potential to Brown. She and Oregon Ambassador Kevin Johnson explored the feasibility of reviving it; they envisioned the rehabilitation with the help of RAF funds and volunteers. Efforts include clearing brush and removing and chipping dead trees, removing rotten platforms, fire rings, and picnic tables. Volunteers will replace picnic tables and fire rings, lay gravel to help improve drainage, and build a firewood shed. The airport is owned and managed by the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA). “Director Kenji Sugahara is an enthusiastic proponent of the RAF and its mission,” Brown said. RAF's Oregon team has successfully worked with ODA to improve safety and facilities at several other airports with recreational potential, particularly McKenzie Bridge (00S), Owyhee (28U), and Toketee (3S6). Other ongoing collaborations between RAF and ODA include discussions to improve the facilities at Nehalem Bay (3S7). Repaved in 2025, the Siletz Bay airport is a 15-minute walk from beautiful Gleneden Beach, what Brown says is “a great place to walk in the sand, look for agates, fly a kite, surf, or whale watch in the spring and summer.” A 40-minute walk north of the airport takes you to hiking trails at the Alder Island Nature Trailhead. Highway 101 parallels the runway and is known for its scenic cycling. Golfing is another recreational opportunity at the Salishan Coastal Lodge Resort, which is adjacent to the airport. Several nice restaurants are located within walking distance. See the Siletz Bay Airport listing in the Airfield Guide . Submitted March 12, 2025
Opportunity has three components: 1) The effort that goes into its creation; 2) Recognizing the opportunity; 3) Being ready and willing to act on the opportunity. Number one on the list is the sweat equity we have all put into the RAF – each one of you who has given of your time and talent. Campfire conversations that led to work parties that proved our conviction to the RAF mission. We learned what needed to be done, and we learned how to do it together. We were polite and persistent in our approach, which, in time, presented opportunities. Number two is recognizing that an opportunity is presenting itself, and knowing that it is one worth taking on. Over the years, we learned the RAF’s ability to prioritize, begin, and how to go about the best next steps. No backcountry guidebook was available, so we did a lot of “learning by doing.” The RAF has become a respected organization in our area of work. The opportunities that we are seeing on our plate today are not just luck. They were created. That is a tribute to you, the people of the RAF. Finally, when you add one and two, you come to being ready to act. We put much of the early effort into creating opportunities, then gained the experience to prioritize them, found wisdom and strength in allying with like-minded groups, and finally, we are doing our best to take action on the best of them. You are vitally important at this stage since we need you to continue to be a part of the action. The RAF will be asking you for support at many levels as we move forward, and we hope you will find the challenges as exciting as we do. When we call for your help, we only request that you look at the project and decide, is this my time to do what I can? We hope you will join us, and why not bring a new friend to help out? - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted March 15, 2026
Ken is a third-generation general aviation pilot. His grandfather owned a Jenny, and his father a Cessna 195. Ken’s flying background includes gliders of all types, numerous tailwheel, and high-performance aircraft. He learned to fly in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, in the 1980s, then flew for commercial glider operations in Aspen and Boulder. He recently got back into flying and enjoys doing so with his wife/copilot, Deb, and dog Moki in their C185. They have a particular interest in mountain and backcountry flying and camping. “Our family enjoys the outdoors and any excuse to travel to off-the-beaten-path locations,” Ken says. They have recently been to all the Colorado airports (excluding Denver International) and most of the airports in Wyoming. “We had a great time participating in the 2025 EAA AirVenture Cup Race prior to Oshkosh, where we placed second in the Skywagon class,” Ken adds, noting that there were only two entries. They camped under the wing of their 185 parked with 100 other Skywagons at Oshkosh, “and met many others with the same aviation affliction.” Ken looks forward to fulfilling his role as a Colorado Liaison supporting the RAF mission. He plans to fly to as many RAF-supported sites as he can to meet and learn from others. He, Deb, and Moki live in Loveland, Colorado, and base their plane at KFNL. “If you plan to be in the area or are traveling through, please give me a shout as I’d enjoy meeting you,” Ken says. He and his family plan many more adventures, so you may come across them when you’re on your own adventure, and if so, please say “hello.” Contact Ken at klong@theraf.org Submitted March 12, 2026
