CHIP VIGNOLINI

Chip was born in Fort Myers, Florida, but feels that Western PA is home, since his family settled there when he was ten. His dad served in the Air Force and the family moved around the country quite a bit when he was young. Chip’s interest in aviation began while living on March Airforce Base in Riverside, CA, with hearing B52s flying overhead. He has pictures of himself flying control-line models in the desert with his dad.


Chip completed a Professional Pilot Program in community college and started flying in 1989. At age 19, in 1990, he earned his private pilot license. “Aviation jobs were limited in the early 90’s, so I transferred to West Virginia University in Morgantown where I earned a BS in Wildlife Biology,” Chip explains. He then earned his Executive MBA from Colorado Technical University, and has been an engineer for a major wireless provider for 24 years, holding various leadership roles. His team engineers network infrastructure across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Focusing on building his career and a family, he set flying aside until 2009 when he again immersed himself in aviation. “I average 100-plus flying hours a year, have my seaplane rating and tailwheel endorsement,” he says. He flies a variety of singles in his flying club based at his home airfield, Zelienople, PA, where he serves on the Condor Aero Club as Director of Maintenance, responsible for all coordination of maintenance across the entire fleet. Chip is a Field Director for the Seaplane Pilots Association, and is FAA Drone Certified. While involved in RC aircraft, he competed internationally with gliders and precision aerobatics. “I also designed, kitted, and sold a hand-launch glider called the Ariel,” he adds.


Chip is dedicated to charitable service, and is a VP on the Pennsylvania Wireless Association board, and sits on its Foundation Board. “Our primary goals are fundraising events for charities such as Homes for Our Troops and wireless industry education,” he says.

“I have a passion for aviation and the outdoors. I spend most weekends flying to events nationwide, camping, and finding a stream or lake to wet a line,” he says. He also likes to ride motorcycles, golf, hunt, fish, travel, and snow ski, yet finds time to do all his own work on vehicles and home improvements. “I love being a part of the RAF. This organization is amazing. It’s structured, we have responsibilities. Not to mention it fits into all my interests perfectly,” Chip adds.

Chip can be reached at cvignolini@theraf.org

Recent Posts

FINDING PURPOSE IN THE EFFORT

April 9, 2026
“The only people who can change something are the ones who really want to. And not everybody does.” When I read this, it took me back to the early days of the RAF. We saw a troubling trend taking place — the loss of airstrips across the country with no real organized voices to help put the brakes on the decline. And we really wanted to change that. Change demanded new ideas from us. Ideas that we assumed would initially be resisted. This defined our purpose. Good ideas come with the burden of effort and purpose. That separates those with a strong purpose from those without. We wanted to create an organization that would counteract the attrition of backcountry airstrips we saw taking place. We rolled up our sleeves and didn’t look back. Easy to say now that the RAF was lucky, but it was purpose that drove the organization in the early years; that really formed who we are today. A group of people with a purpose who knew we needed more people who thought like we did, and cared; people who took this idea called the RAF and added to it, keeping it unique but effective. We felt that most of the existing business models in the nonprofit space were not what we needed to be, and we pushed forward persistently with our thinking – thinking that required putting our own personal desires aside and pursuing ones that were for a greater good. You joined in. You, too, found purpose in the RAF and now look where we are. Nearly 15,000 of us are making the necessary sacrifices to make our voices heard, to create a better environment for the future of recreational aviation. We have more opportunities today because of you. Each one of us is important to continue the momentum we have gained. To determine what the RAF can do to further our mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. To prioritize the many opportunities coming our way. It is about us, and what we are going to do with the time we have left on this earth. This organization will hopefully give you purpose now and in the future. Most importantly, I really hope it will give you as much sense of accomplishment as it has me. Thank you for what you continue to do. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted April 15, 2026

RAF OUTFITTER APRIL FEATURED COLLECTION

April 5, 2026
FEATURING: THE RAF DOG COLLECTION MODELED BY JOSIE & MUD Outfit your four-legged co-pilot for every adventure! From airplane rides to backcountry trails, this collection has everything they need to travel in comfort and style. Featuring two new additions—a stainless steel Orvis dog bowl and DawgMuffs—alongside RAF favorites like the collar, leash, and bandana. This collection includes items designed and created by RAF supporters. Shop the Dog Collection here. If you have questions, please email contact@theraf.org or call 406-582-1723. Your RAF Outfitter purchase is greatly appreciated and furthers the mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. You can support the RAF mission all year by shopping at the RAF Outfitter online store. Products are being added regularly, and items are thoughtfully selected for durability and suitability for pilots, by pilots. We welcome photos of supporters using RAF gear! Please send your images to ewhite@theraf.org , and let us know if we have permission to post them on social media or our website. Submitted April 5, 2026.

KELLI GANT

April 3, 2026
Call To Action Volunteer

TIME TO REVIEW AIRSTRIP SAFETY BRIEFINGS

March 30, 2026
As you're planning your 2026 flying adventures, remember to review safety briefings for the airstrips you plan to visit. The RAF strongly recommends you review safety briefings and print a copy to have in your airplane - it's even required to fly into some airfields, like Ryan Field (2MT1). For those airfields, pilots flying in are required to review the briefing on an annual basis, and now is the perfect time to catch up on any changes to the runway/area that happened throughout the winter. You can find safety briefings on the RAF Airfield Guide . If an airfield in the Airfield Guide has a required briefing, the airfield listing will clearly indicate it and have a tab to view the briefing. Submitted March 30, 2026 Photo By Jim Stevenson

RAF VOLUNTEERS BEGIN TO RESTORE HISTORIC RANGER AIRFIELD HANGAR

March 30, 2026
RAF Texas volunteers and Ranger Airfield Foundation volunteers helped begin restoration of the historic 1928 Ranger Airfield hangar on March 28. “A Wright biplane landed here at the field in 1911, and people have been using it ever since,” Ranger Airfield Foundation Founder Jared Calvert said. He noted that Amelia Earhart landed there in a Pitcairn Auto Gyro. Richard Bach, Pancho Barnes, and General Patton also landed at the field. It’s the oldest continuously used turf field in Texas.