FATHER-SON PAIR CONTINUE TO IMPROVE CREIGHTON ISLAND

RAF Georgia Ambassador and Bonanza pilot Eric Davis and his father Gary evaded poor flying weather and made the four-hour drive and boat ride into Creighton Island in October to make a variety of improvements to the unique fly-in island setting. They have proven to be a multi-skilled “dynamic duo” when it comes to upkeep and upgrades.



They installed a second new tankless water heater, so both showers have dedicated hot water. Thanks to the water pressure boost pump Eric installed last year, “we finally have good water pressure so both showers can be used at the same time,” he said. With no electricity on the island, he noted that the Honda generator must be running in order for the boost pump to operate, and the shower lights to burn. They also repaired the PVC water supply lines that feed the middle cabin, restoring water service to that location.

Gary spent time on the tractor mowing the runway, then using the box blade implement, he leveled some high spots, and they smoothed out dips caused by animals digging. Gary also mowed the area between the pavilion and the shoreline, where volunteers had cleared underbrush and installed an RAF fire ring during a previous work party.



Eric completed battery maintenance on the 100-ft high fire-watch tower where he’d previously installed the island’s line-of-sight wireless radios. He explains that Island owner Frank Williams had purchased the tower from the Forest Service, then barged the parts to the Island and rebuilt it with help from friends, years before Creighton Island was known to the RAF. 


“The views from the tower are amazing and it’s a great place to enjoy the sunrise or sunset,” Eric says. “It was the perfect place for me to install the radios, providing an unobstructed view to the mainland where we connect to the Internet. From this tower, I redistribute the signal wirelessly to several structures on the island as well as the windsock tower, where the runway cameras and weather station are installed.” The solar-powered system provides WiFi internet service to island visitors as well as keeping the runway camera and weather station feeds online. “I am pleased that it’s been in near-continuous operation since 2019, powered only by the sun,” he added.


The batteries ensure the system stays online overnight and during extended periods of cloud coverage. Users may have noted some recent intermittence. If the battery voltage drops below a safe level, the runway system shuts down until the solar panels can recharge the batteries the following day. The batteries on the windsock tower need to be replaced due to age, combined with shorter seasonal daylight. Eric plans to replace them in December.


The RAF thanks Eric and Gary for their skills and dedication to improving Creighton Island for all to enjoy. The pair have devoted hundreds of hours, substantial materials and travel expense.


“Fortunately there’s not much needed in the way of maintenance except to clean the solar panels and replace the batteries every couple of years,” Eric says. “As an RAF supporter and ambassador, I’ve done this in the spirit of the RAF’s mission and as far as most are concerned, these improvements were made by the RAF,” he adds.

Submitted on December 14, 2022

Posted in News

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.