Jay PerryCook

“I discovered the RAF while searching online for fun places to fly and camp,” says Jay PerryCook, of Gig Harbor, Washington. “My long-time friend, Tim Riley invited me to Ryan Field to help put the roof on the new barn. I did, and met some wonderful people, slept in my tent and ate some great food! What more can a builder who flies and likes to camp in the woods ask for?” Jay’s construction company builds wireless communication sites for the major cellular mobile phone carriers. No doubt, Tim Riley knew Jay’s professional aerial skills would come in handy on top of that high barn roof.



Jay was introduced to aviation at a young age. His uncle operated a charter business on Lake Tahoe, beginning with two Republic Seabees. In the 70s he restored and added a de Havilland Beaver. “I remember being in awe over that majestic airplane on the gravelly shores of the crystal clear water and crisp air of Lake Tahoe,” Jay says. It made a lasting impression.

In 1996, on a sunny afternoon on the Central Coast of California, Jay took an intro flight in an L4 Cub, and was hooked. “I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. I knew that if I could tame this seemingly unstable little flying machine that freely moved in all directions, it could take me to my adventures. With that, I would capture the best of both experiences,” he adds.

His growing passion for the challenges of aviation, along with his memories of his uncle’s charter operation inspired him to start his own charter service in the Puget Sound region 20 years after that first flight in the Cub. Now with more substantial aircraft, he operates his Beaver on amphibs and a Cessna 185 on wheels for air taxi services throughout the Pacific Northwest, occasionally getting away for personal adventures beyond, ideally with his wife, Tahirih, daughters Taija and Andi, and son Sanjay who all enjoy traveling, camping and family friends. 


“I’ve now been to Ryan Field three times for various projects and I look forward to volunteering my services on many other RAF projects to come,” he says.

Submitted on October 12, 2021.

Recent Posts

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“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

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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

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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

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