Jerry Wilke

When Jerry Wilke believes in an organization, he invests his heart, his soul, and leans his shoulder in. He observes, finds the best fit for his experience, and has come away from his 35-year career with Harley Davidson with a mastery of what motivates people to seek and find fulfillment in a sport, a product, and a lifestyle. For a guy who has experienced life through the eyes of diverse customers from the Hell’s Angels to the California Highway Patrol and everything in between, it’s obvious Jerry has done a lot of observing.


Some are old enough to recall the shock when a beloved America-born and raised company changed hands, lost market share and prestige, and faced a potential drop into the dustbin of failed American enterprises. When Jerry Wilke and a small team took charge of Harley-Davidson’s marketing, he knew how to create sizzle as well as rekindle demand for an American icon and restore its notoriety and prestige around the world.


Jerry, a passionate private pilot, served for ten years on Cirrus Aircraft’s Advisory board, as well as the board of the AOPA Foundation. He and his wife Karen, who is always ready to act as “copilot” for the next flight, enjoy long cross-countries in their Cirrus. They spend winters in Naples, FL, and he is active in the aviation community there. Living in northern Wisconsin during summers of long daylight and plenty of lovely lakes, he added a Husky on amphibs. Jerry has committed many hours working with the local community to promote the benefits of investing in their “sidecountry” Manitowish Waters Airport, D25, where pilots must heed coyotes and deer crossing both its paved and turf runways. He also serves as chairman of the airport committee working with Wisconsin’s Bureau of Aeronautics and the FAA to provide financial support for airport improvements.

Recently, Jerry and his son Ross bought a Skywagon, but to enjoy simpler, more leisurely access to the backcountry, they also fly a Husky on Bushwheels. 

Ross is as serious about flying as his father, but Jerry admits, “I watched with a bit of apprehension as Ross did his short takeoffs and landings in our stock Husky during the STOL demonstration at Oshkosh a few years ago. These guys are landing in two hundred-thirty-something feet.” Ross shares his thoughtful approach to becoming an ever-safer pilot in a 16-minute AOPA Air Safety Institute “Beyond Proficient” video. It’s well worth the watch.

The Wilkes support the RAF because its mission aligns with their desire to access the backcountry, and to preserve the privilege. But it means even more to the family. “It’s the people connection, the relationships, campfire buddies, new lifelong friends, and kindred spirits, like knowing Bob and Judy Gillette, thanks to the RAF,” he says. 

So when Jerry says, “The RAF is clearly operating beyond its mission,” he explains that it’s an exceptional gathering of generous, inspiring, intelligent people who give back, so the next generation and beyond can experience the freedoms we enjoy, flying to these special places.



By Carmine Mowbray

Recent Posts

VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE SEASONAL MAINTENANCE AT OLYMPIC FIELD

May 8, 2026
A dozen volunteers in seven aircraft and a few cars arrived at Washington State’s Olympic Field on Saturday, May 2, to help with needed maintenance. They enjoyed mostly good weather, being Spring in the Olympic Peninsula. “A lot of things got accomplished in a short amount of time,” RAF Washington State Liaison RAF Ballantyne reported. The crews thinned an adjacent stand of trees to create about 500 feet of a “buck and rail” fence for runway safety. They trimmed around the runway lights and sanded and refinished a large circular table and several chairs for the camping area. The field is privately owned by Ryan Larrance and his wife, Marianne. “Marianne made delicious scones for the arrivals, and a great pulled pork on homemade bread with fixings for lunch,” Ballantyne said, adding, “We had a great time getting to know each other. Many hands truly make light work. We discussed current events in Washington, and even got to play a game for an RAF Yeti.” Olympic Field, near Port Townsend, has a 2,500-ft turf runway, bordered by an equally long pond for seaplanes to land. In 2025, using an RAF grant, volunteers built an off-the-grid bathhouse with a vault toilet and hot shower. The Larrances have a tradition of welcoming fly-in visitors to their field. See Olympic Field in the Airfield Guide . Submitted May 8, 2026

RAF OUTFITTER SPRING SALE

May 4, 2026
THE RAF SPRING SALE IS HERE! Gear up for the flying season ahead! For a limited time, take up to 30% off a selection of RAF Outfitter gear. Show off your support for the RAF and head into the summer flying season in style. Our Spring Sale includes items from Stio and Kuhl, along with hats, jackets, accessories, and more. Check it out before they are gone! Shop the Spring Sale here.

FEATURED AIRSTRIP: HECKMAN LAKE, AK

April 30, 2026
There are two fly-in public use cabins on Heckman Lake in the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District of Alaska. Both are approximately 15 miles from Ketchikan, and open year-round to welcome visitors for what RAF Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest calls “a very unique remote recreational experience. Relaxing on the deck gives you a view of the lake, surrounded by the Sitka Spruce and western hemlock forest.” Either site can be accessed by float plane or by boating into Naha Bay. Each cabin has a table, benches, a wood stove, and an outhouse. Guests should bring their own firewood, as it is not guaranteed. Drinking water is not available; guests should treat the creek or lake water, or bring their own. Southeast Heckman Fly-In Cabin is situated on the southeast shore of Heckman Lake and is only accessible by floatplane. The 16x22-ft pan-abode style log cabin accommodates eight people and is wheelchair accessible. In 2024, the RAF and Seaplane Pilots Association provided grants to restore the cabin. Volunteers, assisted by Misty Fjords Air, collaborated with the US Forest Service to complete work on the cabin, dock, outhouse, and trails. The other cabin is a 12x14-ft pan-abode style that can accommodate up to six people. It can be accessed by float plane or by boating into Naha Bay and hiking six miles on the Naha River National Recreation Trail. Visitors may use the 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars or bring their own short shaft motor. The Naha River is accessible from the cabins and provides opportunities to fish for trout. In season, there are steelhead and salmon runs. The Naha River National Recreation Trail winds downstream six miles through a rainforest where you may spot Roosevelt Lagoon, Jordan Lake, and a waterfall on your way to Naha Bay. Visitors would be wise to bring extra provisions, as occasionally, poor weather can cause extended stays. The RAF Airfield Guide includes information on these cabins. Recreation.gov allows visitors to check availability and find other USFS information on the Southeast Heckman Lake fly-in cabin and Heckman Lake cabin . Submitted April 30, 2026

GRANT AWARDED FOR GARRISON DAM (37N), NORTH DAKOTA

April 30, 2026
RAF North Dakota Liaison Brian Rau and Ambassador Jeff Faught have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers and North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to develop an underwing camping area at Garrison Dam Recreational Airport (37N). Rau presented a plan to convert an adjacent day-use park with flush toilets, a picnic area, horseshoe and basketball facilities for the camping area. He gained approval from the Corps of Engineers and ND Aeronautics and was awarded an RAF grant to help with the project. “Garrison Dam Recreational Airpark is an excellent existing recreational airstrip. There is fishing, hunting, and hiking available adjacent to the proposed underwing camping area,” Rau said. The ND Aeronautics Commission will develop an existing road into a taxiway to connect the 3,200-ft long turf runway to the new camping area. The Commission has finalized its plans and has awarded the work to a contractor. Rau and Faught will organize volunteers to install signage, remove trees, grind stumps, prepare the camping and tie-down surface areas, install drain tile, and plant 75 new trees. Rau expects the contractors to begin work in June 2026. See the RAF Airfield Guide for information on Garrison Dam Recreational Airport. Submitted April 30, 2026

AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR AIRFIELD OWNERS

By Carmine Mowbray • April 30, 2026
The RAF has done a deep dive into all 50 states’ Recreational Use Statutes, and you can find them here . The purpose of these statutes is to help keep private lands open to the public for recreation by limiting landowner liability. In its advocacy of recreational aviation, the RAF has made efforts to increase landowners’ protection when allowing others to use their airfields. With added protection, landowners are more willing to open their airfields to public use, with or without certain conditions. Thanks to these efforts, many states now include “aviation” in the named recreational, non-commercial activities in their Recreational Statutes; some states are more general. We invite you to check out your state’s legal language, or feel free to contact either of the RAF’s RUS Liaisons, John Nadeau at jnadeau@theraf.org or Rick McCraw at rmccraw@theraf.org . Our efforts continue to include “aviation” in all states’ statutes, so this information will be updated as needed. Submitted April 30, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray Photo Credit: Ron Barrett, Sullivan Lake, WA