MIKE PERKINS

Treasurer and Secretary

Mike was born and raised in New Hampshire (hometown is North Conway), where his interest in aviation began early. His grandfather (Transport Pilot’s License #3926) started flying in 1913 after building his first airplane. Later he became a barnstormer where he met Mike’s grandmother Freda. Deciding it was time to settle down, they moved to North Conway in 1930 to start an airport (http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NH/Airfields_NH.htm#whitemountain) and a family. The airport remained until 1988, but was forced to close under pressure of a growing town and taxes. Mike spent summers at the airport doing odd jobs and flying with his cousin in gliders and various aircraft. In the 70s White Mountain Airport was a destination for tourists desiring scenic flights over the White Mountains of NH in classic WACO biplanes.

After a tour in the Air Force as a weapons loader and some character building experiences after that, Mike attended Purdue University where he earned a degree in Computer Technology (CPT) in 1996. He met his wife Lynn while attending. In 1997 the couple moved out to Colorado and started Data Network Group (http://www.dngnet.com), a company specializing in Information Technology support services for businesses. They never strayed too far from aviation. Both were avid skydivers, jumping from all kinds of aircraft including Beech 18s, DC3s, 182s, 206s, Queen Airs, King Airs, Casas, Sky Vans, 727s, Connies, Balloons, Jet Rangers and Bell 412s to name a few. It wasn’t until 1999 that Lynn surprised Mike with a discovery flight at the local airport. Within 60 days he obtained his private pilot’s license. Two weeks later he had a tail wheel endorsement and soon realized “there were really only conventional geared airplanes.” By the spring of 2000 he had flown about 100 hours in Citabrias and decided it was time to be an owner. With five hours in an early model 180 he was on his way to pick up a “new” 1976 180 in Canada. Since then he has flown about 2,500 hours, most of it in his current 1979 F model 185. During this time, Lynn obtained her private pilot and instrument ratings as well as a pristine 1954 PA-18 SuperCub. Mike and Lynn spend part of their time in Colorado on a small ranch where they have a private airstrip and horses and the rest of it in Bigfork, MT where they have closer access to the backcountry.

406-333-1167
mperkins@theraf.org

Posted in Director

Recent Posts

IF WE COULD . . .

By Kodi Myhre • December 23, 2025
At about this time, every year, we have this conversation at the RAF about what our year end letter (code for asking for your financial support) should say to you, and about the RAF and the accomplishments of the past year.

WORTH THE READ: STEF GOZA GUEST EDITORIAL

By Taylin Trafton • December 23, 2025
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Stef Goza, a pilot and an RAF Alaska liaison.

BILL DUGAN IS NEW NEBRASKA LIAISON

By lellington • December 21, 2025
Bill credits aviation for much of his success in business and the ability to serve his companies and family. What began in a Champ, and a Tri-Pacer owned by five people, turned into what Bill calls, “a key business tool” in which he accumulated 9,000 hours – in a Cheyenne, a Pilatus, and a TBM, where ninety-five percent of his flying was for business. “My retirement enabled me to recall ‘Why I Learned to Fly’, a slogan from an old RAF video.” Bill’s son, Patrick, purchased the C185 they now share. “While attending a business function, some associates arrived in corporate jets. As they joined up on the tarmac, the jet pilots gathered around Patrick’s 185, and one of the passengers asked, ‘What’s special about this?’ No explanation needed for this RAF audience,” Bill says. “My involvement in the RAF is, in a partial way, repaying the rewards aviation has endowed me with. Having been involved in many worthwhile nonprofits, this is one where financial support is only part of the picture. Physically participating in great projects that have a lasting effect, with good people, returns a great personal benefit,” he says. “My only regret is that I wasn’t there at the start.” Bill and his wife Jane are privileged to be able to split time between their long-time home in eastern Nebraska and Scottsdale, Arizona. While still serving on several boards, he enjoys golf “about every third shot,” biking, cars, and reading, but always looks forward to the time he can be involved in the RAF. “It’s flying with a purpose,” he adds. Bill can be reached at bdugan@theraf.org

Jake Hampton

December 15, 2025
AR Ambassador

RAF ADDS MICHIGAN LIAISON SCOTT ANTTILA

By Taylin Trafton • December 11, 2025
A Christmas gift of flight lessons from his parents started Scott Anttila’s aviation journey in 1985. “I learned at Johnson Field, a small grass strip tucked into the woods in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and that early exposure to simple backcountry flying stuck with me,” Scott says. Growing up in the U.P., he spent a lot of time outdoors and found that flying was another way to get to the places he liked to explore—especially the ones most people never saw. As he earned more ratings and eventually moved to the Detroit area for work, Scott realized he needed a way to stay connected to northern Michigan. He bought an airplane and used it to get back to the smaller airstrips and lake country he enjoyed. Along the way, he also flew gliders out of Frankfort, soaring along the Sleeping Bear Dunes and towing sailplanes over the Great Lakes. “Those flights gave me a different appreciation for the landscape and made me even more interested in the small, out-of-the-way airports scattered around the state,” he says. Visiting those kinds of places, Scott first came across the Recreational Aviation Foundation. He started using RAF-supported airstrips both inside and outside Michigan. “I noticed how well-kept they were and how much access they opened up,” he says, adding, ”Over the years, I’ve watched a number of grass strips close, which made the RAF’s mission feel especially important to me. Maintaining these airstrips keeps aviation connected to the outdoors and makes it possible for more people to reach the quiet, remote areas that inspired me to fly in the first place.” Scott joins the other two RAF Michigan Liaisons, General Grant and Tanmoy Ganguly. He can be reached at santtila@theraf.org . Submitted December 11, 2025.