RAF VOLUNTEERS ENHANCE BLACKWATER

Seventeen volunteers took up tools the weekend of March 22-24 at Florida’s beautiful 4,000-ft turf Blackwater Airfield ( 8FD3 ) in the mixed pine forest near Munson, FL. Leeanna and “DC” Nowling started early by delivering tools and materials and made a truck available for the task.

Florida RAF Ambassador John Hall arrived, followed by Florida Liaison Bobby Capozzi and his wife Kim, Elaine Hartman in her RV6, Mike Guidry in his C177RG, and Paul Michel. The work plan was set and assignments made with just enough time to get tents up as the sun set.

Saturday morning the campers awoke to ice on the tents, which surprised the Floridians. The rest of the day saw a steady rotation of volunteers coming and going including Florida Ambassador Joe DeLeon and Jenny; Joe, Katie and Jenna Campbell, Eric Bucketew, and one of our newest members, Doug Smith in his Husky. Doug originally planned on working a few hours but received the coveted kitchen pass in the 11th hour as he was buckling his seatbelt for departure. The kitchen pass allowed him to stay, eat and camp.

The Blackwater refresh included installing marker tires at the north threshold. All existing tires were realigned, straightened and painted. DC produced two young painters, grandsons Jacob and Jayden. Elaine pressure washed the picnic tables for repairs, barbecue grills were planted and the general area was raked and cleared. The fire pit was repaired and prepped for the evening.

“I’d like to plan a work party like this once a year or as required,” Bobby said, adding, “Being a good neighbor to the Florida State Forest will go a long way.”

By sunset the paint had dried, the concrete cured enough to test-fire the new barbecue grills with burgers and dogs for all.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers for coming out and supporting this worthy cause. Many of you attended knowing you could not enjoy the meal or camping overnight, so this means a lot and shows your dedication to improving and preserving this special airstrip,” Bobby said.

Watch the RAF calendar for the annual Blackwater gathering in November.

Submitted on March 28, 2019

Posted in News

ROB KEANE

February 24, 2026

FLORIDA AMBASADOR

HOWIE BOHL

February 24, 2026

CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR

RAF AWARDS GRANT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HCRC

February 24, 2026

Oregon RAF Liaison Bill Ables has been awarded a $5,000 RAF grant to retain RAF membership in and support the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative (HCRC) for the next five years. The HCRC was organized in 2016 at the request of Idaho’s Congressional Delegation as a framework for the various recreational user groups to collaborate with the US Forest Service within the 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Ables, a past Director and current member of the group, explained that HCRC membership is a cross-section of user groups from both the private and commercial sectors, including river rafters and jet boaters, backpackers, horse packers, aviators, and governmental management agencies. Providing ongoing support ensures continued aviation representation. The rugged Snake River canyon region hugs the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, and includes nine backcountry airstrips within the Recreational Area. All are maintained by volunteer aviation groups in collaboration with the USFS: Cache Creek, Salmon Bar, Dug Bar, Temperance Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Lord Flat, Memaloose, and Big Bar. “Our support of HCRC, combined with the other involved aviation groups, ensures ongoing maintenance and improvements at each of these nine airstrips. It benefits general aviation by preserving access to enjoy the beauty of the Hells Canyon area, which directly speaks to the Mission of the RAF,” Ables said. For more information on Dug Bar, Cache Creek, Big Bar, and Memaloose, see the Airfield Guide . Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Temperance Creek, and Salmon Bar are not listed in the Airfield Guide at this time. Submitted February 24, 2026