STEVE THOMPSON

Oklahoma State Liaison

Steve Thompson was raised on a farm in southern Oklahoma. He was born in 1966 and since his earliest memories he knew what he wanted to do. Fly Airplanes. At age 14 his dad introduced him to a coworker that was in the Civil Air Patrol and soon he started taking flying lessons. By age 16 he partnered on a 1956 Cessna 172. Not until he left the airport did it occur to him that maybe he should have bought a pickup or car first? Because he borrowed his parents farm truck to go to the bank and airport that day he did not have his own transportation to get to the airplane he had just purchased. After high school he worked as a heavy equipment operator and went to college at night while he finished up more ratings. Steve has been flying corporate and commercial aircraft ever since to support his love of flying. He enjoys traveling with his son and friends, camping, hiking, fishing and meeting great new friends along the way all over the country. Steve says, “The type of flying we do is truly one of the great freedoms we have in this country and let’s continue to protect it for our use and those of the next generation”.


580-277-0640

sthompson@theraf.org

Recent Posts

February 24, 2026
FLORIDA AMBASADOR
February 24, 2026
CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR
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
February 18, 2026
DIRECTOR
February 16, 2026
TEXAS LIAISON