Campbell reported on the recent September work weekend that brought about 30 volunteers. They accomplished seasonal maintenance such as staining needed parts of the house siding and deck. They installed a water heater in the outdoor shower, ground tree stumps, extracted large rocks from the runway edge, split and stacked firewood, and removed an aging deer stand. Volunteers also made critical repairs to the hangar roof, a project which demanded extraordinary effort from the crew who truly went above and beyond to preserve it, Campbell said. The crew was treated to three “exceptional” meals each day, planned and prepared by Bob and Judy Gillette's nephew Max and his team. Campbell added that the effort is about “giving back to two remarkable individuals who have poured years of support into both the flying world and the greater Stone Lake, Wisconsin community.”
VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE FALL MAINTENANCE AT GILLETTE'S LAKEWOOD LODGE AIRFIELD IN WISCONSIN
“Gillette’s Lakewood Lodge isn’t just a place where work happens – it’s where magic happens,” says Holle Campbell, Gillette's caretaker. “There is truly something special about this place that compels pilots and non-pilots alike to come from faraway destinations, like Florida and California, to participate in RAF work weekends.”
Her report concludes, “As airplanes take to the air and volunteers return to their corners of the country, they leave behind a stronger structure and take with them the unforgettable magic of shared purpose, lifelong fellowship, and a powerful testament to the RAF mission to preserve, improve, and protect our country's backcountry airstrips for generations to come.”
Submitted September 28, 2026
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October 1st is the first day of the 2026 Photo Contest! It’s time to gather your favorites from the last year of flying.
An RAF grant was awarded to Wyoming Liaison Joe Feiler and VP of Appreciation Toni Wright for improvements at Thomas Memorial Airport (76V) in Glendo, WY. Wright assembled the grant application details and secured commitments from the mayor, city council members, and others. “Of all the airfields in Wyoming, Glendo holds the highest recreational value, and aligns best with the RAF mission,” Feiler said. The maintained turf airstrip is adjacent to Glendo State Park. Within walking distance, there is camping, hunting, fishing, and canoeing. The park has 45 miles of non-motorized hiking and biking trails and an archery range. It is a 30-minute walk to town or Glendo Reservoir. The grant will provide materials for a new vault toilet, a 10x20 prefab Pine Ridge cabin with a solar charging station, a picnic shelter, and an RAF fire ring. “Several folks offered whatever help would be necessary. It is all very exciting,” Wright said. She and Feiler are hopeful for community buy-in from the City, the Wheatland pilot group, and EAA Chapter 420. They have already received a few private donations. “I landed there before a city council meeting, and a pilot landed right after me. We chatted about the project, and he immediately donated cash from his wallet and said that an additional check would be on the way. I took this as an amazing sign that there is tremendous interest from pilots in providing more amenities at Glendo,” Wright said. Volunteers and the city will provide machinery and labor for excavation and dirt work. The mayor volunteered to do the framing. The city will provide gravel, and food and drinks for the work crew. Volunteers will do all staining, painting, and trim work. Wright said that she and Feiler will secure loaner bikes for visitors in conjunction with the Torrington police department. For over 20 years, Glendo has hosted an annual fly-in, which sees hundreds of attendees with airplane rides, parachuting, a free barbecue lunch provided by the city, and other family-friendly activities. This year, Feiler and Wright announced the grant to attendees, with Glendo’s mayor and town council members also present. RAF WY/UT Ambassador Karen Larson was also there for the announcement. The project could be completed by the end of fall 2026, weather permitting. “I personally am so excited I can barely sit still!” Wright added. 76V is in the RAF Airfield Guide .
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 Matt Axley, a pilot and RAF Tennessee Ambassador.
Sometimes one needs to look no further than one's incoming correspondence to find inspiration. Just this past week, folks passionate about the RAF mission reached out to me with suggestions that would bring resources to the RAF. Whether they be one-off items that we might offer, or events like large fundraisers, these folks are offering some thoughts on how we might continue to pay the bills. Additionally, we’re receiving word from folks with new destinations on their mind, and some pretty cool ones at that. Along the way, my inbox – as well as my calendar – is filled with updates on our Expanding the Map effort, with an emphasis on Fly Rocky Top. The Fly Rocky Top initiative in Tennessee is generating strong interest, and for good reason. It feels great. Folks are showing up to pitch in, with significant work projects planned. Trish and I, along with other board members, will be there to lend a hand to this exciting project. We are coming up on our annual year-end letter, which you will be seeing not long from now. In addition to showcasing a few more of our successful projects, we will be seeking your support. Stand by. I’ll wrap this up by letting you know that we could not be more pleased with how you all are doing your part. Thank you. It is so healthy to have an organization that uses passion as a primary energy source. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted September 14, 2026
