VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE IMPROVING CALIFORNIA’S LONE PINE AIRPORT

A group of people standing in front of a white house

Volunteers gathered at California’s Lone Pine Death Valley Airport, O26 September 14-15 to paint the airport’s terminal building. RAF California Liaison Katerina Barilov and RAF Nevada Ambassador Mike Bradford joined folks from Friends of Lone Pine Airport (FLPA), the non-profit group of local volunteers who recognize the airport’s historic past, and its importance to the community. In 2022, an RAF grant was used to help upgrade the facilities by restoring the public restrooms with running water and flush toilets. That work was completed as part of a greater rejuvenation effort by FLPA.

Anna Montgomery of FLPA reported that in May of this year, the group tackled restoring the airport terminal building. “Volunteers began the much needed job of scraping, sanding, patching and caulking. Over one hundred man hours were put into building prep, followed by a coat of primer,” she said. Pocked and cloudy window glass was replaced. She said the September 14-15 weekend “brought an energetic crew both days,” who applied two coats of light grey paint to the building, trimmed with dark grey. Two new exterior doors will be installed, and, ”We are excited about a custom metal sign for the roof, incorporating the Mount Whitney skyline in its design,” Montgomery said. “Following the completion of the exterior, we will move on to restoring the pilot’s lounge,” she added.

Lone Pine has a long and significant aviation history. The main terminal building was originally the residence and home of Bob and Shirley White’s aviation business for over 40 years. Bob was a legendary southern Sierras backcountry pilot. It remains a good staging airport to explore the Sierras, and Death Valley region. More information can be found at friendsoflonepineairport.org and on instagram at friendsoflonepineairport.

Submitted September 30, 2024
By Carmine Mowbray

Lone Pine Airport when FLPA was started

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Submitted September 30, 2024
By Carmine Mowbray

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ROB KEANE

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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