WE BUILT THIS TOGETHER

This twentieth year, the Recreational Aviation Foundation reflects on our beginnings. The RAF would not have fulfilled its mission so far without the help of a lot of like-minded devoted and experienced folks. 

Early on, we realized the potential loss of airfields was a national concern. With our humble beginnings in Montana, we knew we needed allies and partners across the country with local knowledge in their respective states to guide us as to ways to preserve and improve existing airfields and explore possibilities to create new places to fly with great recreational offerings.



Our initial partnership was with the Montana Pilots Association, and we shared the success of opening Russian Flat, a completely new airstrip on U.S. Forest Service land. We learned from the Idaho Aviation Association, and their drive to preserve access to “irreplaceable backcountry airstrips” within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Utah Back Country Pilots – an organization established a half-dozen years prior to our founding – preserves access to spectacular places like Mexican Mountain within a Wilderness Study Area, thanks to its good relationship with the Bureau of Land Management. UBCP engages in leases on public lands to preserve other airstrips, and promotes ethical use of the backcountry. New Mexico Pilots, and many others have guided and joined our mutual efforts.


The day the RAF shared its goals with the Nature Conservancy, we found common ground and we now enjoy cooperating on more than one airfield on TNC lands.


As well, we are proud of our great relationship with GAMA, AOPA and its Safety Institute, EAA, and our complementary efforts. We have greatly benefitted from commercial friends who understand our mission and support us, like Hartzell Propeller, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and Daher/Kodiak, to name a few. See our growing list of collaborators here.

The Recreational Aviation Foundation feels strongly that we are much stronger together and can accomplish more by teaming up. 


We like to say that unlike dessert, you’re not limited to “just one” when it comes to supporting aviation organizations. So if you support the RAF, thank you, but don’t stop here. Join your local pilots’ group, your state pilots’ association, and type club. If you are not a member of AOPA or EAA, please consider adding yourself to their membership rolls. If you are not yet a supporter of the RAF, please join today and get involved.


We may all fly something different, and we may all be headed to other destinations, but if we work together, we are sure to enjoy a collective tailwind.

Submitted on July 12, 2023.

Recent Posts

FINDING PURPOSE IN THE EFFORT

April 9, 2026
“The only people who can change something are the ones who really want to. And not everybody does.” When I read this, it took me back to the early days of the RAF. We saw a troubling trend taking place — the loss of airstrips across the country with no real organized voices to help put the brakes on the decline. And we really wanted to change that. Change demanded new ideas from us. Ideas that we assumed would initially be resisted. This defined our purpose. Good ideas come with the burden of effort and purpose. That separates those with a strong purpose from those without. We wanted to create an organization that would counteract the attrition of backcountry airstrips we saw taking place. We rolled up our sleeves and didn’t look back. Easy to say now that the RAF was lucky, but it was purpose that drove the organization in the early years; that really formed who we are today. A group of people with a purpose who knew we needed more people who thought like we did, and cared; people who took this idea called the RAF and added to it, keeping it unique but effective. We felt that most of the existing business models in the nonprofit space were not what we needed to be, and we pushed forward persistently with our thinking – thinking that required putting our own personal desires aside and pursuing ones that were for a greater good. You joined in. You, too, found purpose in the RAF and now look where we are. Nearly 15,000 of us are making the necessary sacrifices to make our voices heard, to create a better environment for the future of recreational aviation. We have more opportunities today because of you. Each one of us is important to continue the momentum we have gained. To determine what the RAF can do to further our mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. To prioritize the many opportunities coming our way. It is about us, and what we are going to do with the time we have left on this earth. This organization will hopefully give you purpose now and in the future. Most importantly, I really hope it will give you as much sense of accomplishment as it has me. Thank you for what you continue to do. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted April 15, 2026

RAF OUTFITTER APRIL FEATURED COLLECTION

April 5, 2026
FEATURING: THE RAF DOG COLLECTION MODELED BY JOSIE & MUD Outfit your four-legged co-pilot for every adventure! From airplane rides to backcountry trails, this collection has everything they need to travel in comfort and style. Featuring two new additions—a stainless steel Orvis dog bowl and DawgMuffs—alongside RAF favorites like the collar, leash, and bandana. This collection includes items designed and created by RAF supporters. Shop the Dog Collection here. If you have questions, please email contact@theraf.org or call 406-582-1723. Your RAF Outfitter purchase is greatly appreciated and furthers the mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. You can support the RAF mission all year by shopping at the RAF Outfitter online store. Products are being added regularly, and items are thoughtfully selected for durability and suitability for pilots, by pilots. We welcome photos of supporters using RAF gear! Please send your images to ewhite@theraf.org , and let us know if we have permission to post them on social media or our website. Submitted April 5, 2026.

KELLI GANT

April 3, 2026
Call To Action Volunteer

TIME TO REVIEW AIRSTRIP SAFETY BRIEFINGS

March 30, 2026
As you're planning your 2026 flying adventures, remember to review safety briefings for the airstrips you plan to visit. The RAF strongly recommends you review safety briefings and print a copy to have in your airplane - it's even required to fly into some airfields, like Ryan Field (2MT1). For those airfields, pilots flying in are required to review the briefing on an annual basis, and now is the perfect time to catch up on any changes to the runway/area that happened throughout the winter. You can find safety briefings on the RAF Airfield Guide . If an airfield in the Airfield Guide has a required briefing, the airfield listing will clearly indicate it and have a tab to view the briefing. Submitted March 30, 2026 Photo By Jim Stevenson

RAF VOLUNTEERS BEGIN TO RESTORE HISTORIC RANGER AIRFIELD HANGAR

March 30, 2026
RAF Texas volunteers and Ranger Airfield Foundation volunteers helped begin restoration of the historic 1928 Ranger Airfield hangar on March 28. “A Wright biplane landed here at the field in 1911, and people have been using it ever since,” Ranger Airfield Foundation Founder Jared Calvert said. He noted that Amelia Earhart landed there in a Pitcairn Auto Gyro. Richard Bach, Pancho Barnes, and General Patton also landed at the field. It’s the oldest continuously used turf field in Texas.