Clay Simmons is a cub pilot, and aircraft sales associate for Aerista. He is the youngest cub builder of record (with some help of course), and is involved with the RAF, NBAA, YPO Next Gen and YoPro. When not flying, he enjoys coaching lacrosse, cars, and thinking about flying.
WORTH THE READ: CLAY SIMMONS GUEST EDITORIAL
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 month’s guest editorial is by Clay Simmons, a young pilot and member of the RAF’s Backcountry Etiquette Team.
I’m supposed to be the adult now?
When I say I’ve been flying my whole life, it sounds facetious, but it’s about 99 percent truth. At 10 days old (ish, as it has been a debate) I took my first flight. Since then I have been fortunate enough to see all types of aviation, from the fast and high turbines, to the lowest and slowest of pistons, and a few aircraft in between. I have forever been enamored with anything that defies gravity, despite my wallet’s disdain for the passion.
It was only natural that my corner of aviation is full of the backcountry machines, in the remote environments, as this is how I experienced it growing up. With some phenomenal help, I became one of the youngest airplane builders, finishing a carbon cub just after my 22nd birthday. This leads to the adventures west (thank goodness for autopilot!), where we can see the beauty of the country, the incredible terrain, and of course, the kind of flying we at the RAF all love so much.
I was inadvertently thrust into a position of, at least partially, representing a generation of aviators. At 23 years old, I am about as young and green as they come, but I love to help out and lean in where I can. Along with this has come a unique sense of purpose. I consider myself to be one of the luckiest kids around, getting to experience so much of aviation in just over two decades, so now my focus has shifted. How can I give back? How do I start making a difference now, to give my grandchildren the same wonder I have been able to experience?
The answer is quite simple: we already do.
Whenever I am at the airport, I am the first person to invite anyone, especially kids, to poke at the airplane, sit in it, and explain how things work in an age-appropriate manner. This often leads to the parents learning a thing or two, and profusely thanking me. My response is always the same “Well, it wasn’t very long ago that I was the kid wanting to sit in airplanes too!”. And candidly, nothing makes me happier than sharing what I love so much, and I’d wager if you’re reading this, you’re in the same boat.
This is the giving back that I had been chasing. I had been doing it all along, but I believed that I needed to make a scene out of it, that I had to preach to hundreds of people why aviation matters, how you can make a living in it, and what you need to do, but that’s not the beginning, that’s the end. It starts with one person taking 30 seconds to share what they love. That is the impact.
I am very fortunate to be a part of the backcountry etiquette committee, a group within the RAF dedicated to creating guidelines for how to operate in the remote spaces in order to be most symbiotic with all other parties such as hikers, bikers, rafters, rangers, and more. I talk about giving back and inviting kids into the airplanes, but this is the bigger picture of that purpose. Protecting and curating the spaces we love so much is why we do it. As fun as it is to go enjoy these amazing places, it’s always better with friends and family.
I was fortunate enough to converse with Bill McGlynn about some of these same topics that extend throughout aviation. Getting kids involved, protecting the space we love, and promoting safety. It was a great conversation with some fantastic ideas shared, but the two of us cannot solve these issues alone, it takes an army. That’s part of the reason I love the chance to speak on the topics I hold so dearly, because if even a single person uses it as their reason to invoke change, I’m all for it.
Despite the ramble, I leave you with an ask:
Lean into the 30 second interactions at the airport.
Those 30 seconds of opening someone’s eyes to aviation is the foundation for all of the things that the RAF stands for, the things that we, as pilots and enthusiasts should stand for, and in reality, what aviation is about. Those 30 seconds are how we build our army, to protect aviation for those who get to be the caretakers next. I look forward to seeing y’all in the sky!
Submitted August 27, 2024
Posted in Guest Editorial, News
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“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
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.
Call To Action Volunteer
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 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.
