Finley Taylor is an 18-year-old commercial pilot from Bellevue, Washington. He grew up in an aviation family, with both his dad and grandpa having long aviation careers. He holds a commercial pilot’s license with multi engine and instrument ratings. He has been passionate about aviation for as long as he can remember and is looking forward to a future career in aviation.
WORTH THE READ: FINLEY TAYLOR 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 Finley Taylor, an 18 year old commercial pilot and a good friend of the RAF.
My earliest memories of flying with the RAF are in the back of a Piper Super Cub, staring at the back of my dad’s t-shirt over the picturesque North China Wall in Montana. The thrill of the bouncy tundra tires meeting the soft summer grass on some backcountry strip amazed my young self. I understood at a young age that this hobby would quickly evolve to consume my entire life. I kept flying, graduating to the front seat, and adding more types to my ever-growing logbook. Thanks to the RAF, I logged my first official landing at the age of 13 in a Kodiak with Mark Brown, quickly followed by a Cessna Grand Caravan with Peter Burwell.
I continued to fly with my dad, Steve Taylor, at RAF events throughout my childhood. Idaho, Montana, Washington, Vermont, and Michigan are just a few of the states I have experienced incredible backcountry strips that I have had the opportunity to visit. The excitement of travelling to a new place and meeting new people still inspires me to continue my adventures alongside the RAF. From pulling the frozen jeans out of my sleeping bag at Smiley Creek (U87), to making memories with friends at Moose City (86MT). But beyond the incredible places I have visited, I’ve made lifelong friends, learned valuable lessons that have aided me not only as an aviator but also as a person, and enjoyed talking endlessly about airplanes along the way.
I still remember my introduction to an RAF staple: The work party. We packed our sleeping bags and tent into the back of our Cessna 180 and flew to Sullivan Lake (09S) where we would camp for a weekend and work to improve the airport. This trip was a microcosm for the greater purpose of the RAF as people bonded over preserving a beautiful airport while enjoying good company, good food, and campfires. As we watched the sunset over the lake, I couldn’t help but to reflect on the sight of dozens of orange RAF hats scattered down the runway, shovels in hand and ready to work. After a long day digging and replacing equipment, we all sat down to a dinner hosted by the gracious Washington State Liaisons, the Whitelaw brothers. The joint work effort and camaraderie over a seemingly dull task opened my eyes to the spirit of the RAF. Flying to spectacular backcountry strips that would’ve otherwise been forgotten, working with other volunteers for the greater good of aviation and to preserve these magical places for generations to come, and to create memories with fellow aviators.
Earlier this summer, I found myself at Cavanaugh Bay (66S) surrounded by fellow aviators and RAF enthusiasts to celebrate 20 years of the organization. Again, I was struck by the community and sense of belonging with everyone. As a teenager, I notice my peers having trouble connecting with adults and viewing them as the “others.” I attribute my experiences with the RAF as part of the reason that I proudly call these people my friends as well. Sitting on folding lawn chairs watching airplanes takeoff and land, discussing stories, and sharing laughs with others reminds me why the RAF is so special. The special connection shared between people over a common interest is something that must be cherished. A bright orange RAF hat is a sure sign that you’re about to make a new friend. Later that trip, we flew to Ryan Field (2MT1) to continue our celebrations and admire the newly finished barn. Standing under the beautiful, exposed beams and seeing the care and craftsmanship behind the work reminded me of the hard work and dedication the RAF puts towards preserving and maintaining these beautiful backcountry strips. And yet, it’s the dedication of the volunteers that make these places so special and the RAF such a truly unique organization.
Submitted March 20, 2024.
Posted in Guest Editorial, News
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At about this time, every year, we have this conversation at the RAF about what our year end letter (code for asking for your financial support) should say to you, and about the RAF and the accomplishments of the past year.
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 Stef Goza, a pilot and an RAF Alaska liaison.
Bill credits aviation for much of his success in business and the ability to serve his companies and family. What began in a Champ, and a Tri-Pacer owned by five people, turned into what Bill calls, “a key business tool” in which he accumulated 9,000 hours – in a Cheyenne, a Pilatus, and a TBM, where ninety-five percent of his flying was for business. “My retirement enabled me to recall ‘Why I Learned to Fly’, a slogan from an old RAF video.” Bill’s son, Patrick, purchased the C185 they now share. “While attending a business function, some associates arrived in corporate jets. As they joined up on the tarmac, the jet pilots gathered around Patrick’s 185, and one of the passengers asked, ‘What’s special about this?’ No explanation needed for this RAF audience,” Bill says. “My involvement in the RAF is, in a partial way, repaying the rewards aviation has endowed me with. Having been involved in many worthwhile nonprofits, this is one where financial support is only part of the picture. Physically participating in great projects that have a lasting effect, with good people, returns a great personal benefit,” he says. “My only regret is that I wasn’t there at the start.” Bill and his wife Jane are privileged to be able to split time between their long-time home in eastern Nebraska and Scottsdale, Arizona. While still serving on several boards, he enjoys golf “about every third shot,” biking, cars, and reading, but always looks forward to the time he can be involved in the RAF. “It’s flying with a purpose,” he adds. Bill can be reached at bdugan@theraf.org
AR Ambassador
A Christmas gift of flight lessons from his parents started Scott Anttila’s aviation journey in 1985. “I learned at Johnson Field, a small grass strip tucked into the woods in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and that early exposure to simple backcountry flying stuck with me,” Scott says. Growing up in the U.P., he spent a lot of time outdoors and found that flying was another way to get to the places he liked to explore—especially the ones most people never saw. As he earned more ratings and eventually moved to the Detroit area for work, Scott realized he needed a way to stay connected to northern Michigan. He bought an airplane and used it to get back to the smaller airstrips and lake country he enjoyed. Along the way, he also flew gliders out of Frankfort, soaring along the Sleeping Bear Dunes and towing sailplanes over the Great Lakes. “Those flights gave me a different appreciation for the landscape and made me even more interested in the small, out-of-the-way airports scattered around the state,” he says. Visiting those kinds of places, Scott first came across the Recreational Aviation Foundation. He started using RAF-supported airstrips both inside and outside Michigan. “I noticed how well-kept they were and how much access they opened up,” he says, adding, ”Over the years, I’ve watched a number of grass strips close, which made the RAF’s mission feel especially important to me. Maintaining these airstrips keeps aviation connected to the outdoors and makes it possible for more people to reach the quiet, remote areas that inspired me to fly in the first place.” Scott joins the other two RAF Michigan Liaisons, General Grant and Tanmoy Ganguly. He can be reached at santtila@theraf.org . Submitted December 11, 2025.
