WORTH THE READ: MATT AXLEY 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 guest editorial is by Matt Axley, a pilot and RAF Tennessee Ambassador.

Leave No Trace but a Generational Trace

As backcountry pilots, we are incredibly fortunate to have organizations like the RAF and Tread Lightly! charting the course for our community. Over the years, they’ve provided the gold standard for stewardship, ingraining phrases that we all know by heart: “Pack it in, pack it out,” “Leave no trace,” and “Leave it better than you found it.” These are the principles that have protected and sustained countless airstrips across the country.


Here in East Tennessee, we’ve been reflecting on these foundational ideas as we continue to build out the new Fly Rocky Top network. As we work to connect these beautiful Appalachian airfields into a cohesive network, we’re looking at how we can build on the incredible groundwork already laid by the organizations and the people that have gone before us, and expand our definition of stewardship beyond just the physical dirt and grass.


Rethinking “Pack it in”
The traditional meaning of this phrase is straightforward and vital: don’t leave anything behind. But what should you pack in? Maybe a shovel in case a rut needs filling. An extra cup of coffee for the pilot in the tent next door. A willingness to put a little more into a place than we take from it. It's not only packing out what you brought in; it’s about packing in an investment in the future.


This fall, a handful of volunteers will head out to McGraw’s Backyard and Higdon Field. They aren’t just flying in to relax by a fire; they’re meeting up to dig holes, level the ground, and pour concrete footers for new pilot facilities. They’re doing this so that fellow aviators – some they may never meet – will have a welcoming place to relax.


The magic of these airstrips isn’t just the pristine grass; it’s the energy invested in them by our community. Every time we depart on a new adventure, we pack the culture of aviation with us, so let’s be sure it’s a culture worth passing along.


Leaving a Generational Trace
As we practice “Leave no trace” of our campfire, our food, or our tie-downs; we should aim to leave a massive trace for future generations. EAA’s Young Eagles program champions this approach, inspiring those who come after us. Our aviation community relies entirely on shared passion. Let's actively foster these new experiences for the folks “looking through the fence,” or we risk losing the very lifestyle we are working so hard to create and protect. Let’s face it—the only things aging faster than the fabric on our airplanes are our knees and backs. So next time you head out, bring someone new along, offer the right seat to a neighbor, show your kids how to clean the cooking grill, or simply share a story around the campfire. If we don't actively pass the torch on each journey, there won’t be anyone left to carry on the stewardship we’ve started.


Leaving It Better, Together
Leaving a place better than you found it usually means picking up stray litter. That’s essential, but true stewardship goes a little further. It’s about building a resilient, welcoming community of pilots who view stewardship as an ongoing, collective action. Whether it’s helping clear brush at Smuggler’s Landing or simply greeting a new pilot who just landed in the backcountry for the first time, “leaving it better” means ensuring our collective community is stronger, safer, and more inviting than it was yesterday.


The RAF’s “Fly, Stay, Play” philosophy works beautifully, but only when there are places left to play and people who care enough to maintain them. The next time you drop the flaps and slip into your favorite grass strip, secure your aircraft, and ask yourself one more thing: How can I leave this community a little better than I found it today?

Matt Axley is a Naval Aviator with an 18-year Navy career, where he continues to serve today in the U.S. Navy Reserve. In his civilian career, he is a Captain for American Airlines, flying the A320. A passionate advocate for aviation and outdoor recreation, Matt is also helping develop the Tennessee backcountry network, Fly Rocky Top.

Submitted September 29, 2026

Posted in Guest Editorial, News

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RAF WYOMING TEAM GATHERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR GLENDO IMPROVEMENTS

September 29, 2026
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 .

VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE FALL MAINTENANCE AT GILLETTE'S LAKEWOOD LODGE AIRFIELD IN WISCONSIN

September 29, 2026
“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.”

MARCEL LEBLANC

By lellington • September 15, 2026

DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR

By John McKenna • September 14, 2026
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

GARRISON DAM RECREATIONAL AIRPARK IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE

September 11, 2026
“We had a busy day at Garrison Dam Recreational Airpark, as we continue to work on the underwing camping area,” RAF North Dakota Liaison Brian Rau reported. Rau was awarded an RAF grant in spring of 2026 to convert an adjacent day-use park into an airport camping area, and had organized volunteers who began the project in May. The airport, 37N, is closed while the runway and taxiway are being upgraded by a contractor for the ND Aeronautics Commission.