Archive for August 2019
After ten years of communications and cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), the RAF is pleased to announce that Saline Valley’s “Chicken Strip” in Death Valley National Park was officially authorized on August 19. The Federal Register states that “the Chicken Strip has been in continuous use for decades, pre-dating the management of the…
Washington Liaison Dave Whitelaw and his brother John report that the annual Sullivan Lake (09S) fly-in near Metaline Falls in northeast Washington State (August 2-4) was a success. “We had beautiful weather after being hampered by fires and thick smoke the last three years,” Dave said. Twenty-two aircraft flew in, including two by water that beached on the nice gravel. Around 30 folks enjoyed the weekend, some…
Director Emeritus Dan Prill, a founding member of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, spent ten years on its Board of Directors; eight years as Vice President. Dan was instrumental from its initial formation to helping the organization attain 5,000 members by the end of his term in 2013. “It has been a rewarding journey,” Dan says,…
Director Emeritus Rol has a wide ranging background, having worked in aerospace acoustics, film and video production, theatre operations, and management. Along the way his enthusiasm for aviation led from avocation to advocacy of local airports to vocation, including work for AOPA and the Wolf Aviation Fund. He now lives on the Continental Divide in…
Director Emeritus Tim Clifford joined the RAF board in 2008. He is a native of Dayton, Ohio, whose ancestors, he assures, always bought Wright Brothers bicycles. Tim has flown for business and recreation for over 35 years. Today, Tim and his wife Ann, travel all across the country; camping under the wing of their Husky.…
Director Emeritus Starting out in a Piper Super Cub, Chuck got his private rating in 1960. Seeking further flying knowledge, he gained his commercial and glider licenses in 1961; then seaplane and instrument ratings. He bought a brand-new Cessna 180 in 1976 and began exploring North America from the air. He and his wife Penny…
Director Emeritus Reade joined the RAF board in July of 2012 and served as the Secretary/Treasurer for the foundation. He had long been associated with aviation and philanthropic work, primarily in the Philadelphia area. He brought financial management expertise to the RAF along with his deep love of aviation. Reade lost his life in an…
Director Emeritus Thoughts After Retirement When I raised my hand at the Montana Pilots Association’s (MPA) Board of Directors retreat in Bozeman in September of 2003, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I had been following the MPA’s Recreational Airstrip Committee for several years and watching them try to raise money.…
Director Emeritus Alan’s business acumen and impressive experience on professional boards qualified him for a RAF board position. But he demonstrated his sleeves-rolled-up dedication to its mission when he flew from his home in Pennsylvania to Ryan Field for a work party. Raised in Pennsylvania, Alan began flying for his diversified forest products business in 1994. His…
Director Emeritus Steve “SJ” Johnson came to aviation from an unusual direction. Fear of flying on commercial airliners led him to confront the fear and start taking flying lessons in 1997. A rocky start – including an accident as a low-time pilot – fueled his determination to learn all he could about flying. Now a…
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Ambassador
Steve has been in aviation, quite literally, all his life. He carried on his father’s vocation in aviation and wound up with a career that included test flying pretty much every Boeing commercial airplane. Listen in to hear some of his stories and love for the 747-8.
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