Featured Airstrip
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. The RAF is pleased to feature Olympic Field, between Port Townsend and Sequim, Washington, and announce the completion of its newest amenity, a multi-purpose solar kiosk for charging devices and displaying information. This project was supported by…
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month’s Featured Airstrip is Goodspeed Airport, 42B, a most deserving place that welcomes visitors to land, camp and stroll through the nearby traditional New England village of East Haddam, CT. Last year, RAF volunteers used an RAF grant to install four tent…
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Henderson Field, Illinois. Henderson Field, Illinois, 95IL lies near the Ohio River, bordering the southern unglaciated tip of Illinois with Kentucky. It’s among Illinois’ most scenic areas adjoining Shawnee National Forest, and near Garden-of-the-Gods, Cave-in-Rock, and the Lusk Creek Canyon Wilderness. Check out the forested River to River trail, known for hiking among a variety of wetlands, grasslands and bluffs. The 2,000-ft turf airfield is privately owned by John and Cindy Henderson who welcome visitors to enjoy camping in the shade of the trees, and swimming or fishing in the adjacent small lake. If your angling is successful, you can smoke your catch right there on the smoker! The RAF fire ring is stocked with firewood, and the owner graciously allows access to water and restroom in the shop building. To cool off in the lake, you may be able to use one of the canoes, or kayaks. Hendersons cooperated with RAF volunteers using an RAF grant to install a new windsock, the fire ring, and make safety improvements to the runway. Hay is grown on the runway, so the field is closed seasonally. Prior to landing, you must review the required Safety Briefing and contact owner John Henderson at 618-201-0293 or email at flyn5@hotmail.com . Henderson Field is one of Illinois’ darkest sky areas, making it a perfect spot for stargazers, and the local astronomical society enjoys bringing their telescopes to fly-in events at the field to explore the night sky. At last year’s event, one 30-inch diameter telescope was so large, it required its own trailer and a ladder to step up to the eyepiece. Find out more about Henderson Field and acknowledge the required Safety Briefing in the Airfield Guide .
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Lone Pine, California. Lone Pine Airport, O26 is a great place to stage exploration of backcountry airstrips in the West, such as Panamint Springs Resort, and Death Valley National Park, including Chicken Strip in the Saline Valley; and Whitney Portal, a wooded canyon with campgrounds within towering granite cliffs. Trails from the Portal access the John Muir Wilderness, and Sequoia National Park. This airport has become highly appealing to recreational pilots and visitors, thanks to a crew of Friends of Lone Pine Airport volunteers who recognized the airport’s historic past, and its recreational potential. Since 2022, the RAF has awarded two grants to assist with infrastructure improvements. Visitors now enjoy modern flush toilets, and its refreshed historic 1940s terminal that now serves as a pilot shelter, meeting room, and kitchen for visitors’ use. Thanks to contributions from the RAF and local partners, more improvements are planned for the terminal building in 2025. The airport has a 3,990-foot asphalt runway, and dirt crosswind option, 24-hr fuel and AWOS. It’s close to the small town’s restaurants, diners, and hotels. At 3,678 elevation, visitors can look west a dozen miles and see 14,491-ft Mount Whitney, California’s highest peak. Phenomenally, just 60 miles to the east of Lone Pine is Death Valley’s Furnace Creek airport, where your altimeter winds backwards to below sea level as you roll onto final. You’re now in the Western Hemisphere’s lowest elevation. Lone Pine’s Backcountry Fly-in usually happens in early October, and locals lead fly-outs to unique and interesting airstrips in the surrounding desert – some of which are supported by the RAF. The old “Tunnel Air Camp” hangar – former headquarters for bush pilot guides – was also rejuvenated, and at the 2024 fly-in, a local band used it for a stage to entertain Lone Pine guests. The airport is owned by the City of Los Angeles, and leased for public access by Inyo County. For more information on Lone Pine, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted January 29, 2025 By Carmine Mowbray
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Mexican Mountain, Utah. Viewing a full moon while camped in the pinyon-junipers alongside Utah’s San Rafael River at Mexican Mountain airstrip is an unforgettable experience. From its 4,460-ft elevation you can hike among multi-colored buttes, pinnacles, and alcoves. Mexican Mountain towers over the panoramic meandering canyon at 6,900 feet. The region is rich with visible history, going back to the geologic formation of the 70-mile-long San Rafael Swell, obvious from the air east-southeast of the airstrip. Just a five minute walk from the airstrip you can view petroglyphs thought to have been left by peoples of the Fremont, Paiute, and Ute cultures that lived in the region from 2,000 to 700 years ago. More recent history includes gun skirmishes between Butch Cassidy’s “Robbers Roost Gang” and a local sheriff, detailed on a placard.
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Rainelle, West Virginia. Rainelle, (WV30) is a privately owned 3,300-ft turf airfield where visitors are invited to land, hike, and camp in a peaceful mountaintop setting with an amazing view. You’ll enjoy the new restrooms and shower house, thanks to the funds and planning/installation efforts of RAF Supporter Scott White, RAF Pennsylvania/West Virginia Liaison Chip Vignolini who secured an RAF grant, and local volunteers from the local EAA chapter and Cessna Owners. The facility is near the camping and tie-down area and has electrical outlets for charging devices. There are plans to add a dishwashing sink in 2025. Visitors are discovering that this remote airfield is a great base from which to explore southern West Virginia. In the town of Rainelle, set out on the Meadow River Rail Trail, a 23-mile converted railroad grade. Hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders find themselves surrounded in nature all the way to the town of Nallen. See “the church that chestnuts built,” Rainelle Methodist Church, the world’s largest structure built entirely out of American Chestnut wood. The owner appreciates a call before you plan to land. For more information, see the Airfield Guide . Submitted October 30, 2024 By Carmine Mowbray
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. This airport promises an “Exceptional Airport Experience,” and they readily fulfill that claim. It’s an ideal place to begin exploring the Northwoods of Wisconsin. In addition to its 3,500-ft paved runway, it has a 3,300-ft turf runway, where camping is allowed in the grassy area adjacent to the ramp. The attractive terminal building nearby has restroom facilities which remain open 24/7. “We’d like to establish D25 as a ‘hub’ for flying adventures to many backcountry strips in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and nearby Minnesota,” Airport Committee member, RAF Supporter and pilot Jerry Wilke says. “Strips like Gillette’s, Hanley, and Cornucopia… as well as grass strips with nearby restaurants like Land O’ Lakes and Three Lakes.” “D25 is also a great location for before or after AirVenture in Oshkosh,” he added. A snazzy courtesy SUV is available for use by pilots and their guests. Bicycles and a golf cart are also available in the terminal. Enjoy the five-minute ride downtown and select from many shopping and dining choices. The airport has 24-hour 100LL and is also home to sightseeing tours and air charter operators. This airport even has a live webcam so you can see for yourself current conditions and the lay of the land. Here’s the link . The town welcomes visitors to two annual events, its Wheels, Wings, and Watercraft show; and what they call the “Flying Hamburger Social Fly-in”. For information on these and other events, see the Manitowish Waters Visitor Bureau newsletter at: https://manitowishwaters.org/e-newsletter/ Manitowish Waters has great flying scenes and adventures, from vast Lake Superior to the local Cranberry Harvest (above). Find more information, and post your own comments on Manitowish Waters in the Airfield Guide . Submitted September 30, 2024 By Carmine Mowbray
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Hanley Field, Michigan. Trio of Appeal: Scenic Recreation, Camper Amenities, and Community Support Hanley Field, the 4,000-ft turf airfield on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan boasts much more than beautiful scenery and a great place to camp. Discover this area for yourself, and take advantage of the new facilities brought about with the help of a substantial RAF grant, with support and encouragement of the Alger County Commission and many local volunteers, including the Marquette EAA Chapter. RAF Michigan Liaison General Grant said, “It’s been wonderful working with the community of Munising.” Imagine paddling your own kayak among the technicolor caves in Lake Superior, or hiking among the waterfalls within the National Park Service Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Or trying to name the myriad of hues during autumn in the mixed forest. Enjoy spectacular scenery by leisurely tour boat, or a breathtaking “Riptide Ride.” You can view some of the shipwrecks that Lake Superior has claimed from a glass-bottom boat. Pontoon boats and kayaks are available for rent. Visitors can explore on their own or take a commercial tour to enjoy sand dunes and deep forests, or spectacular views of sandstone cliffs and formations, caves, and waterfalls tumbling into the turquoise freshwater of Lake Superior. This is all accessible from Hanley Field, just three miles southeast of the town of Munising, Michigan. It’s an all-season destination, but winter snow closes the airfield. Aviation weather at Hanley is accessible via text message. An RAF grant provided funds at Hanley Field for a restroom, shower, kitchenette, and more. The town of Munising, though small, offers shops, restaurants, and galleries that showcase the town’s vibrant personality, and a chance to learn the rich history of the region. Find more about Hanley Field in the Airfield Guide. Submitted July 31, 2024 By Carmine Mowbray
Each month we highlight an airstrip with hopes that you will get out and enjoy these special places. This month, we’re featuring Washington Island, Wisconsin. Why is it that airports on islands always have a special appeal? Maybe it’s because aviation serves a heightened level of utility in arriving on an island. And that island airports are often near water and the recreational opportunities water provides. The Washington Island airport is one of these special places. It sits off the end of the beautiful Door County peninsula that separates Lake Michigan from the bay of Green Bay. It’s easy to access nearby quaint villages that have been popular summertime destinations for well over a hundred years. Sample the hospitality and variety of the local stores and restaurants. Schoolhouse Beach with crystal clear water and an unusual beach of round limestone rocks lies right next to the airport, just a short walk or bike ride from the tie-down area. The airport, 2P2 boasts two turf runways – each over 2,200 feet long – that are kept in remarkable shape to accommodate a variety of aircraft, even amphibious aircraft on wheels. Camping is permitted with prior permission from the airport manager at 920-535-0546. The airport has a number of courtesy bicycles for visitors’ use. In addition to some great restaurants on the island, recreational opportunities abound in the form of biking, hiking, swimming, and there are a variety of fishing options in the region, including shoreline and guided boat options in Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The popular Washington Island Fish boil takes place right at the airport on the third Saturday in July, hosted by the local Lions Club. This year will be the 71st annual event. Mark your 2024 calendar for July 20! Fly in for this flaming Scandinavian traditional community meal of fresh-caught whitefish, onions, potatoes, and corn, topped with a slice of Door County cherry pie! See the Airfield Guide for more info on visiting this special island airport. Submitted June 27, 2024. By Carmine Mowbray
The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument spans 149 miles of the Upper Missouri River “Breaks” country, a label adapted from the Lewis and Clark journals. They called the precipitous elevations “broken land,” as it was the most challenging terrain the Corps of Discovery encountered on their epic journey from St. Louis to the Pacific. The Monument includes six backcountry airstrips with the picturesque names Woodhawk, Knox Ridge, Left Coulee, Black Butte North, Cow Creek, and Bullwhacker. But with the convenience of flying among the Breaks, your view out the window would reveal an unbroken array of scenic interests. Land at any of the six and enjoy a hike, surrounded by a variety of natural beauty. It’s half a million acres of land that is much as it was when Lewis and Clark first described it in 1805. “It is the last significant chunk of ground whose face hasn’t been altered by mankind,” RAF Supporter Ralph Rogers of Winifred, MT says. Now each June near the long daylight hours of solstice, Rogers and Pete Smith of Lewistown, MT invite visitors to the Missouri River Breaks Fly-in, a weekend of exploration beginning with a Friday kickoff dinner and campout at the Winifred airport. On Saturday morning, the group flies 30 nm south to Lewistown to enjoy cinnamon chip pancakes – “the best on the planet” – then flies out to explore Breaks airstrips. Some folks plan a visit to “Heller Bottom” a privately owned 1,800-ft native grass airstrip right on the river belonging to RAF Supporter Loren Smith. He has graciously added primitive amenities for visitors. Pilots are cautioned not to land on any of these strips if surface is wet. “Those soils turn to glue,” Rogers warns. See the RAF Event Calendar for specific dates. These historic airstrips predate the act that created the National Monument. Numerous organizations activated to demand closure of all roads and airstrips after President Clinton’s 2001 declaration. The potential loss of these airstrips figured in to the RAF’s founding, and co-founder Chuck Jarecki initiated conversation with the BLM district manager. Chuck found historic photos of each of the ten airstrips, and he and Rogers rounded up other Montana Pilot Association and RAF advocates to attend public meetings and comment for their preservation. Thanks to these early efforts, six of the ten airstrips are now charted (as is Heller Bottom) and offer scenic and remote dry camping. “The partnerships developed during that process helped all of us protect this fantastic piece of Montana landscape,” Ralph says, adding, “we celebrate the Breaks and surroundings each year with the Missouri River Breaks Fly-in.” Come explore these places. The monument is public land where visitors can float the river, fish and hunt. Be sure to jot your name in each airstrip’s visitor register, sinceusage justifies and assures future support. For more information on these airstrips, enter each one in the Airfield Guide.
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