The Recreational Aviation Foundation is one of the most active backcountry flying organizations in the country. But do you know how — and why — it got started?
backcountry flying
Seaplane Pilots Association helps fund Alaska cabin maintenance
“Given the number of USFS cabins accessible only by floatplane, the RAF is excited about the Seaplane Pilots Association contributing to our efforts of preserving special public cabin resources in remote places,” says Jeff DeFreest, one of the RAF’s Alaska Liaisons.
Portable weather stations to be placed at Utah backcountry airstrips
“Actual weather conditions at remote backcountry airstrips are often quite different from local airport weather reports, which might be many miles away,” noted Wendy Lessig, RAF’s Utah Liaison.
Utah backcountry airstrip gets green light to reopen
Taylor Flat Airstrip in the northeast corner of Utah has been closed for 28 years. But thanks to efforts by the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), it is set to reopen.
Restoration of backcountry airstrip in the works
The Recreational Aviation Foundation has received approval from the Bureau of Land Management’s Ukiah Field Office to restore the Walker Ridge Airstrip, located within the Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California.
Grant helps restore historic Lone Pine terminal
The grant helped restore the interior of the terminal at Lone Pine/Death Valley Airport in California.
Backcountry wisdom
Recreational Aviation Foundation Chairman has a way with words. So when he asked members to share their backcountry wisdom they stepped up.
Volunteers gather to get Montana airstrips ready for flying season
Volunteers with the Recreational Aviation Foundation and the Montana Pilots Association have gathered twice already in 2025 to perform maintenance on the airstrips in Flathead National Forest.
Grant awarded to repair backcountry cabin in Alaska
Crews will repair the front porch, outhouse, chimney system, entryway, and rear window. They will brush out around the cabin and stairs, install an RAF fire ring and a fire extinguisher. If time permits, they will reconstruct trails using lakeshore on-site gravel and repurposed lumber from demolition work, and repair the existing skiff haul out winch, according to RAF officials.