Preserving, maintaining and creating airstrips for recreational access. RECREATIONAL AVIATION FOUNDATION NEWS • ACTION Summer 2018 • Issue 22 Donors across the country provide funds— RAF hosts Two Hearted Two Hearted River airstrip now open to public Airstrip Grand Opening To celebrate this addition of another RAF Michigan Liaison Brad Frederick The old CCC airstrip adjoins Rainbow premier recreational destination, the learned about an abandoned Civilian Lodge property, and a lease of two parcels RAF hosted a ribbon-cutting July 7. Conservation Corps airstrip in the Lake was approved the Dep’t of Natural Resources Fifteen aircraft flew in, and Michigan Superior State Forest in Michigan’s Upper to create one longer and safer runway. Liaison Brad Frederick grilled hot dogs Peninsula from Michigan Dep’t. of Aero- Public responds with donations and served lemonade to the crowd. nautics. It’s where Ernest Hemingway’s “Big The RAF Board granted half of the funds “Come for the day or camp, over- Two Hearted River” joins Lake Superior. required, and on Valentine’s Day 2012 looking Lake Superior, the largest body Mouth of the Two Hearted River State Forest launched the “Have A Heart” fundraiser, of fresh water in North America,” Campground and Rainbow Lodge are challenging folks from across the country to Frederick says. “Check weather and nearby. donate the other half. wind carefully,” he advises. “Lake Frederick and his wife drove six hours “In about thirty days we had the funds we Superior has great influence over from their home in central Michigan to scout needed,” Frederick said. The contractor surface weather and aloft.” The airstrip the area, what Frederick calls “typical completed his work, and the grass grew all is rough and undulating, so be mindful beautiful UP jack pine forest with some summer. The State Aeronautics team lead by of prop clearance. Cell service is not maple trees mixed in.” He was convinced it Randy Coller showed up with transit and reliable, “after all it's in the ‘boonies’ of warranted the effort to reclaim the airstrip for yellow cones to lay out the new runway Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Land easier access to this recreational gem where before snow covered the area. “Winters are of Hiawatha and Gitche Gumee.” inland lakes teem with walleye and perch. long in this area, but Spring 2018 arrived, Continued, page 3 US Senator requests opening Response to pilot demand – USFS airstrips RAF launches interactive Airfield Guide During his address to the AOPA crowd in Missoula, US You have asked us for a nationwide video, nearest weather, profiles and Sen.Steve Daines, R-MT guide full of recreational airstrips and the relevant links, including Relative Hazard announced that he delivered RAF is pleased to announce that the Index (RHI) ratings similar to those found a letter to Secretary of Airfield Guide has been released for in Galen Hanselman’s handy full-color Agriculture Sonny Perdue, requesting he consumer use on desktop or mobile print airport guides. consider re-opening a select number of US devices. The geographic region covered is Forest Service airstrips lying within the Bob A private developer and RAF member expected to grow as more airfields are Marshall Wilderness Area. has assembled data and video for an added. We welcome your feedback about In the 1930s the USFS established and interactive online repository of “out-of- the site. used nine widely dispersed pastoral airstrips the-way” airfields with special See Airfield.guide to register free of to fight fires and re-supply Ranger Stations — saving hours by mule-train — until the recreational appeal. Use the Airfield charge, and begin planning your next USFS administratively closed them after the Guide for comprehensive planning of adventure — brought to you by your 1964 Wilderness Act. your recreational flights. Each airfield friends at the RAF in association with The Senator emphasized the importance listing includes Overview, map, photos/ Tailwind Aviation Foundation. of these airstrips to the safety and management of our public forests. “The law is clear that the Secretary of Agriculture has New places. the authority to consider each, and permit access to these established airstrips,” Daines said. “We know access by air creates New adventures. very low impact, and it’s also clear that these airstrips are especially valuable in search and rescue and fire fighting,” he added. The Senator stressed that the RAF and its corps of dedicated volunteers has “proven the viability of public/private partnerships. This arrangement saves taxpayer money on maintenance to keep them in a safe condition.” RECREATIONAL AVIATION FOUNDATION 1711 WEST COLLEGE ST, BOZEMAN, MT 59715 Chairman’s Message – 406-582-1RAF (1723) www.TheRAF.org “Why” builds Tricia McKenna Administrative Director: [email protected] passion currency Erin White, Volunteer Coordinator: [email protected] All the following serve on a volunteer, unpaid basis: – John McKenna DIRECTORS or those who get it, no John McKenna, Chairman: Montana, [email protected] Bill McGlynn, President: Washington, [email protected] “ explanation is needed. For those Jack Tyler, Vice President: Montana, [email protected] F who do not, no explanation is adequate,” RAF Alan Metzler, Secretary: Pennsylvania/Montana, [email protected] member Jerry Wilke says. Mike Perkins, Treasurer: Colorado/Montana, [email protected] Those words speak to the why of the RAF. Strange as it Peter Bunce: Washington, DC/Wisconsin, [email protected] Steve Johnson: Missouri, [email protected] may seem, why was always clear to those of us who started Pete Burwell: Minnesota, [email protected] the RAF. We knew we had to step up quickly, or many of our Todd Simmons: Tennessee, [email protected] treasured flying destinations could be lost. What we did not Environment/Science Advisors: Dr. Ric Hauer, Dr. Roger Blew know was how we were going to reverse this troubling trend Safety/Education Committee: Jack Tyler, Chair Newsletter Editor: Carmine Mowbray [email protected] or how big the task was. But the why was all we needed to roll up our sleeves and begin together. STATE LIAISONS We operate differently than many organizations, both in AK – Al Clayton [email protected] and out of aviation. We must operate with volunteers rather AR – Dave Powell [email protected] AZ – Mark Spencer [email protected] than a paid staff to do our work. The passionate have found CA – Rick Lach [email protected] their way to the RAF, and work they do. Whether it is CA – Anthony Longobardo, [email protected] building an airstrip or building an outhouse, shaking a hand, CO– Patrick Romano [email protected] or extending one, the RAF advances its mission with passion. CO – Tom Haefeli [email protected] FL – Bobby Capozzi [email protected] Our portfolio is well balanced when it comes to passion GA – Brett Wilkes [email protected] currency. ID – Mike Hart [email protected] We consistently get asked why we do the things we do. IL – Mike Purpura [email protected] Apple didn’t start out to build a better computer. In the KY– Jeff Smith [email protected] ME – Andy Rowe [email protected] 1980s world of mainframe computers, Apple understood ME – Steve Mason [email protected] that if they offered common people an affordable personal MA – Rene Robillard [email protected] computing device, Apple would thrive. They understood MD – Craig McCullough [email protected] MI – Brad Frederick [email protected] why before they figured out how. MN – Kirk Hiner [email protected] An organization requires clarity about why they do their MN – Kurt Pennuto [email protected] work. Over the coming months I will be sharing with you MT – Ron Normandeau [email protected] “My Whys” because I am confident the RAF can only get MT – Scott Newpower [email protected] NB – Dan Keller [email protected] stronger with our knowing precisely why we exist, working NH – John Meade [email protected] and recreating together, protecting what we love, at the NM – Larry Filener [email protected] same time enjoying new friendships and sharing and caring NM – Ron Keller [email protected] for one another. NY– Russ Holland [email protected] NC – Tim Farris [email protected] Through this next year I’d like to join hands with you so ND – Brian Rau [email protected] we can bring all the clarity we can to the RAF mission. With OH– Freeman Swank [email protected] that clarity will come conviction and then confidence for us OH – Christine Mortine [email protected] to do all we can to preserve, maintain and create airstrips for OR – Richard Mayes [email protected] OK – Steve Thompson [email protected] recreational access. PA – Andy Turner [email protected] – John PA – Judson Rupert [email protected] SC – Bill Repucci [email protected] SD – Ray Jilek [email protected] TN– Steve Lewis [email protected] UT – Steve Durtschi [email protected] UT – Wayne Loeber [email protected] VT – Bob Burley [email protected] VA – Matthew Kline [email protected] WA – Dave Whitelaw [email protected] WI – Jeff Russell [email protected] The Recreational Aviation Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) public WY– Lori Olson [email protected] charity, Federal EIN 42-1613294; Montana State ID D-128852. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers and gifts are deductible for federal The RAF also enlists Ambassadors to represent the RAF at events. estate and gift tax purposes. Please provide your current email address to The current list can be found on page 6. [email protected] to receive the newsletter digitally. Newsletter flag photo: Mark Stroud photo; back page: Moose Creek, ID – Heidi Hasenfus photo. (2016 RAF photo contest entries.) "2 Two Hearted, from page 1 Guest Essay — and it was time to open Michigan's newest Public Use airport to all who love recreational aviation.