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On an approach from the north at Ryan Field, MT.
10-foot landing roll (not that there’s anything wrong with that). This as- sociation, or rather foundation, has its tenets firmly seated in the pres- ervation and maintenance of landing sites that otherwise would often be forgotten and unusable. The thrills are still there, but the goals are dif- ferent.
The Recreational Aviation Founda- tion (RAF) preserves, improves and creates airstrips for recreational ac- cess – that’s what it says on the front page of its website. It goes on to say that it was “founded by a group of Montana pilots who realized that the threat of recreational airstrip closure was of national concern. They also recognized that there was the need for a unified effort by pilots every- where to protect public recreational opportunities. The RAF is dedicated to preserving existing airstrips and creating new public-use recreation- al airstrips throughout the United States.”
The website highlights places I had never heard of, like Ryan Barn, Montana and Trigger Gap, Arkansas. Ryan Field in Montana near Glacier National Park is an incredible story of people coming together with a com- mon goal of preserving and enhanc- ing a remote landing area that can
now be enjoyed for many years to come. Ben and Butchie Ryan bought this virtually inaccessible tract of for- ested, mountainous land in Montana in 1967. They proceeded to improve the access road and build a house, a sawmill and even a little hangar. But Ben, a World War II veteran and P-38 pilot, didn’t have a plane, and there wasn’t anywhere to land his plane if he did have one. So, he cleared some of the land and made a grass strip to land on. Next, he needed a plane, so he built that too. Chuck Jarecki, founder and former director of the RAF, describes how he was invited to come out to the property and help preserve it. He and Ben built the orig- inal pilot shelter there. Chuck says that Ben just wanted to pass along the airstrip to people who are going to enjoy it, and at this point in time, the RAF owns the entirety of Ryan Field and has built a fully enclosed gathering place at the little landing strip. Originally envisioned as a small 23’ x 30’ garage for tractors and equip- ment, the structure morphed into a much bigger project. The RAF lead- ers were led to the Amish builders of Townsend, Montana, nearby, who came in to help design and build what has become a much larger gathering place for pilots that will last for gen- erations to come.
A group of RAF members gathering for fun near the North Fork of the Flathead River in Montana.
Late last year, it was brought to my attention that there is an association of like-minded pilots and enthusi- asts who, unlike our aforementioned thrill-seekers, are more focused on preserving and maintaining back- country landing sites than, say, get- ting that sunset drone shot of the latest Carbon Cub demonstrating its
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