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Backcountry flying represents one of the ultimate freedoms for pilots, granting access to beautiful and remote locations few ever get to experience.
It’s also one of the most tight-knit communities in aviation, where pilots share a deep appreciation for nature and a collective commitment to ensuring these destinations remain accessible for future generations.
This passion for aviation adventure is why Hartzell Propeller is so proud of our longtime partnership with the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, improving, and creating recreational airstrips.
The year was 2002, and all around the country, backcountry airstrips were closing at an alarming rate. As a small group of pilots sat around a campfire in Northwest Montana, they realized there was no national organization to take care of these beloved airstrips. If they didn’t take action, who would?
Each of those pilots pitched in, and by 2003, the Recreational Aviation Foundation was incorporated as a charitable organization. The early years were about spreading the word and finding people who shared their passion for protecting backcountry access. Over the years, RAF has grown from that small group of Montana pilots into a unified effort with 11,000 supporters from all 50 states, plus more than 13 foreign countries.
Not long after the RAF was founded, Ben and Butchie Ryan decided to donate a piece of their 160-acre Montana property and airstrip to the RAF to be preserved and maintained for future aviators to enjoy. Located about a mile from the entrance to Glacier National Park, Ryan Field (2MT1) is a symbol of the RAF’s mission and progress. In addition to maintaining the field itself, RAF volunteers have added a barn, cooking shelter, reservable cabins, restrooms and showers, and picnic tables to make Ryan Field a prime backcountry pilot destination.
Chairman John McKenna describes the RAF’s airstrip maintenance work as “like the parks department for aviation.” In fact, the RAF is the only aviation organization with maintenance agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. RAF leadership visits Washington, D.C., several times each year to advocate for the value of backcountry airstrips.
After working with public land managers to develop maintenance agreements for neglected airstrips, the RAF works with EAA chapters, state and local pilot associations, and flying clubs to organize the necessary maintenance work. Throughout the year, RAF volunteers complete projects ranging from building shelters and shower facilities to setting up picnic tables, trimming trees, mowing grass, and putting up fences. See the RAF’s event calendar for more details.
Equally important to protecting backcountry airstrips is educating pilots on the best practices for using them. The RAF offers recommendations to advance flight safety, airmanship, professionalism, consideration, and courtesy toward the people and wildlife who share the environment. As backcountry flying grows in popularity, it’s important that pilots understand these recommendations to help build trust among the non-flying community and maintain strong relationships with the land managers and owners responsible for these precious airstrips.
Critical to this is educating pilots on how to safely plan flights to backcountry strips and out-of-the-way airports around the country. With this in mind, the RAF developed an online Airfield Guide, filled with helpful information and features to help pilots plan their next backcountry adventure.
You can filter by recreational amenities (such as camping, restrooms, fishing, and cell service), as well as runway length, region, and Relative Hazard Index. Most airstrip listings include photos and videos of approaches and landings, and some include Safety Briefings so pilots can make informed decisions before flying in.
The RAF mission relies on supporters and volunteers. Current volunteer opportunities, including work parties, are listed on the website. Interested in supporting financially? Learn more about donating or check out their online store, where proceeds from gear and apparel support the RAF mission.
Did you know that Hartzell Propeller offers a special $1,000 discount on our Voyager, Pathfinder, Explorer, and Trailblazer backcountry propellers exclusively for RAF members? But that’s not all — for each prop sold as part of this offer, we donate $250 directly to the RAF mission.
It’s our way of supporting the thrill of backcountry flying and the RAF’s ongoing efforts to preserve, improve, and create backcountry airstrips. If you aren’t already an RAF supporter, this is a great incentive to join the cause and help ensure backcountry flying is accessible for future generations of pilots! Read more about this special offer and contact us for any questions about finding a backcountry propeller for your airplane.
