AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 79

hobby. It’s a way of life—and the truth is that we have an absolute blast when we get out here. It’s just a lot of damn fun.” Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president for airports and state advocacy, says the RAF stands out among aviation groups for the commitment of its members, and its ability to accomplish difficult, complex, long-term goals. “The RAF’s passion for backcountry airstrips is remarkable,” Pecoraro said. “They bring together volunteers who provide political advocacy as well as the actual physical work of doing repairs and improvements in remote locations. They’re extremely effective in both areas.” Mike Ferguson, AOPA’s regional representative for the Northwest, is an RAF member and participates in a wide variety of activities that promote backcountry flying. Ferguson flies a Bonanza that he takes to remote grass strips and high-altitude airports that would seem off limits to all but specialized airplanes such as Hus-

Remote airstrips allow outdoor adventures like rafting (left), but the RAF is active at busy airports, too. The Tornado Husky on display (below) at Bozeman’s “pilot shelter,” a facility that allows pilots and their passengers to pitch tents on overnight stays.

kys and Super Cubs. He says combining the expert AOPA staff with the energy of the highly focused RAF is good for both organizations. “AOPA has been extremely helpful in opening doors in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere,” he said. “That’s a tremendous benefit for the RAF. And the RAF’s efforts to promote backcountry flying, in turn, are good for general aviation.” Too perfect The repaired Tornado Husky was reunited with the RAF during a summer trip to western Montana. Several of the Montana pilots had been at Sun ’n Fun during the violent weather that nearly claimed the Husky. Dan Prill, an RAF vice president, was with the airplane before and after it returned to the Aviat Aircraft factory for repairs, and he expressed some disappointment at the immaculate finished product. He couldn’t find the former gash in the fuselage, and the previously mismatched colors on the control surfaces had been repainted. “The repairs are too perfect,” he said dismissively. “You should have let the

Tornado Husky keep its battle scars. They gave the airplane more character.” Flying with the RAF The Tornado Husky was the centerpiece of an RAF barbeque at Gallatin Field (BZN) in Bozeman where the RAF has built a “pilot shelter.” The peaked stone-and-wood structure contains sparkling bathrooms and showers as well as picnic tables, electrical outlets, airplane tiedowns, and a grassy area where visiting pilots and their passengers can pitch tents on overnight visits. We flew northwest to Schafer Meadows (8U2), a U.S. Forest Service strip in the northwest part of the state that’s become a favorite destination for the RAF, the Montana Pilots Association, and backcountry fliers throughout the region. Along the way, we flew between towering peaks that stay snowy all year long, overflew shimmering mountain lakes, and sped along the “Chinese Wall,” a massive rock formation that juts dramatically from the high, uneven ground and is reminiscent of the Great Wall. Landing at Schafer Meadows, the Husky joined about two dozen airplanes
AOPA PILOT • 79 • NOVEMBER 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011