Recreational Aviation Foundation Ryan Field Airstrip Announcement:

Adjacent to the towering mountains of Glacier National Park lies a recreational airstrip that will soon be available for the enjoyment by capable pilots with suitable aircraft. The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) announces that Ryan Field, near West Glacier, Montana, (Great Falls Sectional Chart) will be open in the summer of 2009 for general use by qualified recreational pilots, but only with prior contact with the RAF. There will be no commercial use of the airstrip. The airstrip is jointly owned by the RAF and Ben and Agnes (Butchie) Ryan who built the airstrip and have lived on the property for forty years.

The 2500’ airstrip is, as Ben says, a “bush strip”, surrounded by trees. Visitor facilities now feature a campground complete with a 24’ X 30’ shelter and a wood cook stove, two level tent sites, several picnic tables and an outside fire pit. Nearby is a porta-potty. Across the grass runway are three well-marked tiedown spots. There is a courtesy van on site for access to Glacier National Park only four miles away.

The Ryans are looking forward to hosting visitors to this special place they have carved out of the surrounding forest. See their three homebuilt aircraft, marvel at the work they have put into their property and hike through the surrounding forest. To read more about the Ryans and Ryan Field - Click Here

The RAF requires that you obtain a safety briefing before landing at Ryan Field.

1) E-mail your landing request to all of the following RAF Directors:
Chuck Jarecki, skywagon@centurytel.net Dan Prill, dprill@gpdinc.com
Jerry Cain, sgr@linctel.net Carmine Mowbray, clarity@cyberport.net
E-mailing all four directors in your first e-mail will provide you with a timely reply.

2) You will be sent by return e-mail full details of the airstrip, especially safety concerns of which you should be aware. As with any flight, it is the responsibility of the pilot in command to acquire all available information pertinent to the intended flight as well as determine if the aircraft and the pilot’s capabilities are suitable for the safe use of Ryan Field. Phone requests will not be honored as you must request and receive the complete Ryan Field information by e-mail.

The mission of the RAF is to provide leadership, private financial support, and expertise for preserving and enhancing recreational aviation resources on both public and private lands throughout the United States for present and future generations.