New public backcountry aviation access open at the 45 Ranch in Idaho’s Owyhee Canyonlands. [Courtesy: Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation]
Key Takeaways:
The Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation (JRBAF), a new nonprofit organization, has been established to honor the legacy of CubCrafters founder Jim Richmond.
JRBAF is dedicated to expanding public access to backcountry aviation destinations, aiming to open more high-quality locations for pilots to enjoy.
A significant initiative includes the foundation's purchase and opening of the historic 45 Ranch in Idaho, making its airstrip accessible to the public, with membership offering additional amenities like camping and cabin rentals.
The foundation offers an annual membership that helps fund its mission and includes entry into a raffle for a special Carbon Cub aircraft, with JRBAF covering the winner's federal tax liability.
For many pilots, Yakima, Washington-based aircraft company CubCrafters is synonymous with backcountry flying.
The company was founded 1980 by the late Jim Richmond who, after noticing how the Piper Super Cub was used for backcountry operations while on a trip in Alaska, modified and refined the design for better safety and performance.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
