RAF Volunteer Party - Creighton Island, GA
Although familiar with, and have donated several times in the past, the RAF (Recreational Aviation Foundation) wasn't really something I had been too involved with in the past. But this weekend, the RV's usefulness struck again when I was able to fly about 1.3 hours from home, beating a 5.5 hour drive, and help out with one of the neatest RAF locations I've ever landed or camped at. Creighton Island is a gem in the Southeast corner of Georgia, and has a North/South runway, 2300' long, with a fair sand/dirt surface. Easy work for an RV...
This weekend, several volunteers (about 20-25) got together and helped trim and clear trees to help widen the runway and gather logs to mill up for a Pilot Shelter.
My Mighty RV-4 with its eye watering 160hp fixed pitch cruise prop, staggering useful load, along with its legendary and cavernous baggage area came through again. I removed the rear stick and rear seatback, shoved all my lightweight camping gear as far back as possible, put the heavy stuff as far forward as possible, and set off for adventure.
Arriving around 9am, we set up camp, changed clothes, and then got to work cutting and burning the discarded brush. A fantastic Low-Country Boil was for lunch and then back to it. 6pm was BBQ for dinner with all the fixins. Good times were definitely had by all afterwards with flying stories, tall tales with some shooting down their own watches, and drinks around the fire.
3 RV's in total showed up to help, my -4, my neighbor's (Brand NEW) -8, and an RV-10. The -10 was flown down from Pennsylvania just to participate. It was nice to meet you Andy!
Creighton Island itself is a jewel of the Golden Isles of Georgia, on the intercoastal waterway, and privately owned for three generations by a very kind individual who loves to promote its use for aviation and other activities. This is defintely the sort of place that, as my neighbor describes it, "Heals the soul..." Access to the island is provided directly from the owner through the RAF for its members. I absolutely highly recommend joining and checking out this great spot in the SE for some nice airplane camping. More info can be found
here.