Howdy all,

After several work sessions by the New Mexico Pilots Association (NMPA), the Rainy Mesa backcountry airstrip is open!

Here is a video of the last of those work sessions and some activity on the airstrip to give you an idea what it is like (crank it up to 1080HD for best quality).


It is a gorgeous area on the north side of the Gila Wilderness area and there are several backcountry airstrips nearby.

Here is the NMPA announcement and link to safety briefing:
https://www.nmpilots.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=264824&item_id=56685&

Enjoy!

Very nice. I enjoyed church group hikes into the Gila Wilderness area when I was spraying in the Misilla Valley and around Fabens, Texas.

You have too love a good RV-4. When I bought the 185 the wife made me agree to sell my -4, five years later I still have the -4. I guess I didn't say when I would sell the -4.

Agreed!!!

Be careful - you are messing with fire!!

Great to see this! I had stumbled onto that strip on Google Earth last year; good to see it's been restored.

I assume this was done by working with the USFS? This is setting some good precedent for airstrip restorations we hope to accomplish here in CA on some similar condition USFS airstrips.

Any off strip areas south and east of New Mexico for camping? Any J-3 guys in New Mexico here?