Finishing Friday With A Flourish

As this week draws to a close the guys are pushing hard to make headway on our three primary projects.

Honduran 206
Work on the Honduran 206 continues as the guys fabricate and install the last few structural pieces and instrument installations before the interior (which is prepared for installation) is can be installed.

Andy fabricates a floor panel for underneath the rudder pedals on the Honduran 206.

Brazilian 206
With the remaining paint removed, the fuselage was rolled into Hangar B to allow new windows to be installed. Other structural repairs continue.

Josh (outside) drives rivets while Ian (inside) bucks rivets as they install new windows in the Brazilian 206.

Paul fabricates a new oil stick access door in the Brazilian 206 cowling. The old door location, to the right, will be patched and permanently closed.

Mark repairs the Brazilian 206's right wing.

Canadian 337
While Dale and Scott begin the engine build-up process, Chuck continues with the airframe work.

Chuck removes the propeller unfeather accumulator from the rear engine's mount.

We hope these pictures provide a greater appreciaton of how God is working to expand His Kingdom through your gifts and your prayers in support of our ministry.

Brazil, Canada, and Honduras Updates

Brazilian 206
The fuselage of the Brazilian 206 has been relocated from Hangar A to outside the paint booth inside Hangar C and is in final preparation for being painted.

Josh applies paint remover to the passenger side window recess. All rivet heads will be detailed as well.

Canadian 337
Work continues on both the airframe inspection and the engine overhauls.

Dennis and Chuck research data before making a repair on the 337.

Honduran 206
Andy and Jim made final adjustments to the radio communication equipment on the Honduran 206.

Jim secures the access plate after completing installation of the High-Frequency radio antennae on the Honduran 206.

Forging Ahead on the 206's

Josh installs the overhead speaker in the Brazilian 206 fuselage.

Mark repairs the latch assembly in the left cargo door of the Honduran 206.

Jim repairs an interior panel for the Honduran 206.

The Best Aviation Maintenance Value Possible

Part of our ministry to those organizations sending us their airplanes is to make sure they receive the best maintenance value possible. If we can make it, we won't buy it; if we can repair it, we won't replace it; and if we have to buy it, we'll shop for the best deal.

The first two photos represent the second condition--that of making a repair so the entire component won't need to be replaced. Instead of replacing one of the Canadian 337's air selector assemblies for $200, Dale fabricated and then installed a bushing for $2.00 worth of stock material.

Dale fabricates a bushing from steel rod.

Scott and Dale install the bushing.

In our previous post, Paul was pictured inspecting one of the Brazilian 206's wings for fuel tank leaks. That process continued to the point of repair.

Paul inspects the fuel tank (inside the wing) for leaks.

Paul repairs the leaks found in the fuel tank.

The Brazilian 206, Honduran 206, and Calendar Mailing

While the Canadian 337 project is gaining momentum (the front engine is nearing build-up), the Brazilian 206 is going to dominate the blog for a bit, but that's okay. It's where the majority of our manpower is going once the Honduran 206 is completed later this month.

Logan drives rivets into a new belly skin on the Brazilian 206 as Josh bucks from inside the fuselage.

In Hangar B, Paul J. troubleshoots a leak in the right wing fuel tank of the Brazilian 206, Ian (on the ladder) fits the rudder tip fairing on its vertical stabilizer and, if you look into Hangar A you'll see the 206's fuselage where Logan and Josh are working.

Andy seals the magnetos on the Honduran 206's engine.

But not everything is airplanes at MMS. While Rena was in working on receipting donations received over the past four days, Karen, Dana, and Sherry came in to organize the annual mailing of pocket calendars to MMS supporters.

Karen, Dana, and Sherry organize the annual pocket calendar mailing.

New Skin On The Brazilian 206

Josh finished last week getting new skin prepared for installation on the fuselage of the Brazilian 206. He and Paul J. started this week working together to install the skin on the tail cone. Josh worked outside the tail cone driving the rivets while Paul worked inside bucking the rivets. It takes all kinds of rivets of different shapes, sizes, material, and varied hardness to hold an airplane together.

Josh temporarily fastens the new skin in place with "cleco" fasteners used to secure sheet metal in place for drilling or riveting. Clecos come in all shapes and sizes as required by the job.

Lots of clecos are needed to hold the skin in place.

Josh (outside) drives rivets while Paul J. (inside) bucks the rivets.

A collection of assorted rivets being used on the Brazilian 206.

Walking Through The Shop

Walking through our shop is always interesting. Right now things are literally "coming together" on several fronts.

Paul Gettle has completed his pre-service orientation and will start Basic Training on Monday morning. This afternoon, Bob provided Paul with his study material and instructed him in how to fill out his maintenance log book.

Chuck's inside the Canadian 337 installing the floor panels he just repaired.

Andy touches up some paint on the Honduran 206's fuselage.

Dwight instructs Mark on practical welding techniques as part of Mark's Basic Training process.

Josh prepares to install a new skin on the Honduran 206.

If you're ever east central Ohio, please make a point to stop by our hangar facility in Coshocton and take a walk through the shop. I guarantee you'll find it worth your time.