Pushing Into Christmas

The guys are really pushing hard to accomplish as much as they can prior to shutting down in order to celebrate and enjoy Christmas with family near and far. Several of our families are already traveling home and several more of our families will head out tomorrow. Here are some snapshots as we wrap-up hangar and administrative operations for 2010.

Dale manages the paperwork as he oversees the Navajo's annual inspection.

Ian & Paul J. work to finalize all the details of installing the amphibious floats on the Asas 206.

The SR-22 undergoes engine run-up after inspection and prior to its successful test flight.

Paul G. repairs the 172's control surfaces.

Mark, Mike, and Andy work together on the Skipper's annual inspection.

Thank you for your gifts, prayers, and special donations that met ministry needs over the past year. We look forward to having you at our side through 2011 as, together, we continue to prepare people and planes for worldwide mission service.

We'll return to the hangar January 3.

Merry Christmas.

The Floats are Installed on the Asas 206!

A major milestone was reached in the Asas 206 restoration project with the installation of the amphibious floats! This airplane will be operated from the liquid runway of the Amazon River and will taxi in and out of the river on a ramp that leads to the Asas de Socorro maintenance base in Manaus. We hope you enjoy the video.

A Typical Day at MMS Aviation

I shot this on a hangar walk-through last week. With five missionary aircraft in various stages of inspection, repair, and modification, our guys are keeping rather busy.



Not only that, but the Cessna 207 arrived from Africa on Friday!

The 207 arrives from Gabon, Africa.

Unloading the Cessna 207.

Navajo Maintenance: Part 2

Work on Arctic Barnabas' Piper Navajo is well underway. Here's a short piece showing Paul G. and Terry replacing the windows and Paul J. fabricating a new belly skin. This airplane is used for missions in Alaska. To see earlier clips of this project, click HERE and HERE.

Hangar Snapshots

Here are some hangar snapshots to update you on what's going on in our hangar:

Ian continues the finish work on the fuselage in preparation for mounting this Cessna 206 on amphibious floats later this month. This aircraft will be used for ministry in Brazil.

Here's the Cirrus SR-22 that's in for annual inspection. It's used by a Baptist Church for Stateside ministry.

This is a 1961 Cessna 172 that was donated to Brigade Air. Brigade Air sponsors aviation camps around the US geared toward encouraging young men to consider mission aviation as a calling. Brigade flew it down to us for inspection and repairs prior to putting the airplane into service.

Andy fits new skin under the right engine compartment of the Cessna 402 operated by Wings With The Word. A ministry based in Maine that operates throughout the northeast and into Canada. The guys are making repairs in preparation for re-installing the engines.

Jim assists with repairs on the Piper Navajo operated in Alaska by Arctic Barnabas. We're maintaining, modifying, and repairing this aircraft.

There are several other aircraft projects on their way in with more scheduled for work early next year. Our guys are going a great job as they face unforeseen complications, parts delays, and time pressures. It's all part of the missionary training, and mission reality, at MMS Aviation. Thanks for your gifts and prayers that make it possible for us to continue preparing people and planes for worldwide mission service!

Cessna 402 Spar Cap Project: Part 7

Here's a little video project that will fill in some history as both spar straps are now in place and the guys are prepping the engine compartments for engine installation. In this clip Jim, Terry, and Mike were making major progress with securing the left spar strap in place.



In other projects, Ian is shooting paint on the amphibious floats for the Brazilian 206; Jim and Paul G. are inspecting and repairing a Cessna 172 for ministry; Mike has just started an annual inspection on a SR-22; Andy and Mark are continuing the engine compartment work on the Cessna 402; Dale is conducting an annual inspection on a local airplane and following up on all the paperwork and problem-solving involved with bringing a containerized airplane from Africa into the US; and Scott, Paul J., Terry, and Chuck are hard at work on completing all the modifications and repairs on the Navajo used for ministry in Alaska.

Thanks for your prayers and gifts as we continue to prepare people and planes for worldwide mission service.

Video: The Amphibious Floats Have Arrived!

Here's a clip of the long-awaited arrival of the composite amphibious floats for the Brazilian 206. With the floats finally in-house the restoration can now move on to assembling the float kit and installing it under the airplane.

Video--Cessna 402 Spar Cap Project: Part 6

Here's Part 6 of the ongoing Cessna 402 project. With the spar straps installed, the guys are getting the engine compartments prepared to set the engines back in place.

New Project: Brigade Air's Cessna 172

A Cessna 172 was recently donated to Brigade Air. Brigade flew the airplane down to us to be inspected and to make any necessary repairs before putting the 172 in service. Our guys are in the process of starting the airframe and powerplant inspection. Here's a short clip of the 172's engine being removed for tear-down.

Navajo Maintenance Update 1

Here's a video update of the progress being made on the Arctic Barnabas Navajo.

Video: Arrival of the Arctic Barnabas Navajo

I previously mentioned the arrival of the Arctic Barnabas Navajo in an earlier blog, but here's video of the event with an additional clip of the start of the maintenance process. I already have other clips ready to edit that will show the project a little further along. The guys are really moving on with this one.

We're going to have the airplane for three months. In that time we'll send one engine and the control surfaces out to specialty vendors (we could have done the work here, but it would have taken longer than the time frame we'd been given), replace all the windows, fabricate and replace multiple aluminum skins along the belly of the aircraft, install a crew door in the cockpit area, repair engine cowlings, and conduct an annual inspection of the entire aircraft.

We intend to send this airplane back into ministry in Alaska before January 31, 2011.

A week ago.

As of yesterday

Replacing belly skins on the Navajo

Test Flight of LAMP's Cessna 337

Here's the video of Friday's test flight of LAMP's Cessna 337. The test flight went very well and, as test flights are supposed to do, revealed some minor adjustments which needed to be made before the airplane could return to mission service.

The guys worked late into Saturday evening eliminating the "squawks" enabling the aircraft to return to missionary service Sunday morning. This airplane will soon be back in northern Canada expanding God's Kingdom across four provinces.

Cessna 402 Spar Cap Project: Part 5

The Cessna 402 spar cap project is moving ahead. Here's a clip of the Andy and Jim putting the finishing touches on the right spar strap install while Mike sorts, tags, and bundles new wiring that replaces the old wiring in the left wing. New wire has already been pulled in the right wing as well.



In other hangar news the Cessna 337 is very nearly completed and should be flight-ready later this afternoon. We expect the LAMP missionary pilot to arrive today or tomorrow to conduct the test flights.

Thanks for your prayers and gifts which make this ministry possible.

The Arctic Barnabas Navajo Arrives from Alaska

Here's a snapshot of the Arctic Barnabas Piper Navajo as it pulled onto our ramp this afternoon.

Arctic Barnabas Piper Navajo

Arctic Barnabas flew their Navajo down from Alaska so we could replace the windows and windscreen, replace the belly skins, remove an engine and ship it out for overhaul, remove its flaps and elevators so a specialty shop can repair them, repair the engine cowling, install a new crew door, and conduct an annual inspection. We've committed to have all this completed and the airplane back in service in three months, by the end of January 2011.

Ian checks some details on GCI's King Air.

Late last week, GCI flew their King Air down for a wash. Here's Ian checking some details before washing the airplane. The airplane in the foreground is Pfeifer Evangelical Association's Piper Aztec which was in for an oil change and to have an instrument replaced.

Additional Cessna 337 Video

As we close out the week, I thought you might enjoy another video. I shot these clips prior to the last video posted of the Cessna 337's engine runs and taxi test, but never had the chance to go back and edit these clips until today. So, even though the airplane is going to be test flown next week, here's an earlier record of Scott and Paul installing the rear engine. I did add in some of the test run footage at the end.



Right now the guys are "swarming" the 337 while Scott finalizes the mountain of paperwork that accompanies every aircraft project. Ian, Andy, Josh, and Jim are down there on the hangar floor adjusting seats, closing the instrument panel, installing the carpet, tucking the headliner, placing the side panels in place, and making final systems adjustments. It's great to see this project finishing so well. Lord willing, I'll have some test flight footage for you in the near future!

Video: 402 Spar Cap Installation Part 4

Here's the latest in the ongoing "spar cap" video series featuring the work being done on Wings With the Word's Cessna 402.

Current Hangar Activity

Wings With The Word's spar strap installation is in the home stretch. Once this strap is fully secured, the next steps will be to finish updating the wing wiring and re-install the engines.

Jim and Andy work on the right wing spar strap while Mike pulls wires through the left wing root.

Gospel Carrier International's King Air was in for a phase inspection. The inspection is complete and the airplane returned to mission service yesterday afternoon.

Ian inspects the King Air's right engine.

The Cessna 337 project continues toward completion. Paul J. and Scott are taking care of the final systems squawks before replacing the airplane's interior prior to its scheduled test flight next week.

Scott and Paul with the 337.

Pfeifer Evangelical Association flew their Aztec in for an oil change this morning. While the airplane was here it was decided to keep it for an additional repair. Lord willing the airplane will be back in service this Friday.

John Pfeifer talks with Terry about aircraft repairs.

You can see we're enjoying some very nice fall weather right now. Thanks for you prayers and gifts that enable MMS to serve the broader mission aviation community around the world.

Roll-out, Run-up, and Taxi Test of LAMP's Cessna 337

King Air Phase Inspection, Part 1

Gospel Carrier International's King Air 200 is back in our hangar for a "phase inspection." A phase inspection is performing an annual inspection in "phases" over an extended period of time. Phase inspections are an efficient way to maximize the airplane's availability through less down-time while meeting all the safety and maintenance criteria in an ongoing manner.

Performing these inspections for GCI (and other mission operators) provides our apprentice mechanics with unsurpassed experience working on high-technology airplanes, under real production pressures, in positions demanding a high level of personal responsibility.

When our mechanics finish their thirty months of apprenticeship they've already experienced two and a half years of missionary service, have over 4,800 hours of experience responding to and managing maintenance events of all shape and size, and are uniquely prepared to meet the challenges of cross-cultural service in the mission aviation community worldwide.

Here's a video clip of the guys in the early stages of the GCI phase inspection.

Cessna 337 De-ice Boot Installation

The Cessna 337 annual inspection, repairs, and double engine overhaul is nearly completed. As Chuck and Paul G. were closing up the airframe, and Scott and Paul J. were finishing the final rigging and adjustments to the rear engine, Mark & Dennis tackled the job of installing new de-ice boots on the wings and horizontal stabilizer.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Video: A-10 Repaired and Returned to Service

The Air Force mechanics completed their repair of the hydraulic leak on the A-1o's left main landing gear late last evening. Before returning the aircraft to service they needed to test the repair by jacking the aircraft off the ground and then raising and lowering the landing gear.

When it came time to "swing the gear" the Air Force team honored MMS by inviting Dwight to conduct the test.

Air Force mechanics jack the A-10 off the ground.

Dwight prepares to raise and lower the landing gear.

MMS Hosts an A-10 Thunderbolt

It seems that after the airshow one of the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts developed a hydraulic leak on its left main landing gear. Imagine our surprise when we came in Monday morning to find a ground-attack fighter inside Hangar C. Maybe I should say found it "filling" Hangar C.

The Air Force brought in a crew of mechanics to return the aircraft to service and they've been making the repair for two days now. This afternoon they hope to do a "gear swing" to test the repair and, if all goes well, return to their base.

Here's a video of the A-10 giving a flight demonstration Friday evening.

Here's the A-10 inside Hangar C.

Here's the A-10 outside the hangar.

If all goes well this afternoon, I'll be able to post the gear swing and maybe a departure video tomorrow. We'll see...

Birds of a Different Feather At MMS

Friday evening several "birds of a different feather" came to roost overnight in Hangar C. With "Wings Over Coshocton," the Coshocton County bi-annual airshow, kicking off the next morning, MMS opened Hangar C so the air show pilots could store their airplanes indoors. These aren't your typical missionary aircraft!

Prior to pulling their aircraft onto our ramp and positioning them in our hangar, each pilot flew a good portion of their aerobatic routine for a select audience of press representatives, VIPs and maybe a missionary or two who had chosen to hang around after hours.

The Air Force brought two A-10s as part of the show. We'll have more on the A-10 in tomorrow's post.

Dave Dacy's Super Stearman in action.

Super Stearman at Hangar C.

Iron Eagles in action.

One of the Super Christen Eagle 1 aircraft flown by the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team taxis up to Hangar C.

Pitts Special outside Hangar C.

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt takes off from Coshocton.

Video: Inspection, Repair, and Return to Service of GCI's Cessna 310

Here's a clip of Josh, Terry, and Tim working their way through the recent annual inspection of Gospel Carrier Internationals' Cessna 310.

In The Home Stretch: LAMP's Cessna 337

The LAMP Cessna 337 which we're preparing for ministry in Canada is nearing completion. There's a high level of activity around the airplane as the remaining interior squawks are completed, the final airframe discrepancies are addressed, and the last details of engine rigging take place on both the front and rear engines. A deadline has been set for "roll-out and engine runs" on or before October 1st.

The 337 in Hangar A.

Chuck installs windows.

Jim finalizes some wiring placement.

Dennis and Mark install a de-ice boot on the left wing.

Paul rigs the rear engine.

This aircraft has been a major restoration project which has provided excellent training opportunities, and multiple challenges, for staff and apprentices alike. Thanks for being part of it through your gifts and your prayers.

The Rest of the Story from Gabon, Africa

Dale, Paul, and Andy have been in Gabon, Africa disassembling and crating a damaged Cessna 207 for shipment to Coshocton, Ohio so it can be repaired here at MMS.

Here are the blog links that give the rest of the story of their trip.

Gabon, Africa: Day 2

Gabon, Africa: Day 3

Gabon, Africa: Day 4

Gabon, Africa: Day 5

An Update From Gabon Africa

Here's an update on Dale, Paul, and Andy in Gabon, Africa from the pilot of the plane they're disassembling for shipment to MMS. Click on the link below to visit his blog and see how the process is coming along!

Arrivals And Departures

Off To Africa

Dale, Paul J., and Andy are off to Gabon, Africa to disassemble and crate a Cessna 207 for shipment to MMS. Clipping a taxi cab and a light pole during an emergency landing on a dirt road, the airplane was damaged beyond Air Calvary's ability to repair. Air Calvary contacted us to see if we could help them and we are blessed to send this Rapid Response Team over to start the process of returning this airplane to mission service.

Dale, Andy, and Paul J.

The airplane, the taxi, and the light pole.

Damage to wing strut, leading edge of the wing, and the landing gear.

Damage to flaps and control surfaces

Damaged tail section

You can see the airplane is in need of substantial repair. Dale, Andy, and Paul J. should have the airplane disassembled and crated over the next two weeks. We expect the guys back in Coshocton the first week of September. It will take the airplane a bit longer to arrive as it will travel by boat and then truck before arriving at our hangar facility sometime in October.

We appreciate your prayers for Dale, Andy and Paul (and their families here) as they're away in Gabon, Africa.

Back on the Blog

After being out of the hangar for the past week and a day, it's time to catch you up on some of the projects.

Jim makes some electrical repairs to the Cessna 210.

Terry installs a wing root fairing on the 210.

Paul G. works on the Cessna 337's instrument panel.

Tim troubleshoots a fuel problem with a local RV-8.

Mark works on the right wing of the Cessna 402 while waiting for parts to continue repairs to the left wing.

Tropical Training

This week is another week of "tropical training" at MMS. No, the guys aren't sitting around in lounge chairs, under palm trees, sipping iced drinks with umbrellas in them...it's just HOT (93 degrees) and HUMID (80%) with rather regular, intense thunderstorms rolling through every afternoon.

Once such storm just rolled through just a few minutes ago which did its best to blow, blast, and wash us off the top of the hill here at Richard Downing/Coshocton County Airport. Yee-haw. Of course in a few very short months we'll go into our "Arctic training" mode. When you prepare people to live and work in all parts of the globe it helps to have a weather range representative of the varied climates in which they'll serve. And here, in east central Ohio...we see it all...sometimes in a matter of hours.

Andy, Mike, and Mark make a plan for drilling the spar strap.

Terry begins work on the right main landing gear of the 210.

Paul works behind the instrument panel in preparation for installing instrumentation in the 337.