Every Journey Starts With One Step

As every journey starts with one step, every wiring harness begins with one wire. Here's the navigation/communication "stack" for the Moody 182 (minus the actual avionics equipment). Mike's to the point where it's time to start installing specific wires into their respective receptacles. This avionics journey began with one red wire in one of the audio slots. With audio, communication, and transponder slots yet to fill there's still a bit of wiring yet to do.

The radio stack and one red wire.

Here's the radio stack a short while later.

As progress is made I'll post additional shots of the stack.

Beautiful Weather and Easter Weekend

Here are two snapshots I took yesterday afternoon to prove that, even in April, we do have moments of nice weather sandwiched between the days of clouds, rain, and snow...

Gospel Carrier International's Cessna 310
on the ramp between Hangar B & C.

Gospel Carrier International's Cessna 172
returns to service.

Everyone at MMS wishes you a very special weekend as we'll be closed tomorrow in observance of Good Friday. May this Easter be a time of renewal and refreshment for you as we remember the crucifixion of Christ and celebrate our Lord's triumphant resurrection. He is risen...He is risen INDEED!

The 210 Annual Inspection Continues

While Josh was back in Hangar C installing the propeller on GCI's 172, Ian, Gertjan, Andy, and Paul continued their work on the 210 up in Hangar A.

Paul prepares the 210's rear window to be resealed.

Ian inspects the 210's left wing.

Andy inspects the engine.

Annual inspections like this provide a tremendous opportunity for the apprentices to become familiar with aircraft systems as well as specific aircraft makes and models. It's a different type of experience than the heavy restoration going on with the 206's and the 182, but just as important for the balanced understanding necessary to serve as a mechanic in a remote field setting.

An Annual Inspection and Avionics

A regional Cessna 210 arrived yesterday for annual inspection. Already the access panels have been opened, the cabin interior removed, the airframe raised on floor jacks, the wheels pulled from the landing gear, and the engine is being looked over. If all goes well, it'll be back in the air in two weeks.

Ian inspects the 210's nose gear.

Josh makes an upgrade to the 210's pilot's seat.

While manpower has been shifted from the 182 project to the 210, Mike continues to build the wiring harness and communication cables for the Moody 182.

Mike labels cables at the avionics bench.

Regional Aircraft Projects

The troubleshooting of performance issues with a regional airplane is nearly completed. After carefully working through a series of tests and inspections over the past week or so, the trouble was identified and the final steps toward resolution should be taken this afternoon.

Dennis & Tim complete their work on the engine of a regional airplane.

Another regional airplane is having its engine overhauled while a third regional aircraft arrived today for an annual inspection.

Chuck measures engine components during pre-assembly.

A Podcast and Project Pictures

MMS just participated in its very first "podcast." It's featured as Episode #3 on the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) website. You can access and listen to the podcast by clicking here.

As far as project updates, the Moody 182 continues to move ahead. Mike is still assembling the various wiring bundles necessary for the avionics equipment, Ian continues to fit the interior pieces, and Andy is taping off the new windows in preparation for applying sealant.

Josh is taking care of some odds and ends on the Honduran 206 and Greg, a regular volunteer, is fabricating new skin for the Brazilian 206.

The Moody 182.

Ian continues fitting the new interior panels for the 182.

Josh aligns and marks new motor mount shrouds for the Honduran 206.

Thanks for being part of this dynamic ministry through your friendship, interest, prayers and your gifts. Please tell others about MMS and feel free to email these posts (and the podcast!) to anyone you think might have an interest. The better MMS is known, the better we'll be enabled to serve mission aviation. And may God receive the glory for it!

It's Hard To Believe It's Already Wednesday

With Paul and Gertjan down at JAARS in Waxhaw, NC for PT6 training, with Scott G. down in Florida on Rapid Response with Harvest Aviation, with Scott L. still to return from his two month internship with MARC, and David M. in Ethopia finalizing an adoption, things are a bit quieter in the hangar right now compared to how it was just a week ago. This Friday it'll be even quieter as three additional guys take a day of vacation. But work continues to be accomplished.

Chuck is organizing all the parts to reassemble the engine he's overhauling. Josh is measuring parts for the engine he's overhauling and assisting with the 182 when he's not working on GCI's 172. Mike is building wiring harnesses for the various components in the new instrument panel he's fabricating for Moody's 182. Ian has started installing the 182's interior and Andy is taping the horizontal stabilizer he's re-covering for a local Taylorcraft.

Josh and Mike discuss servicing the Moody 182's wing flap actuator.

Ian installs interior panels in the 182.

Andy tapes the leading edge of the Talorcraft's horizontal stabilizer.