MMS Field Report #6: Thursday at Oshkosh, Paul Jones

Here's a picture of Paul Jones getting ready to return to Coshocton in MMS' Bakeng Deuce. It will take Paul two to four days to make the flight from Oshkosh, WI to Coshocton, OH, depending on the prevailing weather conditions.

Paul at the controls of the Bakeng Deuce.

Paul will soon complete his first year of apprenticeship at MMS and is called to serve as a pilot/mechanic in mission aviation. Before joining MMS, Paul served as a Captain with a regional airline based out of Columbus, OH.

MMS Field Report #5: Thursday At Oshkosh, Dave Spangler

Another IAMA Tent reunion between Team Oshkosh and missionaries we've served at MMS has taken place at AirVenture!

Dave Spangler is a missionary that flies a Piper Aztec throughout the Caribbean region. We were privileged to hang two new engines on his Aztec a year or so ago.

Here's Tim with Dave in the IAMA tent.

Here's Chuck working with Dave at MMS as they prepare to install one of the two new engines on his airplane.

MMS Field Report #4: Thursday At Oshkosh, Cessna 185

As mentioned in Field Report #1, the amphibious Cessna 185 that MMS restored for ministry in Canada is participating in this year's AirVenture.

The airplane's previous owner had the misfortune of landing the airplane, on water, with the landing gear extended from the floats causing the airplane to flip and incur severe damage. Edgar, the missionary who purchased the airplane as scrap, heard about MMS Aviation and asked if we could help him restore and repair the airplane for missionary use in Canada. We said we could and shortly after that Edgar towed the damaged and disassembled airplane up from Texas to our hangar facility in Coshocton, Ohio.

Edgar and the Cessna 185 arrive at MMS.

The airplane undergoing restoration and repair at MMS.

After restoration in Ohio and missionary service in Canada, here's the 185 moored at the AirVenture seaplane base.

Edgar and friends getting ready to fly.

The seaplane base viewed from the air.

Missionary airplanes, like missionary pilots and mechanics, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are better suited for one type of work than another, some better suited for one environment than another, and each having different capabilities by design or God's gifting as best meets the mission need.

Thanks for following MMS Team Oshkosh. There's more to come.

MMS Field Report #3: Wednesday At Oshkosh

The excitement of Oshkosh continued Tuesday under beautiful weather and building attendance. The guys and gals of MMS' Team Oshkosh are putting in 12-15 hour long days just keeping pace with speaking requirements, event commitments, sharing with the public, and developing new opportunities for for MMS to minister within the mission community.

There's good crowd flow through the IAMA tent (where our table top display is located) and events in the Fly-4-Life tent (featuring mission, medical, and humanitarian aviation), up on Shell Square, are going well.

Here's Robert and Dave during their shift at the MMS display table.

Some of the crowd in the IAMA (International Association of Missionary Aviation) tent.

Another airplane at the event with a direct connection to MMS is this DC 3 which Ian had flown as a special assignment a couple years ago.

There are more posts to follow. Stay tuned!

MMS Field Report #2: Additional Photos

Here are photos of two airplanes at AirVenture with direct ties to MMS Aviation.

MMS Bakeng Deuce

MMS's own Bakeng Deuce, which was donated to the mission several years ago. The Deuce was flown to Oshkosh, WI from our hangar in Coshocton, OH by MMS apprentice, Paul Jones.

MFI's Turbine 3

Missionary Flights International's turbine powered DC-3 flown up from Florida. Two graduates of MMS, Roger Sands and Brian Lites, serve with MFI. MMS also assists MFI with regular maintenance on this airplane as well as their other DC-3s.

MMS Field Report #1: Monday at Oshkosh

While Monday started bright and clear in Oshkosh, an afternoon thundershower did move through the area creating some challenges for schedules, activities, and transportation. The report from our team is that everyone is doing well and is fully involved.

IAMA Tent & MMS Display
The majority of the mission-related displays are going to be featured in the tent sponsored by the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA).

IAMA tent before display set-up.

Here's our display inside the IAMA tent.

Cessna 185 Restoration Reunion
Several years ago, MMS finished a complete restoration of a crash-damaged Cessna 185 for missionary use in Canada. The airplane came with amphibious floats which also needed to be repaired and restored. It was a long, labor-intensive, yet rewarding project that has allowed Edgar Schreiber, the missionary pilot, to effectively meet ministry needs throughout the region surrounding Lake Winnipeg.

Edgar flew the plane down to AirVenture with his wife, Gisella, and friend, Karl.

Edgar's, MMS restored, Cessna 185

Edgar, Gisella, and Karl at their display tent at the seaplane base.

Zambian Reunion
Another reunion took place as well. Two years ago, Tim and Scott G. traveled to Zambia, Africa to assist Jacques, a missionary pilot, make repairs to Cessna 206 he operated in Congo. They formed a great working relationship and weren't sure they'd ever have the privilege to meet up with Jacques again in this life. But who did Tim and Scott bump into Monday in the IAMA tent? That's right, Jacques!

Scott, Jacques, and Tim.

Behind The Scenes with MASA
Michele is busy working behind the scenes as part of the Missionary Aviation Support Association's (MASA) effort to handle the logistics required by caring for the 400 or so missionaries who've traveled to Oshkosh for the event. Michele helped with registration and is responsible for helping make sure that all the missionares are fed. I believe she helped oversee more than 1000 meals on Monday in the MASA tent.

Michele organizes registration materials.

Stay tuned and check back often for additional AirVenture updates and field reports!

AirVenture 2009 Monday Video Highlight

Here's the EAA's official video update from AirVenture 2009.