Checking the Weight & Balance of the Honduran 206

After major repairs have been made to an aircraft, it's important to reestablish the weight and balance of the airplane. Knowing the aircraft's empty weight, as well as resestablishing its center of gravity (CG), is critical to its safe operation whether hauling people, cargo, or both. When loading an airplane there are specific guidelines to follow regarding personnel and cargo placement based on the starting CG. Too much weight forward of the CG and the airplane will be nose heavy. Too much weight aft and the aircraft will be tail heavy. Being able to perform a "weight and balance" is an important part of every missionary airplane mechanic's skill set.

Checking Weight & Balance from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

Hey Paul, What Are You Doing Today?

Paul G. is our newest apprentice mechanic. He's served with us since October and is doing a fine job in the hangar. Paul has substantial experience in the area of Continental aircraft engines and is enjoying learning more about aircraft airframes.

Paul G. 337 Hydraulic Handpump from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

While Paul works in the hangar, a new winter storm has already dropped two inches of fresh snow outside. We're supposed to have 5-9 inches once this storm finally blows through tomorrow evening.

Video: Hey, Mike, What Are You Doing Today?

Mike came to MMS with a significant background in avionics. His talents in this area have been greatly utilized over the past several years as it's become more common for mission agencies to send us their airplanes asking us to fabricate new control panels, install new navigation and communication equipment, and upgrade their aircraft from "steam gauge" instrumentation to electronic "glass cockpit" technology. Mike's our go-to guy in these situations.

Here's a small sample of Mike doing his thing creating another avionics component out of metal, little boxes, and lots of wire saving our Brazilian mission partner over a thousand dollars for the installation alone.

Mike Installs the MVP50 from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

Video: Saving Money with Nuts & Bolts

Part of our ministry is to provide the best maintenance value for the mission dollar. Jim explains one of the ways we work to do so.

Saving Money with Nuts & Bolts from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

Good Job, Dale: The Aztec Returns to Service

Dale did a great job as Project Administrator of managing people, parts, and resources to complete the Aztec annual inspection on time for delivery and return to service. This maintenance event very much represented a real "dispatch ready" maintenance situation in a field environment and, as such, provided great experience for our apprentice mechanics both in the in "primary" and "production" phases of training. If you haven't seen any of the video clips, check out the previous three posts.

No video today, just stills.

Paul G. works on the right main landing gear, Scott makes a repair to the engine baffling, and Jim makes a repair to the cabin door.

Dale checks propeller control response.

Mark & Andy prepare to install the left engine cowling.

Dale & the missionary pilot taxi the aircraft in preparation for return to service.

Thank you for your gifts and prayers which make it possible for us to provide these critically needed maintenance services to mission aviation organizations around the world. Whether they have one airplane or fifty, MMS is committed to keeping their aircraft airworthy and ready to safely transport passengers and cargo into remote and difficult-to-reach locations.

Nearly Completed with the Aztec's Inspection

Well, the guys are in the home stretch of completing the Aztec's annual inspection. Lord willing the aircraft will fly out of here later this afternoon. The clip today is an overview of typical activity when an active missionary aircraft in needed back in service.

Aztec Annual Inspection Walk-around from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

Hey, Scott, What Are You Doing Today?

Work on the annual inspection of the Pfeifer's PiperAztec continues. As we're under deadline to return this aircraft to missionary service, Tim has released additional resources to facilitate completion. Scott, featured in this clip, has been focused on building-up the front engine on the Cessna 337 being inspected and repaired for ministry in Canada. But, because of the Aztec project's need for additional manpower, Scott was pulled from the engine shop to help out. Dale, who is overseeing the project is doing a great job of project management.