GCI's Evangelical Team Departs MMS Aviation

MMS has been privileged to provide aviation maintenance services for Gospel Carrier International for several years now. GCI is a unique ministry focused on evangelistic outreach, church planting, and discipleship training for the Chinese speaking community in the United States.

Each spring, GCI makes an evangelistic tour of the US. This year is no different. Yesterday afternoon, Williams Chang, GCI President, pastor, and pilot,landed their King Air 200 in Coshocton and taxied up to our ramp. Their team was tired but energized over how the Lord had been working through them over the last twelve days.

Starting out in Gaithersburg, Maryland the morning of April 16th, they flew to Marietta, Georgia for a one day event. From Georgia it was on to Texas, then to Louisiana, then back to Texas. After Texas they flew to California and then Iowa before their stop here.

Williams mentioned a couple "squawks" regarding a two aircraft systems before taking his team into town for a night of rest. Our mechanics serviced the airplane and had it ready to depart first thing this morning as Williams and his team needed to be in Michigan this evening for more ministry. They plan to be back in Gaithersburg sometime Sunday evening.

Here's a video about their departure this morning.



Thanks for being a part of our ministry. Through your prayers and your gifts to MMS, you're helping Gospel Carrier International win souls for Jesus.

Another Rapid Response Trip to Florida

Four of our guys are getting ready to head down to Florida on another Rapid Response trip to help Missionary Flights International. Dale, Ian, Paul J., and Andy will leave Wednesday/Thursday for Ft. Pierce. They're heading south to install the two PT-6 turbine engines they removed from a DC-3 at Preferred Airparts in Kidron, Ohio on the turbine DC-3 already with MFI, N200MF.

The DC-3 in Kidron was recently purchased by MFI and is being prepared for future service with MFI. Because of the high time being accrued on the engines of N200MF flying relief into Haiti, it proved advantageous to remove and ship the engines from the DC-3 up here (Kidron, OH) down to MFI for installation on N200MF. This will allow N200MF to continue flying while its original engines are sent out for overhaul. Here's a video about the guys removing the engines several weeks ago at Preferred Airparts.

Missionary Flights International (MFI) DC3 Engine Removal from Paul Jones on Vimeo.

Another part of the preparation for the trip is fabrication of the hoses necessary to install the engines. Here's Andy fabricating some of the hoses.

Andy organizes hose material and hardware.

Working hardware onto a hose end

Working with hardware in the hose vise

Jim provides his own vise-grip as Andy secures the hardware in and over the hose end.

Thanks for your prayers and gifts which allow us to continue preparing people and planes for worldwide mission service.

Serving Toward Friday In His Kingdom

As we gather as a group to pray each morning, to share our goals for the day, and to reflect on Scripture, we're constantly reminded of Who it is we serve. The airplanes we repair for the field, the people we prepare for missionary service, are tools in God's hands for the spreading of His Gospel and the expansion of His Kingdom. There are many jobs in His Kingdom. Some of them even go to airplane mechanics and facilities maintenance guys right here in Coshocton, Ohio.

Andy seals engine baffling as Jim continues the avionics installation on the Brazilian 206.

Paul installs rings on the pistons for the cylinder sets for the rear engine of the Canadian 337.

Josh continues his repair of fiberglass nose bowls for a local Piper Aztec.

Dave re-installs rain gutter knocked from the stairwell and walkway roof by this winter's heavy snow.

A New Week

While a new week has started at MMS, the same basic set of aircraft projects continue. Here's a snapshot of Hangar A with three airplanes in it.

Hangar A

The Brazilian 206 is in the foreground. Andy continues with some engine work while Jim continues the avionics installation. The RV-8, to the left, is a local airplane having structural repairs made to its tail section by Chuck & Paul G. The red airplane, the Canadian 337, is waiting for its rear engine to be assembled after overhaul. And just behind the tail of the Brazilian 206, Josh completes some fiberglass repairs on nose bowls for a local Piper Aztec.

Paul J.

Paul J. is in the engine shop measuring internal components prior to assembling the 337's rear engine.

Meanwhile over in Hangar C, Tim and Mark are inspecting a Mooney for MAF, Dale is inspecting a Cherokee for a local pilot, and Ian is painting a 172.

Dale inspects the Cherokee in Hangar C.

The 172 after receiving its white color coat.

Hangar Shots

We currently have seven mission and non-mission projects underway: mission--Mooney annual inspection for MAF, Cessna 206 restoration for ministry in Brazil, annual inspection/double engine overhaul on a Cessna 337 for ministry in Canada, a Cessna 402 in for spar cap inspection, and Cessna 172 that's being repaired and painted for use by MMS. On the non-mission front: inspection and repair of a local RV-8, and an annual inspection of a regional Cherokee.

Here are some snapshots of the action.

Andy installs exhaust probes on the Brazilian 206's engine.

Chuck makes repairs to the RV-8.

Scott organizes engine parts for the Canadian 337 before starting reassembly.

Tim inspects the main landing gear on MAF's Mooney.

It's Zyglo Friday!

Here's a video of Paul performing a dye penetrant inspection on the oil sump for the rear engine of the Lamp 337.

It's Zyglo Friday! from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

If you have a problem viewing Vimeo, click here to go to YouTube.

Have a great weekend!

Quick Snapshots

Brazilian 206

Mike continues with his installation of the new instrument panel in the Brazilian 206.

PT-6 Training Course

Jim inspects the PT-6 engine as part of the training course StandardAero is conducting this week.