The Pfeifer Aztec Returns to Service

The guys wrapped up work on the Pfeifer Evangelical Association's Piper Aztec this afternoon. With the left landing gear successfully repaired, they finished troubleshooting an electrical problem and fixed a leak in the left fuel bladder. The Aztec's now back in service!

Terry troubleshoots a problem with an electrical component.

Josh repairs the fuel bladder.

Mike and Josh cowl the right engine.

The Aztec leaves our ramp for the taxiway.

Dynamic's DC-3 Visits MMS Aviation

On their way to AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this morning Dynamic Aviation flew their DC-3 to Richard Downing/Coshocton County Airport for fuel and to visit MMS Aviation.

Test Run of the Rear Engine for the Cessna 337

This is an exciting way to end the week! Scott and Paul are currently in the engine shop conducting the test and break-in runs of the engine they just overhauled for the LAMP 337. This is the rear engine. The front engine was overhauled first and is already mounted in the airframe.

It's always satisfying to see and hear the engine run after the overhaul process is complete. Next week this engine will be mounted on the airframe. Chuck is nearly completed with the airframe repairs and it looks like we should have this airplane back in missionary service by the end of September. We're gathering momentum as we near the finish-line for this project.

They're shutting the engine down to cool at idle. How do I know this? Even all the way over here on the other side of the hangar in the administrative section...you can hear the engine and feel its power.

Thanks for your gifts and prayers that have enabled us to keep this project moving ahead.

Scott & Paul measure cylinder components.

Paul builds-up the engine.

The completed engine on the "run-up" stand.

Paul operates the engine while Scott monitors the stream of performance data.

Fly In Service

We've been blessed to serve two different missions over the past two days that had immediate maintenance needs.

First, Pfeifer Evangelical Association flew their Piper Aztec in yesterday for us to troubleshoot and repair a problem with their left main landing gear strut.

Here's the Pfeifer's Aztec taxiing to our hangar. Notice how the wingtip on the right is lower than the wingtip on the left.

Tim and Mark (an apprenticeship candidate undergoing evaluation), positioned the aircraft in Hangar C, jacked the aircraft, and removed the gear strut. They disassembled, cleaned, and inspected the strut and its components finding two O-rings that needed replacement. The parts are on order. The Aztec should be ready to fly by Friday.

Tim and Mark remove the landing gear strut for inspection and repair.

Second, Gospel Carrier International flew their Super King Air 200 in this afternoon for a compressor wash.

Gospel Carrier International's King Air 200 on the ramp in front of Hangar A.

Mark B. and Chuck prepare the left engine for its compressor wash as Mike supervises and Paul G. observes.

The guys have since completed the wash of the compressor sections of the King Air's turbine engines and the fuel truck is on our ramp pumping jet fuel into the airplane's fuel tanks for departure. The King Air will be back in the sky shortly.

Thank you for your gifts and prayers that allow us to perform these maintenance services labor-free for Christian mission organizations. Thank you as well for your gifts and prayers toward "Raising the Roof" here at MMS. The recent rains, with all the resultant leaks in the administrative areas as well as in Hangar A, are reminders of the necessity of this capital improvement.

Updated Moody Aviation 182 RTS Video

I've added a slide show of the restoration process of Moody Aviation's Cessna 182 to Paul Jones' original return-to-service footage. Thanks for letting me use the footage, Paul!

Moody Aviation's Cessna 182 Returns to Service from Keith Dodson on Vimeo.

If you'd rather view the video on YouTube, click here.

Thursday Afternoon Hangar Snapshots

We have several families on vacation, one out on deputation, several are out moving another of our families to another home, but somehow the work keeps getting done. Here are some snapshots of some hangar happenings yesterday and today.

GCI's Cessna 310 undergoes "after inspection" engine runs.

Terry checks panel instrumentation during the 310's engine runs.

Andy replaces spark plugs after checking the compression of the Cessna 210's engine cylinders.

The rear engine for the Cessna 337 is ready to be hoisted onto the test stand in the engine shop.

Cessna 402 Spar Cap Project: Part 3

Mark's been working on the right side engine nacelle in preparation for installing the spar cap modification on the Cessna 402. Here he begins fabrication of two new "skins" using the old skins as patterns.


If you'd prefer to view the video on Vimeo, please click here.