Rapid Response To Zambia, Africa

Josh and Paul are completing their second week of a four week Rapid Response trip to Zambia, Africa to assist Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML) with an engine exchange on their Cessna 207.

Josh actually overhauled the engine in 2009 and shipped it over to CMML just for this occassion. CMML knew their current engine would soon need overhaul and, to keep the aircraft's down time to a minimum, asked MMS to prepare its replacement engine well ahead of time so it would be on hand when needed. (If you click here and then advance through the newer blog posts you'll be able to follow the progress of the engine overhaul in 2009.)

And then, when it was time for replacement, Josh and Paul were invited over to do the installation.

The old engine is removed from the 207.

Paul installs accessories on the MMS-overhauled engine.

The new engine rests in the engine compartment.

Please pray for Josh and Paul as they complete their work in Zambia and for the families they've left behind for this month of overseas service.

Tennsmith Slip Roll

MMS was recently blessed by the delivery of a Tennsmith slip roll. Already having several Tennsmith sheet meal tools in our hangar, we're familiar with their high-quality workmanship. We are very thankful to Tennsmith for their help in making it possible to add this slip roll to our shop.

The slip roll enables us to shape sheet metal to precise curves in less time and with less effort than before thereby conserving material and manpower. This will help us decrease the downtime of aircraft while increasing the fabrication services we're able to provide mission aviation.

Dave unloads the slip roll stand.

The slip roll.

Dave completes initial assembly. Notice the Tennsmith shear and hand brake in the background!

Thanks, Tennsmith!

Restoration and Repair

At the moment, we're enjoying sunshine, blue sky, warmer temps, our new roof, and our new hangar door. In fact, it almost finally feels and looks like spring. Not bad for the middle of May!

Here's a high angle view of the new door and and roof.

It's quite the door, isn't it?

Yet with the change in weather, our long-term projects continue to be long-term. Intricate, time consuming repairs need to be made and it takes great patience and attention to the smallest detail.

Jim builds a communication harness for the Brigade 172 wire by single wire.

Mark solders a single wire in preparation for making a repair to an engine sending unit for Wings With The Word's Cessna 402.

Andy S. installs, twists, and tightens one nut and one bolt at a time in hard to reach places and tight spaces as part of the intensive restoration of the Air Calvary 207.

Patience and perseverance are critical components of a mechanic's skill set. It almost never fails that when we rush a repair, we create the necessity for a larger repair. It sometimes takes a year or longer, and thousands of man-hours, to fully restore and repair an airplane.

It's like that in relationships too. Healing and restoration take time. Shattered hearts and broken lives aren't "fixed" with a quick patch and a piece of tape. God is in the business of restoring people to right relationship with Him, of creating wholeness from brokenness, and providing hope where no hope can otherwise be found. It can take a lifetime to restore a soul and required the life of His son, Jesus, to open restoration's door.

At MMS we're in the business of restoring the airplanes that carry God's people to share God's hope with those most desperately in need of what only God can deliver. Thanks for your prayers and gifts which enable us to do so.

Cessna 402 and 207 Video Update

Be watching for further updates on these two critical projects.

Looking Forward to Spring

Here are some end-of-the-week snaps from the hangar. Rumor is we're finally going to have some sun and spring-like warm temperatures over the weekend. Everyone around here will certainly enjoy that! No tornadoes here, just lots of continual rain, wind, and/or clouds. Summer may arrive before spring really starts.

Dale provides instruction to Andy on some airframe repairs inside the Gabon 207.

Josh bolts the engine into the Gabon 207.

Scott takes care of some fabrication on an elevator for the Brigade 172 while Terry makes repairs to its air-box.

Tim provides instruction to Ben, our newest apprentice. Ben is currently working his way through Basic Training before starting on the hangar floor.

Dave deposits the last of the scrap from the Raise The Roof project into the dumpster!

Hangar Construction, New Door and King Air Repair

Hangar Construction
The hangar construction project has moved into a new phase. With the door installation complete, with the final trim pieces being installed around the hangar roof edges, our contractor brought in his demo specialist to remove the steel tracking for the old segmented, rolling doors and to improve the ramp conditions leading into Hangar A.

The current concrete transition between ramp and hangar is short and steep and creates a challenge to overcome when moving aircraft into the hangar. It will be much easier to position aircraft with the door tracks gone and the slope into the hangar extended in length and reduced in degree.

Here's the Bobcat with jack hammer at work on the old steel door tracking.

Close up of the jack hammer

Here's the new hangar door opened up!

Gospel Carrier King Air Repair
The Gospel Carrier International King Air arrived today for an unscheduled repair. They'd experienced environmental control issues with the airplane's air-conditioning system while on their current cross-country evangelical crusade (Arkansas, Texas, California, Utah, and Illinois are five of the states they've visited so far) arriving here in Coshocton, Ohio this morning.

Tim and Mark immediately started the troubleshooting process, quickly isolated the issue, and repaired the problem enabling GCI to return to the tour, keep their scheduled meetings, and complete their trip with increased cabin comfort. It's a blessing to be able to serve this ministry through providing critically needed short-term and long range maintenance services free of labor charges. Thank you for your gifts and prayers which make this possible.

Tim troubleshoots the problem while Mark operates switches and knobs in the cockpit.

The 402's Engines Are Being Rigged

Friday was a big day as both engines were hung on the Cessna 402. The guys are busy this week hooking up hoses, running lines, and adjusting control linkages to bring the engines back to life. With the spar straps installed, the engines nestled back in their nacelles, and the annual inspection well underway, the momentum pushing this project toward completion continues to build.

Mike hoists the right engine in place as Andy P. and Mark provide guidance.

Clearing lines, hoses, and linkages out of the way.

Inserting engine mount bolts.

On Monday, Mike used the left engine as a teaching tool for a class on turbo-charging systems.