A Different Bird

There are a lot of different aircraft used in support of missionary work and many of them are designed with short take-off and land (STOL) capability.  Most are manufactured by established aircraft companies; however, one came to MMS Aviation recently that is classified as an amateur built aircraft.  It is a Zenith CH-801 and is supplied to the builder in kit form.  The plane is a four-seater and has a 185 horsepower engine.

This drawing is from the Zenith website, highlights the plane's features, and shows what the airplane looks like.

This plane's airframe and engine were assembled by missionary, Ethan Shields, and volunteers at a shop in Louisiana.  It was brought to MMS for installation of the electrical and radio systems.  The airplane's components will be painted here before its final assembly.

The fuselage is unloaded into MMS' Hangar A

Ethan will use the Zenith in Mexico to get to isolated villages.  Until it is finished, MMS mechanics will assist Ethan with the work.

The plane was designed to be sturdy and easy to build.

Ethan discusses an engine matter with an unidentified MMS mechanic.

This is the 100th Christian missionary/ministry organization MMS Aviation has served. I guess we'll have to have an extra-special celebration when it's completed.

First Visit to Grandma's House

Our family with Rena's parents. (Jason, Jen's husband was not present)

After four and a half months of hospitalization due to perforations in her small intestine, our granddaughter was dismissed from Nationwide Children's Hospital after surgery to reconnect her intestine, and went home with her parents March 17th.  The following weekend, Scott, Stephanie and Kiara Bell Jarboe visited us

The three cousins

Hello Aunt Jen

Javin meets Kiara for the first time

Such a little princess!

Honduras Trip Wrap-up

Early this month I was in Honduras to inspect a Cessna 206 operated by Missionary Air Group (MAG.  I've been home over a couple of weeks and need to finish the story I began in an earlier blog. 


Post-inspection operational check and adjusting a newly installed compass completed work on the plane.

The inspection revealed a well maintained airplane.  However, a significant crack in the outlet of the right exhaust muffler caused the immediate purchase of a replacement muffler and its expedited shipment to Honduras.  FedEx doesn't deliver to the small village of Rus Rus, but another missionary aircraft operator loaned us a good used muffler.  It allowed me to certify the plane's airworthiness and let us fly to San Pedro Sula to receive the new muffler that had been ordered.

My experience in Honduras was not just airplane maintenance.  I became acquainted with Westley and Denise Wiles and enjoyed their hospitality.  Through the Wiles and MAG president, Sean Donnelly, I learned much more about their work in Rus Rus.  I also met Elvin, a teenage resident there, who is serious about living out his Christian faith.


Elvin on his way home from playing "fútbol" agreed to this picture with me.

On the Sunday afternoon that I was there, Elvin came by the Wiles' house and asked a question about how our faith should affect our conduct.  It challenged me greatly to reach way back and drag my Spanish language ability out of storage.  Borrowing the Wiles' Spanish language Bible, I had Elvin read verses that spoke to his question.  I believe it helped Elvin, it certainly was a refresher course in Spanish for me, and our conversation is one of the highlights of my trip.



Jack

I also met Jack. Jack is a white-throated capuchin monkey and has been the Wiles' pet for practically all of his four years.  He occupies a large enclosure at one end of the porch and enjoys interacting with his owners and their visitors from time to time outside his cage.

For me, the best part of a trip is getting home.  I arrived at our house very early Sunday morning, March 11th, and the following Saturday our little granddaughter, Kiara, went home from the hospital.  It's been a good month!

Update on our Granddaughter

If you have been following the story of our granddaughter, Kiara, you will realize what a miracle she is. She had surgery on February the 29th to reconnect her intestine. Amazing what modern medicine and surgeries can accomplish these days.  She has dealt with some very rough days, but God has been gracious and we give Him all the glory.

Below is a video taken on Monday, March, 12th of Dwight holding Kiara.  She is doing so well and we anticipate that she will get to go home very soon.

Airplane Inspection - I'm a Mechanic Again

Missionary Air Group (MAG) operates a Cessna 206 in Rus Rus, Honduras.  Rus Rus is in the easternmost department of Honduras not far from the border with Nicaragua.  The plane is under US registration, so an FAA certificated mechanic with an Inspection Authorization (IA) is needed to perform the annual inspection.  The pilot/mechanic, Westley Wiles, who flies and maintains the plane doesn't have an IA, so MMS Aviation was asked for help.  I am able to sign off annual inspections and it was an opportunity to get away from the office and be an airplane mechanic without wearing my administrator's "hat".

Flying over Eastern Honduras Friday afternoon.

Rus Rus is a very small village with a few houses and a clinic/hospital.  MAG acquired the hospital from another mission group that left the area.  The facility is quite nice and continues to be improved to offer a more complete range of medical services.  It is the only medical facility in the area

Pre-inspection run-up this morning.

MAG president, Sean Donnelly, came to Rus Rus also to help with the plane's inspection.  Sean flew first thing this morning to record how the plane performed and warm up the engine for the compression check and oil change.  Along with Westley, Sean and I completed the engine inspection and routine servicing today.  Tomorrow we'll go to church and then begin on the airframe inspection Monday.

I safety wire the fuel control inlet fuel screen.

A Rare Treat at the Hangar

Scott, an MMS Aviation staff mechanic and Supervisor, took apprentice mechanic, Paul, across the Coshocton airport yesterday to bring a Boeing Stearman biplane to the MMS hangar for its annual inspection.  At MMS we do a limited amount of commercial work and the Stearman is owned by a local businessman.  It was pretty foggy and dreary as they towed the plane from the owner's hangar to ours.

Scott and Paul check the wheels and brakes.

It's pleasant and well lighted in Hangar B and a bright yellow biplane makes it even more cheery.  After all the access panels are opened, inspection and servicing of the airplane begins.  This plane was built in the 1940s but was completely restored in 2002.  At first glance it looks completely original, but improvements were made during its restoration to make it safer and more reliable.  (There's a GPS antenna mounted on the top wing.)

I inspect the forward "N" strut and flying wire attachments.

This Stearman was restored by one of the top shops in the US that does these planes, and it has been very well maintained since then.  Yet, it still must be thoroughly inspected each year to determine its airworthiness.  This year I get to take a break from administrative duties to do the inspecting.

Paul (left) and Scott check the magneto ignition timing.

The vast majority of the aircraft maintenance done at MMS Aviation is on planes operated in support of Christian ministry around the world.  In fact, a crew of our mechanics started another mission project today which will be sent to Brazil when repairs are completed.  However, it is fun once in a while to bring in a 70 year old fabric covered biplane with a radial engine and give it a good inspection.