I realized something interesting and inspiring this week. To illustrate, let me take you on a tour around our hangar.
Tim is leading an annual inspection on Gospel Carrier International’s Cessna 310.
During the annual inspection they found corrosion on the structure that supports the right engine. That engine had to be removed to replace the corroded parts.
Dale and a couple of the apprentices are doing several small modifications to a Cessna 206 belonging to Mission Aviation Fellowship.
This Piper Cub is used as a trainer. Dwight and Stephen are doing some structural repairs and recovering the airplane. It is a fabric-covered airframe, which is something we don’t do very often.
All the painting is finished on “Big Bird”, and Chuck is heading the assembly.
This week Mike Dunkley taught a introductory course for the Pratt & Whitney PT-6A. This is a turbine engine used commonly in missionary aviation. I was a student in this class. We had class Monday through Wednesday. I’ll have a test on Thursday, and we hopefully will run the engine too.
The Mercy Air helicopter is finally looking like a helicopter again. Since this photo was taken, the paint has been substantially finished.
This photo shows the belly structure partially reassembled.
All the parts you see here were replaced.
Last week we temporarily assembled the nose to check the fit. It was fun to see it take shape again, even though we had to take much of it off again to rivet it together. The quills sticking out are temporary spring-clamps that hold the parts together until they are riveted.
Today we put the airplane in our brand new fixture. Dennis built this fixture to help assemble Cessna fuselages. It allows us to fix the hard points to ensure alignment as the airplane is reassembled. We are excited to put it to use.
What I Realized
In the photos above, you can truly see a global reach. Every one of these aircraft belong to a different missionary organization and have an impact on at least the following countries:
- United States (non-English-speaking Asian communities)
- Mexico
- Guyana
- Philippines
- Southern Africa (Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland and Madagascar)
Since a couple of them are involved in training, they have indirect impact on a whole list of other countries where the trained pilots serve. This is only a sample of the countries that come through our hangar.
I thank God for the outreach that MMS Aviation has. The work done in our hangars through the years has touched many corners of the world. It is a testimony to the sovereign God we serve, whose name is to be praised “from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same” (Psalms 113:3). I am also thankful for the way He brings together all kinds of people to make it happen. Every worker in MMS’s hangars is here because of a network of support: prayer, friendship, financial gifts, and fellowship. We work together for His glory. Thank you for your part.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)
1 Comment
Thank you for this insightful quick tour through the hanger! I was rivoted by this riveting account of rivets for the Lord!