GroundCrew Issue - August 1997 - Page Two

MMS IN RAPID RESPONSE

There are many instances where airplanes in need of repair cannot realistically be shipped or flown to our Coshocton facility. That’s when we send MMS to the airplane in Rapid Response to critical mission need. Several such needs have been met by our apprentices and staff in the last three months.

In May, Dennis Davis and Chris Jutte traveled to Allison, Iowa for ten days and continued work on missionary Tom Needham’s Glastar kit-plane. This plane will soon be in service ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of the people of Cameroon, Africa. Dennis and Chris assembled the rudder pedals, installed the wings, and fabricated control surfaces.

Dale Coates and Mr. Han with the amphibious MAF-K 206

Also in May, Dale Coates spent two weeks in South Korea repairing MAF-Korea’s amphibious Cessna 206. Dale replaced the fuel pump, performed an annual inspection, and installed a service kit on the auxiliary fuel pump.

In June, Dan Moulton, dropped-in for a week’s work on Tom Needham’s Glastar. Dan installed flight control systems and helped rig the elevator control surfaces. An inspection of previous airframe work was also conducted.

July saw Dan on the road again, this time with Chuck Egbert and Mike Burch. They spent a month at Mission Aviation Fellowship headquarters in Redlands, California. MAF had a Cessna 206 in need of inspection and repair. This trip was extremely beneficial for both MAF and MMS as their airplane was once again airworthy and our apprentices received valuable hands-on experience with the 206 which is the backbone of missionary aviation.

PROJECTS IN THE HANGAR

Wingtip fuel tanks and a single piece windscreen arrived for the Baptist Mid-Missions Navion. Installation of these items will complete the project and allow the Navion to be taken to the Federated States of Micronesia. The Navion will transport missionaries and medical teams throughout the Truk Island cluster. Chris Jutte and Andy McCain are working on this project under the supervision of Dennis Satterthwaite.

Work continues on Mike Hines’ Helio Courier, Model 295. New skin has been applied to control surfaces, the airframe is jigged to assist Dennis Davis in the after-crash repair and re-welding process, and other structural repairs/modifications are underway on the airplane’s components.

Harvestfield Ministry’s Piper Aztec was in for an annual inspection. All “squawks” were worked off and all Airworthiness Directives (AD’s) were complied with.

Installation of a Horton STOL (Short Take Off and Land) kit, firewall replacement, airframe repairs, and engine rebuild have been completed on the Cessna 182. This 182 has provided many hours of “field experince” for Mike Burch, Chuck Egbert, and Andy McCain through its structural similarity to the Cessna 206. Darryl Gingerich supervised the project.

Michael Nisly, MMS graduate serving with Impact North in Canada, brought their Cessna 172 engine south. The engine was overhauled and tested at our facility with the help of M.L. Caldwell.

Chris Jutte secures a tip tank to the left wing of the Navion

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