A Glimpse of the Future

Yesterday afternoon a new airplane landed at the Coshocton County Airport and taxied up in front of the MMS Aviation hangar. It is the first production Kodiak manufactured by the Quest Aircraft Company and is on a nationwide tour. Quest Aircraft announced FAA certification of the Kodiak just over a year ago.

I learned a few months ago Coshocton was to be one of the stops on the tour and earlier this week I alerted our local newspaper, the Coshocton Tribune, about the Kodiak's visit and a reporter and photographer were here yesterday to let the community know about it.

The local radio station sent an announcer so everyone listening could "see" the plane on their radios. She interviewed the Kodiak pilots and me as well as reading the four o-clock news from our hangar with airplane noise and everything in the background. That was interesting.

Kodiak serial number 0001 is owned and operated by the Spokane Turbine Center which has been established to provide flight training in the Kodiak for the mission aviation community. The Center will also train mission aviation personnel in the proper maintenance of turbo-prop engines and the planes in which they are installed.

The plane left at one o-clock today for its next stop. Many people from the Coshocton community visited to see the Kodiak and walk through the MMS facility to see what we're doing.

Here I am with the Kodiak crew. The fellow to my left is the Executive Director of the Spokane Turbine Center. - Dwight

Brian and Tricia

It is always a joy to see our graduates from the apprenticeship training here at MMS go in to full time ministry. In addition we are thrilled when they return on a furlough and give us a report on the ministry that God has called them into. And yesterday was no exception.

Brian and Tricia Pottinger have been in the area this week and we have been able to hear of their work with Mission Aviaition Fellowship (MAF) in Papua New Guina. After a noon potluck we heard a report and were shown pictures on the MAF work there in Papua where Brian is a pilot. Brian and Tricia are pictured above, the first in line at the potluck, with their daughters, Taylor and Tessa.

Stephanie's Birthday

Friday was our daughter-in-law, Stephanie's Birthday. Sunday afternoon we made the drive down to Columbus, where Scott and Stephanie live, for a delayed Birthday celebration. Our odometer read 84 miles to their apartment. Our daughter Jen, and our grandchildren, Chanelle and Javin came along to help us celebrate.

By the way, the family member on Stephanie's lap is Bailey, the Chiweenie. Any guesses as to what 2 breeds make a Chiweenie?

Lindsay and Jason

Please pray for our pastor and his wife, Chris and Kathy Cutshall. The fourth anniversary of the murder of their daughter Lindsay and her fiance, Jason, is coming up. The news media is beginning to pick up on this again and are asking for interviews. It happens each year and it is not easy for them. Here is the link to our local paper. http://coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/NEWS01/807190304

Restoring Flight

Yesterday was a normal day at the MMS office until Dwight came through my work area during "break time", and informed me that Mike was feeding a Humming Bird. Curiosity got the better of me and needing a break from stuffing envelopes, I followed Dwight outside to see how this was possible.

There I found some curious mechanics gathered around Mike Dunkley who had a small feeder in one hand and a Humming Bird perched on the other. Now before you think that Mike is the ultimate bird tamer, you need to know that this cute little bird was rescued (almost dead) out of the hangar and was too weak to fly. We watched in fascination as it slowly regained its strength and eventually flew away. At MMS, we are accustomed to restoring airplanes to flight, but I believe this is the first time we have restored a bird to fly!!!!

Apple Pie

Our apple tree (Yellow Transparent Apples) is loaded and almost ready to harvest. However, a rain storm knocked many to the ground and the grandkids helped me pick up some of the good ones.

This made Dwight really hungry for apple pie when he saw the bag of apples in the kitchen. So, last night after running errands we made pie. Or rather, Dwight made the pie and I made the crust. Yum. Great job Dwight.

On another thought, I just discovered a couple of days ago that Dwight was quoted in the July issue of World Magazine.

40 Years ago today

When you hear "A&P" you might think of a great grocery store chain of yesteryear. Anyone around aviation understands it refers to an aircraft mechanic. "A&P" is verbal shorthand for a mechanic holding an FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings.

Forty years ago today I became an A&P. Today is Shawn Bupp's first day as an A&P.

In my career I added an FAA Inspection Authorization and in 1991 the FAA designated me a mechanic examiner. In the FAA's acronym ridden system, I'm refered to as a DME. A DME administers a mechanic applicant's oral and practical exam.

Shawn is the 150th exam I've administered, and he demonstrated that MMS Aviation meets its goal of quality training for mechanics going into mission aviation. (As a DME I examine mechanic applicants from a variety of experience backgrounds. MMS apprentices and other missionary aircraft mechanics account for 47 of the exams I've done.) Congratulations, Shawn.