Pieces and Parts

One thing we are able to do at MMS is fabricate a part when the item is no long available. This may be the case if the airplane is older or there just is not a market for the item needed.  Occasionally we can fabricate a part because the item is extremely expensive, thus saving the ministry we are serving the high replacement cost. (FAA regulations make allowances for this.)  The video below shows one item that was fabricated, saving a ministry $400.

Ladies Brunch

On Saturday, Jen's church hosted an All Daughters Brunch.  We enjoyed a lovely meal, planned and prepared by the men in the church.

The wonderful men who planned it all. Thank you guys

Our family ladies: Me, Chanelle, Jen, Sandy (Jen's sister-in-law) and Sharon, (Jen's mother-in-law)

We also enjoyed a ladies trio. Click on this link to Second Wind

Quick Trip

Last weekend Jen, and I (Rena) made a quick trip out to Pennsylvania to see my folks. (Nana and Poppy to the great grandkids.) As you can see, we certainly enjoyed our two day visit and our time went very fast.

Javin, Poppy and Chanelle played a rousing game of Uno Attack.

Jen and her Grandma

Mae, Bill and Rena with Javin in front

Mae and Bill with Javin and Chanelle. The first generation and the fourth generation.

MMS Featured on Local TV

This is an older video taken in August of 2008, but we recentlly discovered it on YouTube. It is a local TV program doing a special feature on MMS. Hope you enjoy it.

Spring has Sprung

According to experts on the news, the blossoms on the trees this spring are extra abundant because of the harsh winter we had. Our Bradford Pear tree is no exception and we're enjoying the beauty. I like to think this is God's gift to us after the hardship of winter. Consequently, I know why my (Rena) allergies are more severe this time.

Spring also brings an abundance of weddings and bridal showers. I had fun on Friday at a bridal shower for Esther J. who will marry Andy P. from MMS. Esther is in the center of the picture wearing a compulsory pink feather boa. The rest of us had to wear novel headgear to join in the silliness. None of us knew what the head decorations were called. Do you know?

Saturday afternoon, after Dwight completed his PT6 engine course, we attended a wedding of a young couple from our church. It has been a busy week.

Back to School

I'm back in the full learning mode and really enjoying it. For quite a few years MMS Aviation has sent staff and apprentice mechanics to training schools for Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6A turboprop engine series. When Bob (MMS' Training Manager) asked if I'd like to take advantage of a PT6A maintenance course here at our facility, I said, "Yes".

Several boxes containing a PT6 engine, tools, and various training aids needed for the course were shipped to MMS last week. Classes began Monday morning and there are ten students. We have about four hours of classroom time and three and a half hours in the shop each day practicing what we learned in class. The course will be completed Saturday.

MMS contracted with StandardAero for the training. StandardAero is the world's largest independent small gas turbine engine and accessory repair and overhaul facility. The instructor has many years of experience conducting PT6A (and other engines) training courses in a number of countries.

For some context to all this, the airplane pictured above is a Beechcraft King Air 200 and is powered by PT6A engines. This one is operated by Gospel Carrier International and is maintained by MMS. In this picture the left engine is getting a compressor wash with de-mineralized water because dirty compressors degrade engine performance. (I knew that already, but have learned more about the process this week.)