More on the Cessna 172 for Brigade Air

MMS staff member, Keith Dodson, put together the following video which shows the dedicated work behind getting this airplane ready for Brigade Air. Thank you Keith.

Three Busy Weeks

After the IAMA Conference on our way back to Ohio, we stopped in Bowling Green, Kentucky to spend a week with Mom.  During the week we had great visits with my sister, my three brothers and sisters-in-law.  One of those days Mom, Rena and I drove to the small rural community where Mom and Dad farmed and visited the cemetery.  In addition to the visit, Mom wanted to see if the grass was growing she and Marvin (my older brother) sowed.  It was.

Mom and I at Dad's grave. 

Rena and I helped with various chores through the week.  As I was clearing grass and weeds from Mom's day lilies, I disturbed a rabbit's nest.  Three tiny bunnies bolted from the safe spot where their mother left them.  It must have been a traumatic day for the rabbit family.

Rena rescues a rabbit refugee.

We drove back to Coshocton on Memorial Day and got right into our normal routines.  There's a great team at MMS Aviation so my biggest challenge upon returning to my office was to go through a big stack of mail.  Fortunately, a lot of it was junk mail and it doesn't take long to deal with that stuff.

The fellows are finishing the restoration of a Cessna 172 that was donated to Brigade Air.  Two days ago the MMS family joined Brigade Air's Director, two Board Members, and two guests in Hangar A to dedicate the plane.  It will be used to inspire teens toward missions through weeklong aviation summer camps.

Brigade Air's Board Chairman, Ron Wyrtzen, and Director, Bruce Wolff, join me for a Kodak moment.

The newly dedicated Cessna 172

More Texas

Sessions continued today at IAMA until noon.



John Egler from Mission Safety International shares an accident report




Al Meehan of Wycliffe/JAARS simulates a hostage taking situation in a Muslim country with tips on what to do or not do. Also tips to avoid danger.



The group went out to eat at a restaurant in Kilgore.  Many of the derricks are still there.



A quick stop in Texarkana as we straddle the state line



We are in Texas

Rena and I are in Longview, Texas at the 40th annual conference of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA).  Each year IAMA schedules two and a half days of meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest to organizations that make up the mission aviation community.

LeTourneau University is host this year and we meet in the Abbot Aviation Center of the University's School of Aeronautical Science at the Gregg County airport.

In 1966 through 1968 I was a LeTourneau College student and completed the Aviation Technician Course.  One of my aviation instructors was Mr. J.C. Harder who taught hydraulics, sheet metal structures, and wood, dope and fabric.  He was also a flight instructor and taught me to fly.  J.C. has been at the IAMA meetings and it is a real treat to spend some time with him.

J.C. Harder and me

One more story:  J.C. played the trumpet and had a lot of nice trumpet duet arrangements of hymns.  He would choose a trumpet-playing student to join him and do trumpet duets in churches around the Longview area.  I was one of his trumpet duet partners during my time as a student.  (You can understand why it is special to see him again.)

Attack Robin

If you come to our house, the back door is best these days. It appears we have a very protective Robin who has taken up residence! There is no doubt that Spring is here.

The Project is Finished