Andy Swanson: MMS Apprentice Mechanic

Here's a video feature on one of our apprentice mechanics, Andy Swanson. Andy and his family are from Scotland and are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship United Kingdom. We have the privilege of preparing each MAF UK's "engineers" for service on the mission field. I hope you enjoy Andy's perspective of apprenticeship.

Video: Mike & Isobel Dunkley

It's hard to believe but the whole video production side of my job has grown from ZERO in 2008 to nearly 50% of my time in 2011. And my knowledge of digital video shooting/editing/producing has grown from zero in 2008 to whatever minimal level of funcionality that currently exists which allows me to glue some pixels together and post them online with a bit of music and/or narration included. I NEVER would have thought I'd be doing what I'm doing. But isn't that how it is when we surrender our souls to Christ?

It's so interesting to see how my role at MMS has changed since my arrival in Coshocton back in February of 1997. There'll be more on my changing role in our upcoming newsletter.

But the video adventure continues with the audio side attracting a bit more of my interest...

Audio challenges aside, here's a short video feature I put together for Mike & Isobel Dunkley. Mike and Isobel have served as staff with MMS since 2005.I hope you enjoy your introduction to the Dunkleys!

Video: The RTS Flight of the Gabon 207

Here's the video of the Gabon 207's Return To Service (RTS) flight:

The Gabon 207 Returns to Service!

After seven months of restoration and repair, Steve Straw, Air Calvary's pilot, lifted the 207 into the perfectly blue sky over Coshocton this afternoon for the aircraft's initial flight. After testing every aspect of the aircraft's performance, Steve brought the 207 back to our hangar, loaded the last of his gear, and flew the airplane to Pennsylvania to share it with several church congregations.

Prepared for departure

Fueling up

Off to Pennsylvania

Next week, Steve will bring the airplane back to MMS and drop it off as he returns to Gabon ahead of the 207. Another pilot will fly the 207 to Kansas to be fitted with long-range fuel tanks for its own flight back to Gabon, Africa in the near future.

Lord willing, I'll be able to put some video of the flight together late next week.

Thanks for all your prayers, gifts, emails, and encouragements over this project. It's always a joy to see a badly damaged aircraft return to service in an "as new" condition.