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Floating hangar – Kalimantan, Indonesia

By on June 24, 2009 in MAF

Boats float. Some specially-equipped cars float. Some planes float. But what about an airplane hangar? You wouldn’t think it could float, but Mission Aviation Fellowship now has one that does.

hangar kali 300x225 Floating hangar Kalimantan, Indonesia

Nearly complete - kalimantan floating hangar

MAF Program Manager in Kalimantan, Indonesia David Holsten says, “An engineer from Holland helped us design a floating hangar. It is comprised of Styrofoam encased in cement — about 350 tons of cement.” And it floats!

MAF had been using small docks to aid in their work. However, Holsten says it’s not easy to maintain an airplane on a dock. “If we drop a tool, it goes right to the bottom of the river. We’re out in the sun, and in a tropical area, that’s fatiguing. With this full-size hangar, we’ll be able to lift our planes out of the water and maneuver them inside the hangar, allowing us to do inspections on the plane and make needed repairs.”

Holsten says this isn’t any old project. “To my knowledge, this is the first time we’ve had a system like this. So it’s created a lot of interest from other programs, as well as local Indonesians. They really couldn’t believe a building made of cement could really float.”

This new facility will also help medical patients. Instead of having to carry them on a stretcher for 200 yards upon arrival, ambulances will be able to pull right up to the aircraft.

The new project also gives MAF a unique opportunity in the community. Holsten says, “This new hangar has created interest from the community. Residents ask, ‘What are you doing?’ And our guys are able to tell them. So it has opened doors for witness and ministry.”

Even before the hangar was operational, it was having an impact. “While working on this project, one of the workers became a believer,” Holsten says.

Once the nearly $300,000 project is completed by the first part of the summer, it will enable MAF to be even more effective in its ministry and better stewards of the resources God has given them.

Pray that God will provide even more opportunities to share the Gospel.

Mission Network News

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Oshkosh Air Show features MAF Kodiak

By on June 17, 2009 in MAF

MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) will be telling its story to the world at 2009 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh, the largest show for general aviation enthusiasts in the world, which will take place here July 27-Aug. 2.

The Oshkosh air show, which was founded in 1953, has long been a “must attend” event in the world of aviation. It is where general aviation companies introduce new products, and where exciting and experimental innovations – such as exotic flying cars, jet packs and the newest satellite navigation screens – are often unveiled to the public. The event, attended by hundreds of thousands of people, includes acres of displays and a steady stream of flyovers by both the latest home-built aircraft and lovingly restored vintage planes. Each day includes aerobatic air shows featuring top aerobatic acts.
This year AirVenture will be spotlighting missionary aviation as part of the “public-benefit” aviation activities. A weeklong “Fly4Life” program (www.fly4life.org) features MAF and other members of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) (www.iamanet.org), as well as non-faith-based groups that are part of the Air Care Alliance (www.aircareall.org).
Front and center, right on AeroShell square, the focal point of the air show, will be the new MAF KODIAK aircraft. The Piper PA-14, a replica of the plane flown by martyred MAF aviation pioneer Nate Saint and used in the filming of the movie “End of the Spear,” will be nestled under the wing of the KODIAK – one representing MAF’s past and the other an exciting future for the ministry.
The MAF tent display, located at spaces 151 and 152, will include a Cessna 185 that was used by MAF in Indonesia and is now being used as a training aircraft by Moody Aviation. The plane will be set in a village scene with murals and a “movie screen” consisting of a white sheet on which MAF will show “All Over the World,” a 30-minute film featuring the ministry’s work in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
In addition, the MAF staff manning the tent will conduct daily drawings, distribute literature and engage in other activities that will help tell the story of MAF and of mission aviation to this large and responsive audience.
“People attend AirVenture because they are passionate about aviation,” said John Boyd, president and chief executive officer of MAF. “But some of them are also passionate about Christ and the Gospel. When we tell the story of mission aviation to them, we often find that’s all it takes to turn them into passionate friends and supporters of MAF. So being at Oshkosh is a wonderful opportunity for us.”
Boyd said that while in Oshkosh, MAF staff will be conducting seminars, speaking in local churches and meeting with friends and supporters in the area.

The Oshkosh air show, which was founded in 1953, has long been a “must attend” event in the world Oshkosh Air Show features MAF Kodiak of aviation. It is where general aviation companies introduce new products, and where exciting and experimental innovations – such as exotic flying cars, jet packs and the newest satellite navigation screens – are often unveiled to the public. The event, attended by hundreds of thousands of people, includes acres of displays and a steady stream of flyovers by both the latest home-built aircraft and lovingly restored vintage planes. Each day includes aerobatic air shows featuring top aerobatic acts.

This year AirVenture will be spotlighting missionary aviation as part of the “public-benefit” aviation activities. A weeklong “Fly4Life” program (www.fly4life.org) features MAF and other members of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) (www.iamanet.org), as well as non-faith-based groups that are part of the Air Care Alliance (www.aircareall.org).

Front and center, right on AeroShell square, the focal point of the air show, will be the new MAF KODIAK aircraft. The Piper PA-14, a replica of the plane flown by martyred MAF aviation pioneer Nate Saint and used in the filming of the movie “End of the Spear,” will be nestled under the wing of the KODIAK – one representing MAF’s past and the other an exciting future for the ministry.

The MAF tent display, located at spaces 151 and 152, will include a Cessna 185 that was used by MAF in Indonesia and is now being used as a training aircraft by Moody Aviation. The plane will be set in a village scene with murals and a “movie screen” consisting of a white sheet on which MAF will show “All Over the World,” a 30-minute film featuring the ministry’s work in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

In addition, the MAF staff manning the tent will conduct daily drawings, distribute literature and engage in other activities that will help tell the story of MAF and of mission aviation to this large and responsive audience.

“People attend AirVenture because they are passionate about aviation,” said John Boyd, president and chief executive officer of MAF. “But some of them are also passionate about Christ and the Gospel. When we tell the story of mission aviation to them, we often find that’s all it takes to turn them into passionate friends and supporters of MAF. So being at Oshkosh is a wonderful opportunity for us.”

Boyd said that while in Oshkosh, MAF staff will be conducting seminars, speaking in local churches and meeting with friends and supporters in the area.

via www.maf.org

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Stolen Rain – Sudan

By on June 5, 2009 in MAF

Stolen Rain SudanAn Africa Inland Mission (AIM) team accused of ‘stealing the rain’ was rapidly evacuated by MAF from Napep, Sudan, following threat of death.

The Training In Ministry Outreach team (TIMO) returned from holiday to learn that it had not rained in the area near MurKuzhen, ‘Tall Mountain’, since they had left – a total of 19 days. The community east of the mountain decided that the white people had put the rain on a plane and flown it back to America.

The TIMO team were first alerted to the judgement at the end of one of their clinics. Singing and horns resounded in the air as fifty to a hundred people entered the compound singing and waving leaves. David, the team leader, was called out to talk to them.   The rest of the team prayed for grace and wisdom while David and two team members were forced to go to the elders for a trial.

At the trial, the elders of the villages accused:

“You took the rain on a plane . This is your fault. We will decide what to do with you.”

David received the verdict: bring two bulls the next day for sacrifice. If not he would die. The elder’s decision was final, despite David advising he did not own one bull, let alone two.

The team had no choice. In the middle of the night, leaving most of their possessions behind, they began a 6.5 hour trek to the airstrip (a walk that usually takes about 3.5 hours). They didn’t dare to use torches in case it alerted people to their sudden exit. MAF rearranged the flight schedule in order to collect the team and fly them to safety.

We don’t know what the spiritual battle will bring next, although we know that the community has threatened to curse us, amongst other things. We also know that it will take a miracle for us to be able to return, but we know that God is bigger than all of it.Deborah, one of the TIMO team

Late June, Phil Byler, AIM country director, flew back to Napep to speak to the elders about the incident. Ironically, it rained very heavily- so heavily it took three attempts for the pilot to land the plane. The meeting went fairly well, though its anticipated that more meetings will be required before the team returns.

Africa Inland Mission seek to spread the word of God in unreached areas. Their work includes: youth ministry, medical care, community development, community health, leadership development, aviation and support services.

AIM founded the two year TIMO programme in the mid 1980s. Its purpose is to train future missionaries in areas of cross cultural ministry. Their ultimate goal is to develop a working and ministering church. Twenty two-year teams have been trained so far. They operate in over thirteen areas in six African countries.

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Turbo Charged GA8 for Papua New Guinea

By on May 23, 2009 in MAF

Delivery of a new GA8 turbo-charged Airvan to MAF in Papua New Guinea adds much-needed power for highlands flying.  MAF’s first turbo-charged GA8 Airvan was flown to Papua New Guinea in April to work with remote communities across the highlands.

Turbo Charged GA8 for Papua New Guinea

GA8 Turbo with pilot Nick Swalm in PNG

The brand new 8-seat aircraft left Mareeba bound for PNG on April 21 following a ferry flight up from Victoria. MAF took delivery of the plane in February but the actual handover was delayed by certification approvals and modifications.

By all outward appearances, the turbo-charged (TC) Airvan is identical to its normally aspirated cousins, 11 of which are currently operating with MAF in the PNG lowlands, Arnhem Land, Cambodia and East Timor.

The big – or little – difference only becomes apparent when the engine cowling is removed to reveal the addition of a TC converter about the size of a 2-litre soft drink bottle tucked away neatly and almost out of sight. But big things can often be achieved by small objects. That small device will allow PNG pilots to soar with ease over mountain ranges and greatly reduce flight times between highlands airstrips. It will give them additional power for rapid climbing through breaks in the cloud.

Aviation Resources Manager, Stephen Charlesworth, explains that it is all about the ability of the TC Airvan to convert or compress – via the turbo-charger – the thinner air taken into the engine at altitude.  ”To date, (non-TC) Airvans have been particularly useful in the lowlands of PNG, Indonesia, Cambodia and East Timor where MAF has a number of Airvans operating,” he said.

turboairvan Turbo Charged GA8 for Papua New Guinea

GA8 Turbo Airvan in flight, PNG Highlands

“But they have been less successful in the PNG highlands. As you go higher, air pressure reduces and the air is less dense. Therefore, the higher the altitude, the less power becomes available to a normally aspirated aircraft. There is less energy for the engine to burn. ”The turbo-charger or compressor overcomes that problem by compressing the air prior to it entering the engine enabling more power for greater rates of climb. As a result, the aircraft is better able to move from valley to valley in the PNG highlands.”

Mr Charlesworth said the new Airvan would readily climb to heights of 10,000 feet and above, had a greater load-carrying capacity than the Cessna 206 and required less maintenance. The Airvan GA8-TC 320 is powered by a Lycoming turbo-charged fuel injection engine turning a Hartzell three-blade propeller.

Worldwide, 135 of the Victorian-manufactured Airvans are flying in 32 countries. MAF has the second largest fleet of Airvans after the USAF Civil Air Patrol.

MAF Australia – www.maf.org.au

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MAF Beats a Drum in East Timor

By on May 23, 2009 in MAF

MAF has joined forces in East Timor with an agency set up to provide rodent-proof grain storage facilities for farm families.

Most East Timorese farmers grow subsistence food crops and rely almost entirely on them to meet daily food needs. The main staple of corn is grown on small, single-hectare farm plots and eaten twice a day. Weeding is carried out using manual labour.

With low yields from such small plots, farmers struggle to provide enough food for their families from one harvest to the next.
MAF Beats a Drum in East TimorAnd making matters far worse is the likelihood of a 30 percent reduction in the harvest due to loss and damage caused by rats and weevils. With one crop and one harvest per year, the challenge is there for farmers to protect harvested grain for up to 12 months.

Hanging bunches of corn cobs in trees may protect them from rats but not weevils and so the losses continue and the hunger persists.

Research has shown that the solution – storage in sealed containers – though simple, has been largely unavailable to farmers in East Timor because they could not afford to buy adequate containers.

So, MAF to the rescue! On hearing of the need, MAF has embarked on a program with Drums on Farm Timor (DOFT) to provide 100 used fuel drums per year. After a thorough cleaning by DOFT, each drum is sold and delivered at an affordable price to farmers. It costs about $40 to collect, clean and deliver each drum. A family that can obtain five drums will have more than enough to meet their needs and provide a surplus.

Good quality drums with bungs are rodent-proof and airtight. Rats cannot access grain in sealed containers and weevils cannot live or reproduce without oxygen.”To operate our aircraft in East Timor, MAF needs to import fuel from Australia in good quality 200-litre steel drums,” notes Program Manager Brad Sinclair.

“By donating our empty fuel drums to Drums on Farm Timor to support the improvement of food security for farmers and their families, MAF has found another way of using resources entrusted to us to help the people of East Timor.

“The farmers work hard for their grain, and I’ve enjoyed visiting them and seeing the drums given such a simple but beneficial second life.”

MAF Australia – www.maf.org.au

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