400MF completed

I got to ride along on one of the test flights for the new engine. I was very impressed with the amount of teamwork and coordination that it takes for a pilot and co-pilot to get one of these off of the ground.
Today 400MF is back in service carrying desperately needed cargo down to Haiti.

Today we finished up some sheet metal repairs on 300MF and will begin changing the cylinders on a Piper Aztec that was heading to Haiti to aid missionaries. The pilot on his way down from Canada noticed his plane was going thru a large amount of oil and he determined that the cylinders needed changed. We'll pull them off today and reinstall new ones tomorrow. We were going to be heading home this week but another need (other than the Aztec) has come due. 200MF the turbine DC-3 is due for a 150 hour inspection and injector nozzle inspection and cleaning. We'll be starting that on Sunday and hopefully completing it on Monday and soon after be heading home. Kristi and the kids are doing well and have been well cared for by friends in the area. Please continue to pray for them. Thanks, Josh

Catching up

DAY 5

This C-130 was filled and readied for a trip to Haiti with 45,000lbs of cargo


Nate and I torque the nut holding the prop on. It was my job to push the prop and pick up Nate. Nate's weight at an arm of 4ft 6in equalled the proper torque of 720 ft/lbs.


On Sunday we installed the engine to the airframe and the prop to the engine.

Day4

Saturday we transferred all the hoses, wires, clamps and accessories from the old engine to the new (far).

Day 3

Friday we removed the engine and prop.

Day 2

Ian and Chuck disassembling the engine



I thought I'd be able to finish my repair on 300MF today but I never really got around to it. I started the day helping to finish installing a new tire on the other caravan and helping to load it. Next we started installing the exhaust, carb, cowl flaps and other engine accessories on the new engine trying to get it ready. When 400MF showed up in the evening we drained the oil, removed the prop, cowls and started disconnecting the fuel, oil and hydraulic lines in preparation of removing the engine tomorrow.

It was announced yesterday that MFI has flown 500,000lbs of supplies and 1300 Dr's and RN's into Haiti for relief work. Josh


Nate loading is plane fo a trip to Haiti

Day 1

Our first day in the hangar started at around 9:30am. I began working on some corrosion and sheet metal repairs that needed to be made on 300MF. A little history on 300MF is MMS did the original paint job about 10 years ago and based on its records it was station in England during WWII and might have been part of the invasion force. I spent the majority of the day fabricating a replacement skin and installing it. I will start day 2 by finish riviting it in and painting the repair.



We were getting ready to leave around 9:00pm when Nate a pilot returned from his trip to Haiti and told us that his Caravan need both main tires changed. After trying to find all the needed tools and jacks we got the tires changed and helped to load it with the cargo it will be delivering tomarrow.

By the time we left it was 12:30am and everyone was tired and ready for bed.

Thanks for your prayers, Josh

If you have time to spare, go by air...

MMS has approved a rapid response trip to assist MFI with an engine exchange and somesheet metal repairs. MFI has been and still is on the front line of the Haiti relief efforts. I was picked to go on this trip and we have been trying to work out the details since. We tried to go on Sat, Sun & Mon by air but weather has kept us back. The new plan is to leave tomarrow by car. Please check back for updates and photos on the progress of our repairs at MFI.

Missionary Flights International

On a home note Febuary is maple syrup month and we are trying to get ready for it. Our plans are to put out 50+ taps with the hope of getting 400+ gallons of sap which should boil down to 10+ gallons of finished syrup. In the picture you can see Noah and I were working together on fabricating our stainless steel evaperator pan. It is 2'x6'x4" and should be able to handle the work load of 300 taps if we ever expand that much.