GroundCrew Issue - April 2010 - Page Four

President's Pen - Dwight Jarboe

In the summer of 1984, a small crew of aircraft mechanics in Coshocton, Ohio took on a pretty ambitious project. Missionary Flights International had just obtained a military surplus DC-3 in need of preparation to fly missionaries and supplies to Haiti and other points around the Caribbean. That plane now carries the registration, N400MF, and is affectionately referred to as “four-hundred Mike Fox”.

As we began the DC-3 restoration, it was my first year as executive director of MMS Aviation and our production team consisted of two newly certificated A&P mechanics and three apprentice mechanics. In spite of this, we were not lacking in DC-3 maintenance experience. MMS mechanics had worked quite a bit on two other MFI DC-3s and I’d maintained a DC-3 for five years in Bolivia.

N400MF had been idle about seventeen years when MFI got it, but was sound enough for a ferry flight to Coshocton. The plane was leased from the military for a time by North Central Airlines and had been converted to a passenger configuration. This eliminated the large cargo doors and changed the cabin floor. Our work order included: put cargo doors and floor back in the airplane; thoroughly inspect and repair the plane as necessary; paint the plane; install an interior suitable for passengers and cargo; send the engines and propellers out for overhaul; put new fabric covering on the flight control surfaces; and, of course, put it all back together so everything works.

In addition to the physical work on the DC-3, the paperwork was an adventure all its own. Several smaller maintenance events were accomplished on other mission airplanes concurrent with the DC-3 work, and in March 1987, our work on N400MF was finished.

Sunday, April 12, 1987, a ceremony was held at the MMS hangar dedicating the airplane to mission service. It operated out of Palm Beach International airport before MFI moved to its present facility in Ft. Pierce, Florida. During Rapid Response Trips, MMS Aviation mechanics have maintained a close relationship with N400MF, performing major inspections and engine changes throughout its career with MFI.

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, N400MF and its stable mate N200MF have worked a lot of overtime. Their pilots and mechanics have too. It was our pleasure to help carry the MFI team’s workload and pin a newly overhauled engine on the right wing of an old friend.

Celebrating opportunities to serve,

Dwight Jarboe
President & CEO

Prayer and Praise

Praise God

... for the completion and return to service of the Cessna 206 for ministry in Honduras.

... for our direct involvement in the Haitian relief effort through sending a Rapid Response Team to assist Missionary Flights International.

... for the many ways God is changing lives in and through MMS Aviation.

Please Pray

... for the additional resources necessary to replace the roof on Hangar A and to purchase a fork-lift.

... for the rapid completion and return to service of the Brazilian 206.

... for the Swanson, Waddell, and Linkleter families who are scheduled for candidate evaluation this year.

Ready for its return to service after repairs by our Rapid Response Team, N400MF rests on the ramp utside MFI's main hangar.

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