My F Box

What time is it?  I landed in here in Anchorage about an hour ago and I could not help but notice how nicely the sunset contrasts with all the green.  The excitement has not dissipated.  I had two people this weekend ask me if I have a new girlfriend (well kind of in those terms) and then I explained, "Nope, just going to Alaska to do some really sweet flying with some really great people."  So apparently the excitement is just coming right out of my pores.

I just read an email explaining the local temp pilot cannot fly tomorrow...errr...today ...Monday so I am going to be hitting the ground flying.  I will fly out of Bethel, do a checkout for the local area (which is funny because the local area is western Alaska) and perhaps pick up some kids in just a few short hours.  Thankfully Starbucks knew I was coming so they are getting some go juice ready for me.  

Actually, I have not ordered any yet, but it will come as soon as I get some zzz on this bench.  I wish the sun would stop looking at me though.  This situation is such a good reminder of why it is always good to consider the IM SAFE checklist.  You know that checklist for flight physiological factors that is taught to private pilots?  When I write I like to talk to everyone not just pilots so to explain.  The plane is looked over thoroughly before each flight which is called a preflight.  Just like an airplane, pilots need to make sure they are in good condition for flight as well. 

I llness  

M edication 

S tress 

A lcohol 

F atigue 

E motion 

With that being said I have an appointment with this bench.

I will start taking pictures tomorrow.  As for this morning you will have to settle for this one of Kako in the Fall.

Off to the land of guns, airplanes, atvs and wild animals

Last Tuesday I was absolutely blessed with an opportunity to go up to Kako, AK and help out at the Kako Retreat Center for two months.  My primary duty will include flying the kids in and out of the camp.  After talking with my friend last night it looks like I will have a few other duties which I am sure will be talked about in some of my future postings...so stay tuned.

Kako is a little place in the middle of Western Alaska that used to be the home of a little gold mining.  There is still some gold around so I hope to get some before I come back.  Its like the fools gold I used to get going to Camp Tadmor only this stuff real.  Nice.

I will be leaving this weekend and getting into Bethel, AK Monday morning where I will be picked up for my final leg into the camp.  The plan is to come back on the 22nd of July in time to fly over to Oshkosh, WI for some kind of fly-in.  Never heard of it, but I guess its kind of a big deal ;)  

Please pray for the salvation of the kids who come to camp, safety of flight, wisdom as I fly, and protection from everything that Alaska can throw at me.  I cannot remember the last time I was this excited about something.  The flying, the guns, the wild animals, the people, and just everything this opportunity offers...pretty ridiculous.  I look forward to improving my skills as a pilot in the area of pilotage navigation and just professionalism of operating a plane as opposed to just flying it.  The pilot who I am replacing use to fly for MAF so I have some nice size shoes to fill. 

This picture is from my friend Brandon who went there two years ago.  It is absolutely amazing! I stand in awe.  

At this point I am not sure what the internet situation is like there, but I will do my best to put up pictures and stories to document this mini adventure.

Front Cover.

Kind of old news, but I wanted to put this up just for the record.  The Servant Wings 206 which was a former MAF plane that I have mentioned before made the cover of Cessna Pilot's Association magazine for this month.  Pretty good pub for a young non-profit.  Decent pilot flying too ;)

 

What a weekend...actually week.

Where do I start?  Just like every time I get on here I am about to throw up thoughts onto paper. I had what was pretty much the best job ever at the beginning of the week for where I am at in life right now. Increasing my skill as a mechanic while being surrounded by people who constantly made me smile.  I have nothing but good things to say about that shop even though I was let go on Wednesday.  I guess I was initially down about it, but considering where the Lord has brought me it's hardly a big deal.  I am still not sure how I was being paid to be there.  However, I could feel my mind start to get comfortable enough to start thinking about all the things I would like to have vs. what I really need.  I hate money.  It is necessary for life, but such a distraction.  I guess that is one of the many reasons I enjoy the thought of missionary work.  Always having the mindset that God will provide even though it looks like it won't work under human logic.  

One of the things I would like to make note of is that I am very appreciative of everyone reading this thing even though I am hardly a "regular" blogger.  While hanging out around the Kodiak it was pretty awesome to have people I know and those I have never met tell me that they read this.  So thanks.  Hopefully, I will be a little more faithful with the story telling of what is current in my life, because lately it just seems so crazy that all I can do is throw up my arms and say its all you Lord.

This weekend was a very special time for Mission Aviation Fellowship as they came to thank New Heights Church for their support in donating a Quest Kodiak that will help provide physical and spiritual life for people many years to come.  It has been a long road to get it certified and dialed in to the point it is ready for the field.  

After doing a little maintenance on the Servant Wings 172 and a little run down around the waterfront Kodiak #11 landed at Pearson ready for a quick run to Hillsboro for fuel.

To my surprise I was able to get a ride which was pretty sweet.  I think that will be the last time sitting in the back seat (not flying) I will be as excited as I was.  Can you see it in my eyes?

This morning I took a call that was pretty hard. The call of a fellow friend and pilot who went to be with the Lord after getting into an airplane.  I am not sure even what to say about it because I know so little at this point. I do rejoice that he is in a better place, however it is a good reminder of how quick and fragile life is.  I have Pandora Radio on and Chris Rice is singing "Fly to Jesus."  Good stuff.

Well, I guess that is all for now.  Although it has been a pretty sobering day I have enjoyed the fellowship with everyone at the dedication picnic.  Good to see some peeps from church come and support.  I am always so impressed with the people from the family I will join soon.  I am so thankful for the opportunities that have been put before me.  I love the sun, and God is good. Peace.

Oh I have a streak of plane shadow pics so here is a good one of the Kodiak turning base over Hwy 14 for Rwy 26.

Besides the sound of the of the PT-6 spinning up, one of my top favorite things on this bird.

One more...this is Portland, but I am not sure if you can see it with those gigantic flap tracks in the way.

The Chance of a Lifetime

So as I have been slowly clearing out my old computer and going over to the laptop I have ran across some different pictures, college papers, and just randomness.  Here is a draft that was eventually submitted to Leader magazine while I was going through the Air Force program at USC.  Aww...college.  Looking back it seems like a dream.  Enjoy.

Many boys dream about being a fighter pilot one day or even getting a chance to go for a ride in an aircraft of such great performance.  On the seventh and eighth of November 2002, six AF ROTC cadets from USC had the opportunity to live out this dream.

The first day consisted of egress training for those who were first to go up.  This showed us how to exit an F-16 safely in the event of an emergency on the ground or in the air.  We sat in a cockpit where the canopy came down and smoke was simulated to give the real effect of being in a burning plane.  Between the chair, parachute, and survival gear, there is a lot of equipment to strap on when in the F-16.  It is hard enough to jump out of a jet as it is, but if it is burning and you don’t know where to unlatch or detach, it could mean death.  Along with the egress training was some instruction on what to do if we did need to use our parachute.  We were strapped in to a hanging parachute and given a couple different scenarios for what kind of terrain we were about to land on.  In the same room we were told what type of survival equipment we had and how to use it.  Finally we had a short brief on what type of critters to avoid if we found ourselves in the Arizona desert.

There was enough free time to allow us to pick the pilots’ brains with questions on what life as a fighter pilot was like.  They really seemed to enjoy sharing with us, which we all agreed was a highlight of the trip.  One 1^st First Lieutenant went the extra mile in setting up some simulator time before we actually went up for the real thing.  The simulator consisted of to scale size cockpit with all instruments simulating what we were about to see as the real thing.  We were able to feel and get used to the quarter inch movement in the fly by wire stick, which helped a lot by the time we had to take the controls for real.  It seemed to be a lot more sensitive than what most of us expected.  The lieutenant had us take off and then gave us various targets to shoot at.  After about twenty minutes, we were given the opportunity to land using all of the instruments, which we were a little more familiar with by that time  

Before the day of the flight we were all fitted for G-suits, helmets, masks, gloves, and given at least three motion sickness bags.  The fitting of the G-suits was a longer process than most of us expected.  Snaps, laces and zippers made a custom fit of them and we were soon to find out that the process was worth the time.  The process could be compared to that of a woman with a corset in the early twentieth century - very tight fitting.  The fitting process allowed us to talk with all of the pilots who came into the locker room. 

Finally, one of the last steps to qualify us to fly was to get checked out by the Flight Doc.  This consisted of a short briefing on the “G-strain” and what kinds of things to do before take off; get plenty of sleep, eat light foods, no caffeine, and a few other tips.  We were given physicals and were out the door with our paperwork in hand, ready to fly.

Whether we flew on Thursday or Friday we were all ready when it came time to take our seat in the F-16D.  Going into the locker room and seeing my name on the locker and finding all of the customized equipment fitted to my specifications, I felt like I was a part of the 61^st Fighter Squadron for a day.  As I strapped and clipped things on I couldn’t help but think how everything I was putting on was not for comfort, but to keep me alive.  It came time to head for the flight line so I followed the Instructor Pilot and the student out to the van.  The next thing I know I am strapped in to the jet with 29,000 lbs of thrust behind me, brakes on, throttle at full military power, and adrenaline pumping.  After a few more checks on all the systems we were off the ground in formation, quickly moving to a tactical formation, side by side.  Twenty feet wingtip to wingtip!  I have ridden shotgun in a KC-10 with a boom operator where planes get close going relatively fast, but this was definitely a bit different.   

Although each flight was unique, thankfully they all had one thing in common - not a single cadet threw up.  Overall, the trip was a major success and helped keep a freshman cadet  motivated for his ensuing years at Detachment 060.  “After this amazing experience, I would say I am definitely “retained” not only because of the great flight, but the great people I have met.”  A senior cadet was also very impressed by the event, “The Luke AFB visit was my most valuable and interesting event that I will take away from ROTC.”  All of the cadets who participated agree that  it was a highly motivating experience -  the chance of a lifetime.

Left Magneto Breaker Points

As mentioned previously there was an intermittent problem with the left magneto on the 206 which ended up being a nice little project for me while it was down for its annual inspection.  Upon taking the left magneto apart it was clear what the problem was.  The capacitor appeared to have been faulty at one point creating some pitting on the breaker points.  The points were not being allowed to separate from each other allowing the voltage in the primary circuit to go to the secondary which is in turn where the spark is created at the plugs.  After trying one of my freshly produced business cards out on the points to remove what looked to be a grain of sand it was apparent we needed some new points.  I never would have thought this would have happened considering the low time on the engine, but it was yet another great learning experience with Servant Wings as I prepare to get out in the field.

Unlike at A&P school, now I had to re-time the magneto, and fly it away.  There is something pretty awesome about that which I am still trying to put my finger on.  I guess just in general the whole mechanic thing has really grown on me.  I have said it once and will more than likely say it again because of my previous relationship with a wrench and tools in general.  Speaking of tools I need to go clean some...

 

Clarification...

In the record of my adventure up to Everett a few weeks ago I stated that Kodiak #11 was in for paint.  What I meant to say was that it was Kodiak #10 which is not an MAF plane.  But you can still imagine the two planes talking to each other if you would like.  My brain just stops working when I get around Turbine Beavers, Kodiaks, etc.  Now that I think about it, it might have just been the paint I was inhaling.

On the topic of the first MAF Kodiak, my parents informed me last week that the first one is going to have "NH" as the last two letters on the tail signifying the church they attend here in Vancouver (New Heights).  Because the church played such a significant role in the purchase of the plane it will be here at Pearson Field for them to see before heading out to Idaho.  I might have to make the three mile ride for that.

  

So I hope this clarifies things for everyone.  Oh, and Kodiak 10 is going to Malaysia for some lucky bum just in case anyone wanted to know.