We have a new airplane! Sort of. N209KA is now 5y-SIL. We've had to re-register 2 of our aircraft to Kenya registry, and 9KA is the first to get through the process. The other, N756MS is undergoing a major overhaul, including complete repainting, new instrument panel, new HF radio, nearly a complete re-wiring, new fuel tanks, etc., etc.
Anyway, we received the registration certificate today for 5Y-SIL. The airplane joined AIM Air's fleet in the mid-80s when Denny Dyvig flew it from Sudan (as part of the evacuation from Sudan with the civil war there). Denny (and the airplane) are with JAARS, Jungle Aviation And Radio Service, the aviation branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Denny's our safety officer at AIM Air, and a truly outstanding pilot.
Another part of Wycliffe is the Summer Institute for Linguistics, or SIL. Thus the new identifier for the aircraft. SIL exists to bring the Bible to peoples who don't have a written language. It began in 1934, started by William Cameron Townsend as part of his efforts to bring the Bible to those who did not have it. Part of their charter now is to work with local people to "adapt or translate literature or publication on subjects such as nutrition, farming, health (including HIV/AIDS), and some or all of the Bible." (From the SIL webpage at www.sil.org/sil )
It's a relief to know that we'll be getting a C-206 back in operation very soon. We've missed the airplane's capabilities, alot. It's exciting that we'll put 5y-SIL back to work supporting missionaries as they live among the people they are bringing God's Word to.
4 comments:
Jay,
Sounds like a new airplane. Could you post a picture? Who painted the plane? Jose?
Paul,
Sorry for being so slow to answer. Yep, I'll post a picture. And yes, Jose painted the airplane.
I think you may be mixing a couple planes up, or more likely, i mixed them together in the post. 756MS is getting the check 3 and total teardown, new paint, etc. 9KA is just being re-registered.
Paul,
Sorry for being so slow to answer. Yep, I'll post a picture. And yes, Jose painted the airplane.
I think you may be mixing a couple planes up, or more likely, i mixed them together in the post. 756MS is getting the check 3 and total teardown, new paint, etc. 9KA is just being re-registered.
Jay,
Thanks for the response. 6MS was in great need of the check 3. I hope all is going well with you and the family. Can't wait to see the fresh paint job on the plane. Send my greetings to everyone in the hanger. Keep safe and God Bless
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