A plane For Edwin to Fly

In 2015 David Gates sent out letters to about 11,000 Cessna 182 owners  asking to see if they would be interested in donating their plane to GMI for use in mission service as is typically that case very few responded to the letters but some did. One such case was a Mormon family in Wyoming. They had just purchased a Cessna 210 Centurion and had this older Cessna 182, 2668G, which they were discussing what they should do with it. One day the wife came is waving the letter and showed it to her husband. It was David’s letter. They agreed that it just might be the best option for use of the plane.

After talking with David they invited him to come and see the plane. They also wanted to make sure that this was the right organization to donate to. After a very short time they were comfortably please with David as a Christian and knew that the plane would be put to very good use. In December of 2015 David flew the plane to Illinois and then after Christmas he flew it on down to Collegedale TN. I got to be there to help welcome them back, and put the plane in the hanger next to Todd Anderson’s plane, 9113M. The next day while I was helping clean up some seat frames for Todd Anderson, David came into the hanger and spoke with me. He offered to let me use this beautiful airplane in my training, to try and finish My instrument rating. He also offered to let me stay in one of the apartments they have at the GMI offices in Collegedale. Then one morning at breakfast not long after; he asked how I would like to continue flying 2668G in Guyana. WOW!!! How cool is that!!! I continued to fly the plane for about 15 hours there in January.

At the end of January the annual inspection was due. 

A mechanic started in on the inspection in February. Given the time that had transpired since the last time the engine was overhauled they decided to pull the cylinders and really look over the engine. During the process they discovered that major components like the cam shaft and timing gears were severely worn. The crank shaft had significant scoring on the rod journals and all the lifters were beyond repair. The new cylinders have already been purchased which is the biggest expense of an overhaul usually. The mechanic is looking for good used timing gears and a good used cam shaft. It is cheaper than buying factory new parts. We are estimating that finishing the engine will cost about $8000. There are also some modifications that need to happen in order to get the most use out of the airplane.

It needs a Sportsman’s STOL kit and wing extensions.

The Sportsman’s kit is about $1500 and the Wing X is also $1500.

We can delay a little on some of the other modifications like the larger nose fork and tires, but it would be good to get those done too. They can however be done here in Guyana. Now that 9113M is here and is working hard we want to turn our focus to getting N2668G ready to go. It is needed very soon as we now have 3 pilots and soon to have a fourth within the month. Here at the flight base the phone rings frequently, people asking “when is James going to be flying next?” “Is there space for me on the next flight?” “Is James back yet?” We need this plane in the very near future. Please pray with us as we shift our focus to getting this next plane ready to serve. If you choose to help financially with this project, please let me know that the money is specifically for 2668G so it doesn’t get incorporated into the normal operating fund