The 207 finally takes to the skies!

Today has been an exciting day in the hangar. After 7 months of hard work, the Gabon 207 was finally able to make it’s return to service flight! Steve Straw ( http://gabonpilot.blogspot.com/ ) arrived back in the States the day before we left for Glasgow, and I thought that by the time we got back to Ohio, he would have completed the RTS flight, packed up, and headed off back to Gabon. A couple of hiccups with parts not doing what they were meant to do after such a long time out of service, meant that the re-commissioning of all the systems couldn’t go past the ground runs while we were back in Scotland. But the delays that came about from waiting for new parts to arrive gave another opportunity to improve the plane for the work it will be doing in Gabon.

The air traffic control network in Gabon is not as developed as it is here in the States, so the distance between people that can hear you on the radio is much greater. To make for a safer operation, and to open up more opportunities and resources from other people on the ground, a radio system with a greater range was needed. The radios that are installed on most light aircraft are VHF radio, and have a limited range because of the frequency they transmit on. HF radios use a longer wavelength, which gives them a much greater range.









When it comes to aircraft, you can’t just kit your plane out with “go-faster” spoilers and alloy wheels. Every modification that changes a plane from the way it was when it rolled off the production line, needs to be approved by the FAA. The application for the HF radio upgrade went in quite some time ago, but these things take time. Returning the plane to service was more urgent than waiting for this approval to come through, so the plans looked like they might have to be shelved. A little delay in getting off the ground was just enough time for the FAA approval to go through at the 11th hour, so Steve will now be able to return to Gabon with an aircraft that is much better equipped for the work it is meant for.

Having spent so much time working on this plane over the year, it was a bit sad to see it fly off, but knowing it will be back at work in Africa soon is a good compensation… and it free’s up quite a bit of hangar space for the next project… I wonder what that will be???

Off into the next chapter...

The video!

I have just realised that those of you who receive our blog by email probably won't be able to see the video I posted last night.

If you can't see the clip, follow the link below and that should get you to it!

Thanks for checking in!

http://youtu.be/uuF_1BITgK8

When Heather posted our last blog and said that it would be the last one for a while, a bit of me thought that I might get a chance to blog again from Scotland while we were home… I should’ve known that we would be so busy we would have no chance of writing blog posts!

We had a great trip back over to Scotland for the best part of October – we flew into Glasgow on 13th October, then spent the next fortnight driving about 850 miles, with another 800ish on the sleeper train. We slept in 5 different homes (and the sleeper train!), shared at three Sunday morning services, one midweek meeting, and held a Saturday morning presentation and lunch in a coffee shop. We got ourselves up to date with the dentist’s and the optician’s. We got our fix of Scottish food and enjoyed a bit of Chinese and Indian foods as well!
We were also able to catch up with lots of our friends and family, which was incredibly encouraging for us. Thank you all!! It was a real shame that we just didn’t have enough time to catch up with everyone we wanted to – if we didn’t make it round to you we are sorry.
The main reason for being back this year was to renew our visas. We are here on a vocational student’s visa, with a one year validity period, so every autumn will see a trip back to the UK. The visa interview went without problems, and despite my not being able to follow the instructions on photo’s for the kids visa applications, our visa’s were renewed and we were able to return home to Ohio as planned! After finishing at the American embassy around lunchtime, we had lots of time for a bit of sightseeing in London before our train back north.

Big Ben!!

Our trip back home didn’t go quite to plan. When we arrived to check in at Glasgow airport, we were told that our connection to Columbus had already been cancelled. They managed to book us on a later flight on Saturday night, and off we went to New York. By the time we arrived in Newark, the East coast was caught in the teeth of the first winter storm of the season – a whole 1.3” of slushy snow had fallen, and the airport had ground to a halt! After finding out about our 2nd cancellation of the day, we were able to rebook to fly to Columbus on Sunday morning. We were fortunate enough to find a hotel room to stay in for the night, and all four of us had a great night’s sleep! It probably worked out for the best, as the only option we really had was to go to sleep at 7:30pm – had we been able to get home on Saturday, we would have likely been up too late unpacking, and Sunday would have been spent like Zombies!
Monday morning had us all getting back to normal, with Heather and Matthew running errands around the town, Abi back at school catching up with her friends, and me back in the hangar. It was good to be back at work, and getting my hands dirty again.

While we have been away, the Gabon 207 had a few teething problems as it was being prepared for its Return to service flight, and the FAA gave an 11th hour approval for an HF radio installation which has been pending for a while. The problems have all been straightened out now, and Mike, Phil and Jim are busy working on the radio system. Hopefully it will be back on it’s way to Africa soon, although from a purely selfish point of view, I am glad I will be around to see it’s first flight since arriving in Ohio, having spent so much of this year working on it!

The Gospel Carrier Internation Cessna 172 I am currently working on, in front of the Gabon 207.

This week, I have been helping on an annual inspection on GCI's cessna 172. Yesterday we were overhauling the nose landing gear strut, and today we removed one of the main landing gear wheels for inspection, and to clean and re-grease the bearing.

When we were back in Scotland it was good to be able to show a short video clip of the work I am involved in here in Ohio. Just in case you didn’t see the clip while we were in the UK, here it is!

Almost a year!

We arrived last winter, so this is our first experience of Autumn in Ohio. Let me share a few differences we have noticed. Firstly, it is called "the Fall" which makes perfect sense of course. Also Pumpkin season is here and they are everywhere!! Although not a fan of pumpkin soup, I do like a little pumpkin pie! :0) Another difference is the weather. Last weekend it was windy, cold and raining - not something we are unfamiliar with. I got the duvets all out of storage and washed the blankets and put them away, We got the last air conditioning unit out of the window and stored in the garage. Then by about Thursday, I had to fold all the duvets and put them away again and get a few blankets out for us all it is getting hot again just like summer! The children are never sure weather they need winter or summer pyjamas. I have to watch the weather channel every morning before I get the kids their clothes as although the mornings can be really cold, the afternoon is often shorts and T-shirt weather. Another thing is the bugs that are trying to come into our house to hibernate for winter! Ladybugs (ladybirds) - but I believe they are called the Asian beetle lady bug. they like to swarm and are attracted to light coloured houses on the hillside - just like ours. They are don't do any harm, they are just a pest and even with insect screens on the doors of windows - I have to keep the sun facing ones closed as they get through the nets. Good preparation for what's ahead! :0) The trees are of course beautiful and another highlight of "The Fall" is Coshocton County Fair. Unfortunately it was very wet for the first while so when the first dry day came on Tuesday - I took the kids out for the morning. Eight dollars each gets you into the fair for the day. Almost all the rides are free and there is plenty to see and do. We saw horses, sheep, cows, goats and llamas among others. There were tractors, pick up trucks, horse and harness racing, and lots of interesting new foods to try such as "elephants toes" (made from doughnut batter caked in cinnamon sugar and dipped in butter icing) There were also many prizes for the largest home grown fruit and vegetables as well as crafts and exhibitions. We were really glad to be able to experience it and are looking forward to next year.

Matthew had a trip to a local Farm to make a scarecrow and pick a pumpkin. We got to ride on the hay wagon behind the tractor and that was fun. The tractor took us on a five minute ride to the pumpkin fields where we were free to choose one to take home. The preschool have another morning available for him starting November so he will be going two mornings a week. He seems to be really enjoying his time there.

Abi has had her fifth birthday party today which was great fun. We played pass the parcel, Simon says, pin the tail, and had a princess treasure hunt outside. The man next door mowing his lawn must of had a good laugh at us running about the garden in pink, blue and yellow fluffy dresses, ( I had my wellie shoes on!) Dangling from different trees in the garden were pink shoes, a pink hat, pink scarf, princess story book, and a hair brush - the things you do for your loved ones! Then it was time for some pampering with nail polish before stuffing our faces full calorific delights! It was a great excuse to dress up and I found another use for a previous bridesmaid dress!

Andy is really busy in the hanger at the moment. They are putting the final touches on the 207 plane as it gets ready for a test flight next week. This will be our last blog post from Ohio until November as we are flying back to Scotland this coming Wednesday until the 29th. Now that the birthday party is over I can focus on packing the suitcases and getting ready for catching up with our supporters, family and friends. I hope we can see as many of you as possible over the next few weeks. Please email me if you would like to recieve our newsletter and are not already doing so, and if you would like any more information about where we will be speaking during our visit - heatherswansonmaf@gmail.com .

Heatherx

Summer in the hangar

Time seems to be flying past just now – I have just had a flick through our blog and realised Heather has been doing all the blogging since the beginning of August! Don’t worry though, I haven’t been sitting around waiting for something to happen! Life at the hangar has been as busy as usual with lots of work going on. So here is a bit of an update for you on what has been happening.

The 207 project has been moving well along since my last post, and for nearly 3 weeks in August, Josh and I were busy rebuilding the tailcone which was damaged in the accident last year. It was great experience for me; the tailcone is a notoriously difficult part of an aircraft to work with, being made up mainly of 16 thousandths of an inch thick aluminium sheet (less than half a millimetre for all you metric folk!) and it is very easy to damage badly if you slip off a rivet head with your rivet gun.

The tail cone, still just flimsy sheets.

It was also amazing to see the structure appear as our work went on. Have you ever done one of those teamwork challenges where you build a bridge from newspaper and sticky tape? When we started putting the tailcone together we had 3 big sheets of aluminium flopping around with some long (and very fragile looking) stringers running the length of the plane. By the time we were halfway through riveting the structure I was able to lie inside to “buck” the rivets as Josh was driving them from the outside.

A few shots of me bucking rivets inside the tailcone

With over a thousand rivets in the tailcone I felt a real sense of achievement at having been so involved in this project!

Driving some rivets on the tailcone

Me, Josh and the finished tailcone!

After we had completed the structural work it was time for the plane to be wheeled into the paint booth and have it’s fresh paint applied. Josh took the time to explain the process to me as he was applying the white to the tail.

The majority of my work when I finish at MMS and move into a field programme will be carrying out annual inspection work, so I was fortunate enough to be able to get involved in the Phase inspection of a King Air 200 operated by www.gcigospel.org
The experience is definitely worthwhile and it has been good to get to work with some of the other mechanics here at MMS. The PT6 turbine engines that this King Air has are being used on more and more mission aircraft due to their much more economical running costs, so getting some exposure to them is definitely a good thing!

For a few days this week we have had Dereck Plante volunteering in the hangar with us. He has had a background in electronics and is looking to see what God has planned for his future. An interest in technical things and aeroplanes led him to MMS, and before he heads off to a YWAM training course for the next 6 months, he was able to come and spend a few days in the hangar. It was good to get to know him a bit as he worked with us, and it was also good to get a few pointers on soldering and circuit boards while he was about!

Bob, Dereck and myself by GCI's King Air

Away from the airport we have all been busy. Our trip back home next month is taking lots of work, as we arrange all the formalities for our visa interview at the American Embassy and a short presentation to share while we are back in the UK. Matthew is really enjoying pre-school, and looks forward to his Friday morning spot there. Abi is still loving school, and amazes us at how much knowledge she can soak in! (Tonight it was a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance… still not sure if Scot’s are meant to say that!!) Heather is busy settling into her new role in the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group, and this week has had her small group and their children) round to the house for a “wee get-together”. I am enjoying being a part of the Nazarene church here, and am able to get involved with the sound team on a Sunday morning, and the men’s fellowship group that meet once a month.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Auntie Ruth's visit.

Last week we enjoyed another visitor, and little more UK cadburies chocolate! Andy's sister Ruth arrived to stay the week with us before flying to Seattle to see a friend. We were able to take her around the hanger to see what Andy has been up to and show her some of the wonders of Coshocton County. The highlight of the week had to be last friday. On the first Friday of every month an event is put on for families in Main Street Coshocton. The street is closed to traffic apart from a crazy (but fun) wiggling train, and a few tractors. We were able to experience some snake handling. Abi was more than happy to hold a snake much longer than her by herself, and even Ruth was brave enough to have a go! ( I did not!) There were pumpkins piled high, a cake decorating contest, a dog show, and water melon rolling. I had never seen a real frog jumping contest before until last Friday. Abi and Matthew got to pick a frog each out of this huge bucket full of different sized frogs. You then had to sit it on the grass and make it hop three times. The frog that hopped the farthest won. Making the frog jump was quite a challenge. Abi choose a huge frog who could jump very high but was quite content to sit on the grass taking it all in. After some major stamping and beating of the ground we got it moving! Matthew chose the smallest frog which we almost lost in the grass as he was very happy to be free : 0)

We were also able to show Ruth a little of how the Amish folk live near here and of course had to stop by an Amish bakery for some cheese tarts (we try to only buy them when we have visitors!) Andy was more than happy to show Ruth a little of the night life in Coshocton which was basically a trip to Earls ice cream parlour! The weather was variable with cool mornings and then getting into the upper nineties in the afternoon. It is very hard to know what to wear each day. Matthew has decided that shorts and a t-shirt are the only things he wants to wear and I have had a few challenging mornings of late trying to persuade him otherwise. He had his first day at pre-school by himself this morning and managed really well - no tears, just a few extra cuddles and kisses and then he was happy. After I left Matthew I headed over to the first meeting of MOPS (Mother of Pre-schoolers). This year I am a group leader and it was really exciting to meet the mum's in my group and make some new friends. I did take my kettle with me along with some tea-bags and fresh milk - trying to get a hot cup of tea in America still has it's challenges! It is my job to try and arrange a few dates before the next MOPS meeting where we my group can all meet together.

Abi is loving Kindergarten especially her Art and Music classes. We are entertained most evenings by the new songs she has been learning.

The airplane Andy has been working on for months is now almost finished and he has been tasked to a different airplane now and is learning more about the electrical side of things at present. He is going to do the next blog post so if you prefer reading about airplanes rather than frog jumping then the next one is for you :0).

God Bless

Hx

Planes, School, and Bee Stings

Last Monday began with a trip to Keene Elementary on the school bus. Andy was also able to come with us to take Abi to see her new classroom and spend an hour with her teacher while we and the other parents had a meeting.

A couple of hours after we had arrived back home Andy called us from work. We were invited to fly in a Kodiak which was making it's way home from an airshow and was stopping past MMS. MMS families who had never been in a small plane would have the chance to go for a short flight. Abi and Matthew sat in their own seats and we all had an amazing time.

Abi started school last Thursday - I would like to say it all went really smoothly and Matthew and I had a wonderful peaceful day but, life in the Swanson household is never dull! On Wednesday Abi was stung by a bee under her toe. Apart from being painful, her big toe and surrounding area was very swollen. Thanks to a Thunderstorm which lasted most of the night and the bee sting we were all rather tired Thursday morning. Abi hobbled onto the bus wearing her garden shoes (crocs) as nothing else would fit her swollen foot. I had many errands to do in town like taking our rubbish and recycling to the dump ( we do not have it collected), library and a food shop, then stopped at the school to give a very tired Abi some more ibuprofen before returning home. Despite the drama of the first few days of School Abi is having a super time. Over dinner she is so busy telling us about her day that we have to remind her to eat. She also informs me as soon as she gets off the bus who, if anyone, was misbehaving that day! LOL!

The last few days Matthew and I have been getting the house ready for Auntie Ruth coming. Andy's sister is the first Swanson to make it to Ohio. She arrived Tuesday night and is here for a week before going onto to visit another friend in the USA. This morning Matthew and I took her up Amish country to Hershbergers Farm. They also had lovely home grown produce for sale and we came home with fresh nectarines, melon, blackberries, gala apples and some freshly baked cheese tarts from Millers Bakery!

Matthew is slowly getting used to the days by himself and we have enjoyed some more frequent trips to the library to get some huge books on fire trucks and giant dump trucks! We also borrowed a video on Monster Trucks so I am feeling a little trucked out at the moment and glad that Auntie Ruth is here to share in this along with me! He was very upset the other day when Abi -who does not appreciate his love of trucks - refused to watch his new video with him! Thankfully, Andy is more than happy to watch it over and over. Please remember Matthew as he adapts to being without Abi all day and as he starts preschool on Friday morning. I will be going with him this week for a few hours and then next week he will start by himself.


Nature in Ohio is always fascinating and we have seen lots of amazing things. Tonight a swarm of bees arrived and have taken rest on our trampoline! Matthew was jumping about on it and Abi was about to go out when we noticed the air was full of bees! Andy rescued Matthew and we watched it all from inside! Thankfully our neighbour is a bee keeper and he came down to have a look. As the bees began to stop flying about and settle on the trampoline we had a cup of coffee outside watching and learning all about swarms of bees. I am really hoping they don't stay too long as I feel I have lost enough sleep over bee stings lately! : 0)