NEW AIRCRAFT!

 

Introducing... November-two-zero-seven-Bravo-Hotel!!!

If you're thinking, "looks a lot like that last aircraft", that's because "Bravo-Hotel" is also a 1982 Cessna 207.

Bravo-Hotel has spent almost all it's life flying in Africa in support of mission work. Aviation resources in the country were such that the mission no longer needed the aircraft and made us a VERY sweet deal on the purchase.  

8 Seats and relatively new interior.  The wings are about a foot and a half longer due to the additional tip-fuel tanks.  It's going to be a tight fit in the Bongolo hangar!

To provide an owner for our aircraft, a couple years back, we created the non-profit, "Things Above Project" (TAP).  It is incredible that the TAP board felt led to actually purchase this aircraft, sensing the need, prior to finding out that we would have to retire Foxtrot-Delta!

It has an intercom system for the passengers- an upgrade!

We'll be moving over some avionics and other items from our last aircraft.

As with all Cessna 207's, we've got the large double side doors. A mini-van with wings! We can have all 8 seats or take out seats and have space for two stretchers, side by side.

Here are some of the items we're taking off from "Foxtrot Delta" and putting on "Bravo Hotel"- avionics, an oil cooler modification, a replacement HF radio, and more.  A big thanks to the team of JAARS trained pilot/mechanics in Yaounde, Cameroon for assisting.  These will be sent to Nairobi, Kenya, where other colleagues are standing by for their arrival and the aircraft to begin the work.  Please pray for the many, many details to come together.

Again, we can't do this without a FULL CREW of supporters!

Please consider praying and investing.

Make a tax-deductible donation through the C&MA:

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

Retirement?!?

 

I'm afraid to say that, yes, it is time for retirement...  

Retirement for an airplane, that is, not me!  (I can't believe you would think such a thing!)

Yes, there I am, very happy on what I didn't realize was one of my last flights in trusty, old, "Seven-Foxtrot-Delta"- our 1982 Cessna 207 with close to 19,000 flight hours logged.

This aircraft served much of its life in Alaska doing air taxi operations for Smythe Air, then was refurbished and literally flew across the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, to start serving the church in Gabon.  You're looking at one of only 4 aircraft to ever land at Bongolo Hospital's airport and one of only 2 aircraft to ever land at Bongolo's rest house called "Panga", by the ocean.  Below is one of the most beautiful shots from that landing...

Yes, there is an airstrip amidst all the tall grass.

So, I'm grieving the retirement of this special airplane.  There are so many stories of how this particular aircraft was selected for our first aircraft as well as how God provided many, many people to invest in finishing the refurbishment (with many great upgrades and modifications).

People, some sick, some healthy... some sitting, some on a stretcher... medications in boxes and coolers... medical materials and machines... Over the years, we've packed a lot of people and stuff into this aircraft and expedited them to their destinations, all in an effort of God's people to demonstrate HIS great love for them.  I've been honored to be at the controls for the time that we did, and to tell the story of God's children, all over the world, obediently working together to bless each passenger.

Why Retirement?  During a recent inspection, corrosion was discovered in new areas, below the paint- the nasty type called "exfoliation".  The structure was significantly affected such that this, and the other items needing attention, rose to a level making repair impractical- the time and effort, especially in remote Africa, would result in a "bandaid" and take an excessive amount of labor-hours.  I'm indebted to the team at SIL-Cameroon Aviation (many JAARS-trained pro's) for their teamwork in making this difficult decision.

Thank you for being part of the "heavy lifting" in our work.

As we retire "Seven-Foxtrot-Delta", I'll be introducing you to its replacement, "Seven-Bravo-Hotel"... our next aircraft!  (this is my teaser to stay tuned) We'll be transplanting many of the upgrades over to the new machine.  Soon, by God's grace, we'll be retrieving that aircraft from the other side of Africa and getting it into service.

Please consider helping us to continue this critical work!

Make a Tax-Deductible donation through the C&MA:

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Raise The Roof- 2021 Focus

Our 20 year old aircraft hangar at the Bongolo airstrip is in need of some major TLC.  

With your teamwork, this year, we hope to find the resources for the following:

1. Replace all the rotted and insect-eaten wood planks 

2. Upgrade our ailing Solar electricity system

3. Expand the roof to cover the adjacent shipping container

4. Extend the cement floor under the new covered area

MAKE A DONATION - CLICK HERE

JOIN A WORK TEAM (when travel restrictions lift)-  CLICK HERE Send an email to be added to the email list of those interested in coming.

If you prefer to give by check through the mail, please make your check out to "C&MA" and write "GABON AIRPLANE" in the memo, and send to:

C&MA, 8595 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920

2021 Calendar

 

We have collected some of Alace's wonderful photography as part of a 2021 calendar.  We welcome you to consider a donation (you choose the amount) to our airplane account and then email us for a download link of the file.

Step 1:  Make a Donation.     DONATE HERE

Step 2:  Email Request.    REQUEST FILE HERE

Step 3:  Download & Print Calendar

You are free to take the file on a thumb drive to a place like Office Max or Office Depot and ask for them to print out a full size calendar.  Alternatively, you are also free to print it out on your own printer.  This is our first year to try a calendar- thank you for your interest and joining us in this important work!

Upcoming Flights

UPCOMING FLIGHTS

Dat: Trajet: Départ: Arrivé:

25 Sep Lébamba à Libreville 10h00 11h45

26 Sep Libreville à Lébamba 12h00 13h45

02 Oct Lébamba à Lamberéné 09h00 10h00

02 Oct Lamberéné à Lébamba 10h15 11h15

08 Oct Lébamba à Libreville 10h00 11h45

12 Oct Libreville à Lébamba 10h00 11h45

25 Oct Lébamba à Lamberéné 14h00 15h00

29 Oct Lamberéné à Libreville 12h00 12h45

30 Oct Libreville à Yaoundé 11h00 13h00

Covid Negative!

 

Thank you for your prayers!  The official tests are back and we're officially virus free!  Thank you for your prayers.  We've just sent out an update to supporters which you can see by CLICKING HERE.

July Update- Covid Positive

If you missed our July Update in your e-mail, then SUBSCRIBE!  I invite you to use the e-mail sign up tool, on the right side bar of this website to do that.  If you'd like to see the July update, CLICK HERE.  The first part of the update is seen here...

CLICK HERE FOR FULL UPDATE

Less Restrictive Restrictions!

So, in this period of Pandemic restrictions, which started, here in Gabon, the second half of March, we've seen a dramatic fall off in aviation activity.  Instead of 1-2 flights a week, we were happy to have 1 flight a month.  This, mainly due to the closed borders and restrictions on moving passengers on aircraft domestically as well.  UNTIL!

As of today, the government lessened the restriction and the US embassy in Libreville sent the following email to us expats here:

"The following changes will take effect on July 1 at 05:00:

·        Commercial air travel may resume.  Two international flights per airline per week will be permitted.  

·        Although Gabon’s land and sea borders will remain closed to travelers, travel by air, boat, and train within Gabon may resume.

·        Regular working hours will resume in the public and private sectors.  

·        Hotels may reopen.

·        Restaurants with outdoor dining terraces may reopen.

·        A curfew will remain in effect, but with reduced hours (20:00 to 05:00).  

·        Classes for students who plan to take the baccalaureate exam in August will resume on July 20.  Post-secondary classes may resume on July 13.

Masks are still required in public and social distancing and hygiene requirements will continue.  The government cautioned that restrictions may be reinstated in certain locations or throughout the country if new outbreaks occur."

What does this mean to us?  We can have visitors again!  Also, I'm able to have passengers.  

Thanks for your support to our projects here!  We're looking forward to more and more activity in the coming weeks and months.