November 30, 2003

The Flight Plan

Here's a map showing our tentatively-planned routing
(subject to change due to weather or other reasons)

route.jpg

The stops shown on this map are

Bangor, Maine
St. John's, Newfoundland (Canada)
Santa Maria, Azores (Portugal)
Valencia, Spain
Iraklion, Crete (Greece)
Luxor, Egypt
Lokichoggio, Kenya
Nairobi
Posted by Barry at 11:35 PM | Comments (1)

The Delivery Flight Crew

The three of us are pleased and honored to be entrusted
with the task of making the delivery flight from the US to Kenya.

Mike DeLorenzo
Mike & Renee DeLorenzo are missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. They have been serving with AIM AIR in East Africa for six years. Mike is a pilot and mechanic flying out of Nairobi, Kenya.

Chad Tilley
Chad & Cyndi Tilley are missionaries with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Chad is a pilot who flies with AIM AIR in support of IMB and AIM efforts in East Africa. He is also the Director of IMB Aviation - Eastern Africa.  They are based in Nairobi, Kenya and have been serving in East Africa since January of 1999.

Barry King
(host of this weblog) worked for AIM AIR from before it's official founding in 1976 until 1982, at bases in Nairobi and Zemio, C.A.R. He and his wife Jennilu met in Kenya in 1977. He is now director of maintenance at Aerotech Services of Smoketown, PA.
Posted by Barry at 11:17 PM | Comments (2)

November 29, 2003

The Airplane

and its mission
cvan_combi_hero.jpg

The Cessna 208B "Caravan" is in many ways the ideal aircraft for remote-area operations in Africa.

Its single turbo-prop engine, rugged construction, reliability, efficiency, payload, and short field performance, make it suitable for a wide variety of missions, carrying either passengers or freight.

For a program needing reliable logistical support, and having a limited budget, the Caravan's modest cost per seat-mile, or per pound of freight carried, can make the difference between success and failure.

AIM-AIR, at its base in Nairobi, Kenya, has accumulated field experience with this outstanding aircraft type, and developed an appreciation of its value, by operating the Samaritan's Purse Caravan throughout East and Central Africa.

Now, after several years of patient fund-raising and prayer, AIM-AIR, with support from IMB and other partners, is ready to add an additional Caravan to its fleet.

Click here to view the "Caravan project" webpage.

Posted by Barry at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)

November 28, 2003

Acknowledgements

(from Barry)
Thanks to:
-Donors who have supported the Caravan project.
-Terry and Matt at Aerotech for giving me the time off.
-Daniel Miller of TCW Computers for creating this weblog.
-Michael Steeves, founder of kijabe.org for donating the webspace for it.
-My beloved wife Jennilu for not complaining too loudly.
-Friends at Landisville Mennonite Church for friendship and support.

Notice to all Smoketown airport neighbors and friends: this is a really
impressive airplane, and if you can you ought to come out and check
it out while it's here, which should be on or about Dec. 10.

Those of you who are familiar with the "flavor" of the Smoketown area might enjoy this picture.
Posted by Barry at 12:26 AM | Comments (1)