Global Organization Helps Highlight Latest Innovations In
Missionary Aviation
This year's AirVenture will spotlight the new MAF (Mission
Aviation Fellowship) KODIAK aircraft, a nine-seat, turbine aircraft
taking the world of aviation by storm. The airplane went into
service earlier this year for the respected international mission
agency, which will display it July 27-Aug. 2 on AeroShell Square,
the focal point of the air show. MAF also will be sharing the
latest information on missionary aviation.
"This is an outstanding opportunity for people to see one of
these beautiful planes up close and personal," said John Boyd,
president of MAF. "People attend AirVenture because they are
passionate about aviation. But some of them are also passionate
about Christ and the Gospel. So being at Oshkosh is a wonderful
opportunity for us."
This year AirVenture focuses on public benefit aviation, in
which missionary aviation plays a major role. AirVenture's weeklong
"Fly4Life" program features MAF and other members of the
International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA), as well as
non-faith-based groups that are part of the Air Care Alliance.
A Piper Family Cruiser aircraft will be featured alongside the
KODIAK. This aircraft is a replica of the plane flown by martyred
MAF aviation pioneer Nate Saint, and was used in the film "End of
the Spear," which tells the story of five missionary martyrs and
their attempts to make contact with a primitive tribe in Ecuador.
The Piper will be nestled under the wing of the KODIAK - one
representing the past of MAF, and the other its future.
The MAF tent display, situated at spaces 151 and 152, will
include a Cessna 185 that was used by MAF in Indonesia and is now
being used as a training aircraft by Moody Aviation. The plane will
be set in a village scene with murals and a "movie screen"
consisting of a white sheet, typical of how MAF shows the "JESUS"
film in remote areas of the world.
Boyd said that while in Oshkosh, MAF staff will be conducting
seminars, speaking in local churches and meeting with friends and
supporters in the area.
Kodiak File Photo
Founded in the United States in 1945, MAF missionary teams of
aviation, communications, technology and education specialists
overcome barriers in remote areas, transform lives and build God's
Kingdom by enabling the work of more than 1,000 organizations in
isolated areas of the world. With its fleet of 130 bush aircraft,
MAF serves in 55 countries, with an average of 242 flights daily
across Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America. MAF
pilots transport missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and
relief supplies, as well as conduct thousands of emergency medical
evacuations in remote areas. MAF also provides telecommunications
services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios,
electronic mail and other wireless systems.
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