We have been back from Wisconsin for two weeks now, where we represented MMS Aviation as part of the Missions and Humanitarian Flying feature of Airventure 2009. We went early to assist in the setup operations and remained to the final disassembly 12 days later. Michele worked as a dining room supervisor for MASA (Mission Aviation Support Association), from 7AM to 8PM nearly every day. I rotated shifts at the MMS display table in the IAMA (International Association of Missionary Aviation) tent with 32 other missions.
A separate tent located near show center was known as the 'Life Tent', and bore the banner, "We Fly 4 Life". Inside the Life tent were a series of 9' x 7' pictorial banners that told stories relative to the missions theme. Missionaries with field experience worked shifts inside the tent to elaborate on the banner stories and answer questions that visitors had.
There was also a mission presence at the Seaplane Base in the form of Edgar and Geisella Schreiber and Karl Neilson from Canada. They flew in from Canada in the Cessna 185 that MMS had restored three years ago. Edgar's plane was newly mounted on the amphibious floats that had also been restored at MMS. He took the opportunity to make several flights with other mission pilots who had thousands of hours of floatplane experience and made some great connections in the process. I even got my first floatplane ride!
Too many things happened to chronicle here, but our photo album is posted for your perusal. Enjoy! -Tim
