Maintenance on our airplanes may keep our students out of the air from time to time, but now they don’t have to stay out of the pilot’s seat. Thanks to a few very generous donors, Wings for Christ students now have their very own flight simulator at their disposal.

The simulator, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, is running on a brand new computer bought with funds raised specifically to be used for a student pilot educational tool. In addition to the flight sim, WfC has plans to add computer based FAA study guides for pilot and mechanic certification exams, weather and flight planning research tools, and any other resources that will benefit our students. The new computer is high-tech enough to run the flight simulator and has plenty of room to expand later, possibly with multiple monitors and accelerated graphics to provide an even more realistic experience. Another item donated was a yoke and pedal set that allows the virtual pilot to fly the sim just like a real airplane.

Board member Cheryl Hull was present to purchase the computer, monitor and software. She was amused, but not surprised, to find that the amount of money donated exceeded the purchase price by a mere four cents. “God provides just what we need, doesn’t He?” said Cheryl when the total was rung up. Moments like that keep us mindful that all of our provision comes from our Father and he does indeed provide what we need.

Another person excited about the possibilities opened up by this new tool is Ron Banks, valued WfC maintenance volunteer and experienced mission pilot. Ron has quite a nice simulator setup in his home and has offered his skills to help us get the most out of this new tool. One way to do that is to use advanced tutorial books like Microsoft Flight Simulator Real World Training.

More advanced topics demonstrate how the sim can be used as a continuing learning tool and how to simulate real-world emergencies. Chief Pilot Monte Michael says, “I see how this can be very useful in trying out new techniques on the simulator before doing them for real.” Doing that will translate to saved dollars on fuel and maintenance.

A real world example is when student pilot Kelly Filgo was trying to get the hang of the forward slip. “I just couldn’t figure it out. I think I was a little afraid of the maneuver, so I had a very hard time doing it correctly. I was getting very frustrated because my set-ups for landing were just horrible,” Filgo said. He started using a yoke and pedal set for his own flight sim software and it made a huge difference. “Being able to practice the uncoordinated flight on a computer helped me get the concept so that I could do it right in the air. Using a simulator saved me lots of money at the gas pump.”

Wings for Christ wants to thank the kind donors and friends who answered our call for the resources to purchase this great learning tool. You have helped our students take another step toward their calling and we thank you.

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Friends, I would like to tell you about a wonderful, new direction and vision that we, here at Wings For Christ want to share with you.

We have, in a humbling and yet awestruck way, realized that God has given us a strategic and valuable resource here in Central Texas, (Namely, WINGS FOR CHRIST!!), that is right in a major artery to the Latin Americas (and beyond) in the way of Mission pathways and resources.

A few years ago the Lord brought us a new friend here at Wings For Christ: Ron and Jackie Banks of Mission Aviation Fellowship. They are full time missionaries who have served in Venezuela for twelve years as a pilot/mechanic family. Ron now does Distance Learning Technologies for MAF Latin Americas, from his home just off the end of WFC runway!

In our Chapel/Prayer meetings here at WFC on Fridays at 8:30 AM (calling all intercessors!), we have really been seeking the Lord about new direction, relevance, and effectiveness for HIS KINGDOM growth. How can we, like Moses, use “what is in our hand”, to reach the lost for Jesus?
WE ALREADY HAVE:

• An Airport
• 3 Hangers
• An HQ/Chapel
• one Cessna 150 Trainer
• one Cessna 172 Instrument trainer (in pieces, but in restoration process)

And now we have a new way forward: an Initiative!

Introducing the Pilot and Aircraft Production Initiative or PAPI (you know how pilots love acronyms!)….
In our discussions and prayers Ron Banks brought up the fact that MAF and other agencies have identified a problem in several of the countries that they minister in….these countries are closing to the traditional Anglo or western missionaries due to growing anti-western sentiment and politics. Christian Mission Aviation Ministries are being kicked out. However, the indigenous Christian churches and their outreaches are still there and we can assist them to keep on flying, only now with their own Nationals and their own aircraft.
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This is where we at Wings For Christ can come in and assist. We feel the Lord wants us to partner with these interested national churches and missionary agencies in their respective countries and for them to send to WFC qualified, vetted, English speaking Christian Pilot/Mechanic applicants for us to train and build an inexpensive and easy to fly and maintain airplane called a Christavia (similar in size and capability to a C-172).
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We assist them in building the airplane, train them in it and then crate it up and send it and them back to their country of origin to fly Christian Missions with their sending church or agency and that entity now owns the aircraft, supports their missionary and mission and we have completed a process in moving Gods Kingdom forward!

There is a lot, and I mean a lot, more to it but that’s it in a nutshell and we want you to know about this and pray with us as to how and what God would have you to do in partnering with us on this worthy endeavor. A detailed copy of this initiative will be available on our new website soon. We really must hear from you!

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First off, please forgive the long drought of news since we last reported in January! There have really been some significant happenings since then.

Our Trainer, Gracie Bird finally got new digital “Flip-flop” radios and we are now able to fly in the clouds on Instrument flight rules, IFR. This means we can train instruments as well until we get the Cessna 174 “Berts Blessing” up and running.

We got new metal siding and roof on the Maintenance hanger! Joel New and Ron Banks are really happy about that as it doesn’t rain on them while they are working on airplanes now (inside!). A big thank you goes to Phil and Cheryl, Board Members at WFC.

Some medical issues grounded Monte for a season, but now he’s back up flying missions and training pilots. PTL!

Ron Banks got his “wings” back and is flying again and hopes to get his Flight Instructor status back soon. Way to go Ron!

Some major thank you’s go out to our volunteers and Board Members that have done so much in the way of airplane maintenance, hanger upgrade, fixing busted plumbing, runway grass cutting, clean up of hanger and grounds and so much more!

NAMELY:

Joel New, Bret Boyco, Ron Snyder, Ron Banks, Kelly and Ellen Filgo (Just Married!), Mike Anderson, Vinecio Salazar, Tim Banks, Phil and Cheryl Hull, Jimmy Bryant (TSTC Avionics), Charles Henry and Speegleville Christian Center.

Thank you Guys and Gals, We Love You!

Finally, we’d like to report that Jesus, Our Captain, instructed us to start up our weekly prayer flights at WFC and we have to date made four such flights in Speegleville Christian Center’s C-172. Thanks Bro. Charles!

We are also blessed that we have been able to serve a local Pastor Jeromy Connell of the Heart of Texas Cowboy Church by flying him out to Abilene, Tx, last week (8/4-6/09) and he was able to minister in a youth camp where 50-60 kids got saved by Jesus! We saved him 8 hours of driving time which he liked a whole lot!!

Well, as Pastor Jeromy says HAPPY TRAILS , for now!

Monte E. Michael,
Missions Coordinator/Chief Pilot
www.wings-for-christ.org

P.S. LOOK FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE SOON

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