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Saturday, Just pics:

Samaritan Aviation

float 206

Gracia Burnham

Steve Saint

P-51

Okay, I’ve about had enough. I could barley move this morning and I had to take a nap after lunch in one of the trailers.  It was a beautiful day here. Hot, sunny, cool breeze and large white puffy clouds.  There was a fair amount of traffic though the tent this morning.  I decided to abandon the tent in the afternoon since more people take my stuff when I’m gone.

One of the very cool aspects of the booth thing is getting to know the people in the surrounding booths.  I’ve met some very cool people from Missionaire Int’l. and Letourneau University.  the LetU folks and I spent working on a new ad campaign for LetU.  Soon Sweatshirts and other apparel will have “Let U fly” on them for their Aviation Department. We came up with other funny ones for the other programs they offer.

Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest day of the show.  Then the mass exodus starts Sunday night. I’m ready.

Today the Airbus A380 left for France, and a few huge military planes came in one being the C-5M:

And Paul Teutul Sr. was here racing airplanes in one of his OC choppers:

Here is the Friday video update: Friday Update

I just have to include my very favorite warbird so I had to include it:

Thursday! Here’s the Thursday Overview

We all awoke to rain which carried on most of the day.  On rainy days tent traffic can go both ways, either really good cause its dry or really bad cause no one is out.  Today was a strange mix.

I am on my 8th bag of booth candy which is mildly disturbing.  The old ‘candy at the booth’ trick attracts the kids who in turn bring their parents. I give my spiel, the kid gets the candy, I give the kid a sticker and the parents a brochure.  Its a win-win-win.  There are always a few that ‘throw an opossum in the stew’ to quote my good buddy from West Virginia.  These people take the candy but come up with the line “I’ve got to much to carry” or “I don’t have any room”.  I’m not asking them to take a piece of luggage back with them, simply a 4×5 post card with my information on it. What’s with the no room?! You know what? I’d just be happy if they took it, then thew it out later. Strange. Perhaps I should pursue my PhD in Organizational behavior or something.

There is an idea kicking around the Missionary Flight circles about the future of fund raising.  I find this philosophy particularly intriguing since  that is primarily what this organization is about.  The old idea of donor based funding will most likely be extinct in about 5 to 10 years.  Air planes are expensive to operate.  So to remedy this the community is starting to come up with “Business as Missions” models.  This really hits a cord with me since my MBA training at Cornerstone University emphasized this thought process.  I’ve been praying for business ideas that would help fund CAM.  So, if anyone is reading this and has any ideas PLEASE let me know!

Here is a cool video for your viewing pleasure:

MAF in Haiti

Until tomorrow!

Blessings,

Josh

Well today’s start was similar to the other previous 4 am mornings.  Fair traffic at the CAM booth, no complaints.  Had an interesting conversation with a WWII Vet who talked to me for about an hour, got the full scoop on the bombing of Japan.

Met up with my nephew for part of the air show. That was fun.  We saw a demonstration of the JAARS helo courier and the flight of the 1934 Klemm L25. Here are some pics!

Here is the video Recap of what went on today:

Wednesday Happenings

1934 Klemm L25

Klemm L25

The 1934 Klemm L25 was shipped over from Australia and reassembled for the air show.  It wins the prize for most traveled air plane for this year’s air show.

Helio Courier

ugh, another 4 a.m. morning, well sorta, my cell phone has yet to make the switch from Eastern Time to Central Time and I was awoken at 3 a.m. rather than 4 a.m.  this means extra large coffee from the gas station on the way in to the EAA grounds.

here is the Schedule for today:

P-40 and Hurricane, vintage wings of Canada

White Knight Two with Sr. Richard Branson & Burt Rutan

3pm Airbus A380 Arrival

As for me I’ll be in the IAMA tent for most of the day, hopefully I’ll get out and snap some pics of the above mentioned events.

Yesterday, the air show was rained out so everyone is expecting a bigger and better show today.  We’ll see what kind of appointments the Lord has lined up for today.  I was able to drop off a few invitations to the Hilton where Harrison Ford and Morgan Freeman are staying.  Hopefully, they’ll be able to make our benefit fundraiser in October; HEY you don’t know if you don’t ask.

I’ll update again tonight!  Thanks for your interest in Missionary aviation, your prayers and financial support.  Training debt is the leading cause in prohibiting pilots from getting to the mission field and with your help, we can get more pilots out to the field!

Ok, long day, its about 9pm now here is a recap of the day:

Overview of the day

I’d upload some of my own pics but my uploader is not working at the moment.  Stay tuned.  I watched the Airbus circle around the airport and land.  Man, watching that thing fly was a kin to whale watching, its incredable that in even stays up. It weighs over 500 tons (that’s a million pounds).  Huge!

I also watched the White Knight 2 do a demo flight and I was 10 feet away from Sr. Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin Atlantic airlines and the Virgin record label.  He was walking back to the Virgin Tent from WK2 after the demo.   It all happend fast and I wasn’t able to get my camera out.

I also went though the Vintage aircraft hanger and saw one of the Tuskeegie (sp?) Airman P-51s, those things are very cool planes.

The booth wasn’t as busy as yesterday and since the airshow was in full swing by 3pm not much traffic was found in the IAMA tent.  I get to sleep in tomorrow a little bit tomorrow, hit the booth around 730ish and see what the day brings!

Oh, by the way, I want to send out props (no pun intended) to CAMs faithful online donors.  You know who you are and I just want to thank you for your generosity and faithfulness. You alone are supporting one of our missionary pilot’s monthly training loan debt.  Thank you!

Along those same lines check out our facebook causes page.  We put out a challenge to raise $1,000 in 1 month.  If everyone just donates $5, we’ll be over our goal.  Causes is a trusted proven mechanisim to donate so throw down your Lincoln today!

More tomorrow!

-Josh

The day started bright and early at 4:30 a.m.. We got to the IAMA (International association of missionary aviators) tent and started setting up for the 7 a.m. breakfast. Then off to to the booth by 8:30.

Here was the EAA schedule for today:

Whiteknighttwo “Eve” arrives at 3 p.m.
The Elvis (Erickson Air-Crane) helicopter arrives
Warbirds in flight 3:30 p.m. air show
Doobie Brothers concert 5:30 p.m.
Bill Barber Award and Fly4life panel 7:30 p.m.
“The Right Stuff” movie in Theater in the woods 8:30 p.m.

The Predator unmanned drown flew in yesterday… Predator Drown

Met some very cool people who stopped by the booth for some free candy, stickers and of course very cool brochures. Also found out about a few things from some organizations under the tent.
1) MAF needs about 30 new pilots a month, currently they are averaging around 12 a month.
2) MAF PNG will take pilots without an A&P license
3) Missionary Aviation Training Academy in Washington is a great place to get training on the West Coast
4) Ywam now has an aviation department where people can get their private pilot license and gain hours in the field with Ywam for a 1 year commitment at Ywam Aviation Training Academy

Very cool. Tell your friends and Family about these sweet opportunities in missionary aviation!

Pictures for the day:

Elvis:

Whiteknighttwo:

Well today was the first real check in day for EAA Air Venture Missionary Aviation emphasis! I spent 4 hours today volunteering for EAA in the ticket booth which earned me a parking pass and a 1 day admission to the show. After that we went to Plymouth Congregational Church for a meet and greet and dinner then off to South Park Middle School where all 400 of us missionary aviation and support staff met to worship and get the low-down for the week.

A few interesting points of interest:

The IAMA website
The fly4life website

Gracia Burnham will tell her story of being captive by Islamic terrorist group in 2001. She survived, her husband was killed during the rescue attempt.

The 1934 Klemm L25 the oldest aircraft used in missionary aviation will be on display at the vintage area of EAA as part of the fly4life theme.

I will do my best to keep all of you updated on what is going on here at EAA 2009! Some pictures and hopefully video. Please keep us in your prayers this week as there will be long days! Specifically pray for strength, favor with potential donors and the development of new relationships!

Thanks!
-Josh