Part of Mark's training here at MMS involves going on a rapid response trip to help out another mission with their aircraft for several weeks, either overseas or in the States ... or both! It is free labour and assistance for those they help and invaluable experience for the guys.
First thing Friday morning, Mark left Coshocton with Jim (left) and Andy (centre) and travelled over the weekend, spanning four flights, several continents and the dateline ... arriving safely in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, Monday lunchtime. (Andy is another MAF UK apprentice who started his training here just over a year after Mark.)
The three of them will be there for just over three weeks, returning to Coshocton on February 12th. They will be helping JAARS repair the undercarriage of their King Air which got damaged in a bad landing (see below). This will enable the JAARS engineers to continue maintaining the rest of the aircraft and not have to stretch themselves too much to get this bigger job done on top of their usual workload.
Back at home we're missing Mark lots but enjoying ourselves too. 'Popeye' (Jenny's sister) is flying in today to join the Beckwith girlies left behind and help out while he is gone. The day before Mark left we made a paper-chain with one link for every day he will be away. Every morning we go to the chain and remove another link making it shorter and shorter until there are none left and he's safely back here with us!
Mark will write more himself, probably when he returns ... but we thought you'd like to know what he was up to and that he had arrived there safely!
Glad you will have your sister with you. What a brilliant idea using the paper chain as a day counter!
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