Big news on the flight line this week in Wamena as we’re trying to start an inspection on my plane: 2 of the cylinders have failed the compression check that will indicate the health of the engine and so after a day or so in consultation, it was decided to retire my trusty little PK-MPO and get a waiver for a ferry flight to park in Sentani. Putting it out to pasture so to speak. They’ll be putting it and another 206 in a container, shipping them back to Nampa and probably sell them. They are a desirable work-horse of a plane, so I hear the market’s good for that. Although mine (built in 1979) is possibly one of the oldest 206s in the MAF world – at 15,750 hours of operation, it’s almost 6,000 hours past the retirement point – but still in good shape. That’s been my plane for this term so far, so after 2.5 years, I think I know it inside and out. I’ll move to flying PK-MAR, a newer 206, but still 31 years old..unfortunately for the interior posts, this one does NOT have the extended wing length and thus I’ll be cutting back 87kg per flight for these next few months.
To put this news in perspective, we need to acknowledge that this plane has served well and long here – arriving in late 80s with about 500 hrs on it (practically NEW in airplane life times). MAF has put 15,252 hours on it over the jungles, in and out of rough mountain strips, with unpredictable weather in order to bring the saving Message of Jesus Christ to some of the “last and the least”. If she could talk, I think the stories would be worth hearing. I’m thanking the Lord for safety and for the prayers and support of so many of you out there who keep these planes flying.