Mission Aviation Training Academy

   Our 12 summer campers with instructors Brandon Penkoff (back row, 4th from right) and  Gary Elliott (front row, center).

MATA held its 3^rd aviation summer camp for high schoolers August 9^th through 14^th, with 10 boys and 2 girls attending:  9 from Washington, 1 from Oregon, 1 from British Columbia, and 1 from Minnesota.  Campers bunked on army-style cots and were fed at The Point Church facility just across the airport. 

MATA alumnus Brandon Penkoff, who has been in Portland for his A&P aircraft mechanic training, came up for the week to provide flight instruction along with Gary Elliott.  Allen Koopman and Steve King provided ground instruction, and Stacie Elliott prepared the meals, sometimes with help from Jeff Reed (one of our camper’s father).

We used MATA’s C-172 and MATA friend Scott Price’s C-172-180hp every day, in spite of periodic low ceilings/rain showers.  Campers flew a total of 44.2 hours, averaging 3.7 hours at the controls and 7.3 hours in the passenger seats observing.  They also received 15 hours of ground instruction, visited the nearby Flying Heritage Collection, and flew radio-controlled models with a local club.

Through short devotionals at breakfast and evening sessions including mission videos and movies, campers were exposed to the need for missionaries and missionary pilots, and challenged to be attentive to God’s leading.  Several campers indicated an interest in mission aviation, and perhaps we will see some of them back for training in the future!  (Note:  One of our 2008 campers just sent us an application to begin flight training with MATA next spring!!)

            Using the checklist for pre-flight inspection.

                                                         Camper making a pre-flight inspection of MATA's C-172.

               Campers Tim and Kari checking the aileron hinges and actuator rod end on the C-172-180hp prior to flight.

  Instructor Brandon Penkoff checks the campers in the rear seats as camper Joe Noble prepares for his turn at the controls.

                                                                      Kari during flight, making a left turn.

Putting the plane away after a day's flying:  about 45 minutes at the controls and 1-1/2 hours observing from the rear seats.

                       Getting some extra time at the controls using our Personal Computer Aviation Training Device.

     Kari flying a radio-controlled airplane under the watchful eye of Ron Holmwall, Arlington Eagles R/C Flyers instructor.