Samaritan Aviation News

PNG July Update

2011-07-29T13:45:00.000-06:00


Life Flight: Mother in Distress from Mirsey

Container Committee: Going Through Contents of 40' Container


Community Health: Angriman Village Lessons

July has been a busy month for the PNG Team! Medicine deliveries, Life Flights, unpacking the latest 40' container and Community Health Evangelism classes in Angriman Village.

Every day is an adventure, and we thank each member of our team for the part they play in making Samaritan Aviation what it is!!!

Mercy Flight: Baby Dean

2011-07-05T16:55:00.000-06:00

Recently we had the honor of flying this little guy, Baby Dean, and his mom, Natalie, home from the hospital. Baby Dean came a little earlier than expected, causing an unexpected plane landing in an unexpected city.

Here's what Natalie had to say about her experience:

"Samaritan Aviation was God answering prayer. I had my precious baby Dean in a place and time that I had not planned but God showed me his hand. 'In his heart a man plans his course but God determines his steps.' God put me in a safe place to have baby Dean and I was ever so grateful but I was also ready to go home and be with my family, especially my 4 year-old son. The doctors and hospital staff seem to think insurance would cover the transport and I could be home soon but the cost was too high and I was crushed when I was told it was not going to happen.

My family, church, and friends responded with more prayers and faith. God responded with Samaritan Aviation. The day after learning insurance would not cover the transport I learned about Samaritan Aviation and all I could think was that God is good and that the whole experience was so much bigger than me. Not only was God showing me to trust in him and his plan but he was showing me his love through others.

Last Sunday my pastor was preaching from Acts and one of his points was to serve in the name of Jesus Christ and you will impact others and lives will be changed and brought to Jesus Christ. Thank you to everyone involved with Samaritan Aviation for serving in the name of Jesus Christ. I love to tell my story and be able to tell others about your organization and how you help others in the U.S. and around the world in the name of Jesus Christ. I appreciate the follow up and kindness you have shown and I think the best way I can show my gratitude is to pray for those you continue to serve because I know now more than ever that God answers prayer."

Thanks, Natalie and Baby Dean for the privilege of taking you home!
And, THANKS Samaritan Team for making these stories happen. We couldn't do this without YOU!!

One Month Later...Update on Baby Akai

2011-04-11T10:52:00.000-06:00

On March 3rd, 2011, Baby Akai, a preemie was flown via Life Flight to the hospital. Now, a month later, Baby Akai is thriving and growing!

PNG Medical Deliveries

2011-04-01T15:54:00.001-06:00

This week nearly 600 lbs of medical supplies were delivered to the Upper Sepik area, including Mowi, Hauna, and Oum; this outpost area serves the needs of over 15,000 Papua New Guineans.

2011 Perspective from Jason Schwitters

2011-03-30T15:05:00.000-06:00

Recently, a team from the USA visited Papua New Guinea. Jason Schwitters was part of that team, and he shares his perspective of his first trip to PNG here:

"My Papua New Guinea experience is one that I will never forget. It is hard to put into words the events we experienced as a team in February 2011.

The country is one of great beauty. The landscape is very diverse; from the breathtaking coastal and ocean views of Wewak to the rugged land along the Sepik, each area has its own form of beauty.

Exceeding the physical beauty is the beauty of the people of Papua New Guinea. As we meet and worked alongside them, this became more and more evident. “People are forever,” is a statement coined by Samaritan Aviation; how very true. Sitting around telling stories, sharing gifts, working side-by-side, praying together, singing, and worshiping the one true God: these are unforgettable memories that will be cherished forever.

Our three day visit to Angriman village was a great experience! The villagers truly wanted to know their visitors on a personal level. Meaning for them is found in community, not individualism. They gave us great gifts and found joy in generosity, not materialism. It was evident that we shared the same truth that is found in Christ. How special to be halfway around the world singing with fellow believers in Papua New Guinea the same praise songs I learned growing as an America.

PNG has great needs, both physically and spiritually. God is working through Samaritan Aviation, and Samaritan Aviation is doing great things to fulfill those needs. To see firsthand the people that are being touched and the lives that are being saved is a true blessing."

The Story of Mercy Flight Pilot, Rick Weaver

2011-03-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

By Rick Weaver, Mercy Flight Pilot (Far Right)

"For the last year I’ve enjoyed serving the Lord through Samaritan Aviation as a Mercy Flight pilot. This has been the fulfillment of a dream for me as a blending of my passion for flying, meeting new people, and desire to serve, support and encourage others in need. The individuals and families we serve with Mercy Flights are under much stress and uncertainty. Most patients have stabilized medical conditions, but do not travel well except by air. It’s such an honor to be able to give them a break from the difficulties they are facing by providing a comfortable, safe, and timely flight. Flying over the mountains provides a new perspective and some relief from the realities they face. They are often open to discussing the ways God is working in their lives and we are often encouraged by their faith and unexplainable peace.

My interests in flying began as a young boy, raised by two WWII pilot parents. I earned my student pilots license in 1971, graduated from college and was married in 1976, then focused on raising a family. I remember one day reading an organization’s requirements for becoming a mission pilot. As I compared the requirement against my experience and age, I began to weep, feeling like that would be something I would deeply enjoy, but I would never be able to accomplish in this lifetime. Later, at the urging of a friend and flight instructor I was able to complete my private, commercial and instrument training and gained about 1,000 flight hours in a Cessna 210, similar to Samaritan’s. Not too many years ago I reflected while viewing the Jesus Film in a migrant worker’s camp in Mexico, and realized that the Lord had fulfilled the desire of my heart by allowing me to fly as a part-time mission pilot for Samaritan and other ministries.

After the Palm family relocated to Papua New Guinea, I also became one of the stateside contacts to help secure aircraft parts and supplies needed to keep the Cessna 206 flying safely. While I’m not too thrilled “turning wrenches” for very long, my attention to detail and experience maintaining equipment help with this job.

The Samaritan Team of staff, supporters, volunteers, mechanics, and other pilots are a joy to serve alongside."

Team in PNG: Pastor Joe

2011-03-17T10:26:00.000-06:00

Early last year Pastor Joe Kreng and his family joined Samaritan Aviation as full time staff in Papua New Guinea. Samaritan Aviation helped Joe with his college education and he has been volunteering for the past six years helping to lay the foundation for our current operation.

He and his family are a vital part of the team and he is in charge of Samaritan’s hospital ministry in Wewak.

Joe is going through training as a leader in our Community Health Evangelism program and often goes on medical delivery flights to the jungle. He makes a positive impression on all who come across his path and we are thankful to have Joe and his family on the team.

Letter from Papua New Guinea, Spring 2011

2011-03-11T16:06:00.001-07:00

By Mark Palm

Greetings from Papua New Guinea! It is hard to believe we have been here a year! The transition was hectic to say the least, but overall I think it was probably just about “normal” considering we moved our family halfway across the world.

The first few months went by quickly with the major focus being the transition of the family, developing relationships with local leaders here in Wewak, hiring local staff, putting the plane back together, and beginning our flight operations.

Since the middle of last March, the Spirit of Paradise and I have been busy delivering medicine to remote clinics and performing emergency evacuations.

This truly has been a dream come true for Samaritan Aviation and our family. Kirsten has done a great job of being a wife, mother, teacher, and tracking my flights on the computer.

One of our highlights here was when our whole family was able to deliver medicine to the remote clinic at Hauna. We were able to tour the large high school and clinic there. The kids were able to experience a ride on a fifty-foot canoe and see village life firsthand.

On the flight home, an emergency call came in and we diverted to pick-up a mother who had a breached birth. The whole family was able to experience a medicine delivery and a Life Flight. Both the mother and child are alive today because of that flight! There is something special about doing ministry as a family. It was truly memorable for each of us.

The need here is great and we are excited about the coming year as Samaritan Aviation continues to minister to those in need, both physically and spiritually. Thanks for all of your prayers and support for our family and Samaritan Aviation! We could not do this without you.

Update: Dwight Douglas

2011-03-08T15:23:00.002-07:00

Some of you may have made donations for Dwight Douglas via Samaritan. Here is an update:

Dwight received his heart transplant on October 14, 2010. The thoughtful and generous gift of a stranger and their family has given Dwight another chance for a healthy life. As a result of this gift, Dwight and his family have enjoyed another Thanksgiving, another Christmas, and another New Year celebration together. They are looking forward to many more celebrations. Additional details about the transplant process and Dwight's current condition can be found at www.caringbridge.org/visit/dwightdouglas
.

Dwight and his family are so thankful for the help and support Dwight has received and continues to be blessed with during this journey. All the prayers, words of encouragement, financial gifts, phone calls, emails, and visits are so greatly appreciated!! A special note of thanks to all who have contributed financial assistance. The funds that have been given are helping cover the out-of-pocket expenses associated with Dwight's transplant and continuing medical care. Dwight and his family will forever be thankful for the generosity of so many friends, family members, and even strangers!

Donations can still be made via Samaritan Aviation in Dwight Douglas' name. To help with Dwight's ongoing medical expenses, please visit: www.samaritanaviation.com. Click the "GIVE" tab. Fill in the donation form and type "Dwight Douglas" in the comments section.

More background information can be found at: www.heartfordwight.com

PNG Life Flights

2011-03-04T15:15:00.003-07:00

Take a look: Baby Akai, a preemie, is in good hands! He's headed for the hospital nursery where he'll have a chance to put on some weight.

Samaritan's PNG Life Flight team making things happen. Way to go, guys! Anna is on her way to the hospital for a much needed blood transfusion and more testing. Please keep all of them in your prayers.

Age of Technology

2011-03-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

There's been a stretch of time between the last post and this one...but we've dusted off the blog and brought it out with a new look and some exciting NEW news!

In an attempt to save on postage and keep everyone in the know, we'll be posting updates to the blog regularly and keeping current news on your radar!

Stay tuned for updates. Sign up to follow. Let us know what touches your hearts!

Thanks!
The Samaritan Team

Oshkosh 2009

2009-08-10T13:01:00.001-06:00

Oshkosh was a great success this year! Many opportunities to fellowship with other mission aviation groups, individual Samaritan supporters, and network with several new people.

Left to right: Mark Palm, Ambassador Evan Paki, Gary Bustin & Tom Hamilton.

Our wonderful host family, Bill & Linda!

An evening of fellowship, group dinner & Samaritan presentation.

The Spirit of Paradise was on static display at the main base this year. We were one of many organizations representing IAMA's "Fly for Life" theme this year, highlighting the humanitarian work we do with our aircraft.

Samaritan's 7th Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner/Auction Fundraiser!

2009-08-10T12:02:00.000-06:00

Over 150 poeple attended the dinner and 26 teams showed up to golf! We were blessed to have raised nearly $30,000 from this event which will go towards our first year's operations in Papua New Guinea!!!

Kristi Ward was our guest speaker for the evening. It was really neat to hear part of her & Eric's story. To read more about Eric, visit our homepage.

Co-founders Mark Palm (right) and Gary Bustin (left) gave a presentation in Pidgin, one of the native languages in Papua New Guinea.

Boars head tucked away in the brush representing authentic wild animals in PNG for the evening's theme "Spirit of Paradise".

A hut was built by one of our volunteers to give a more native feel & help represent again the theme of the evening.

Post-chemo party for Sierra Smith!

2009-04-29T14:02:00.000-06:00

For those of you who have followed Sierra's story, she finished her last round of chemo the week after Easter! She is also scheduled to have more surgeries in the fall for the prosthesis in her leg, so please keep her in prayer! The Smith family would like to extend their great gratitude and sincere thanks for all of your prayers lifted up during Sierra’s treatment.

(See Party details below!)

You're Invited: Post-chemo "potluck" party for Sierra

Hosted by: Sierra's parents

When: Sunday - May 17, 2009 (12:30-4:30pm)

Location: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Ridgway State Park shelter A

"We'd love it if Samaritan Aviation supporters who have prayed for and helped us out would join us. Bring along a side dish or dessert to share. We're providing hotdogs and the entry fee of $6 for the first 20 vehicles after 12pm. Tell the entry ranger you're there for Sierra's Celebration. And please call (970) 497-2205 to leave a message and let us know how many in your party are coming!" - The Smith Family

Mercy Flight News

2009-04-29T13:25:00.000-06:00

We recently flew Eric & his wife Kristi to Denver where he received some initial medical treatment, and then back home to Delta, CO. Eric is a Youth Pastor, husband and father of three that has been diagnosed with “carcinoma of unknown primary”. Doctors are treating Eric’s cancer like a Germ Cell Tumor, which can have a rare distribution pattern and begins in the abdomen. Please join us in lifting this family up in prayer as they continue to move forward with treatment. Eric and his wife both have amazing hearts and are living their lives out loud for God! It’s been a privilege hearing their story, getting to know them, and standing by their side through this difficult time.

Eric & his wife Kristi...en route to Denver.

Kristi, Eric & Gary Bustin (pilot).

The gang in front of Samaritan's 210 and hangar, preparing for departure.

Mercy Flight for Dave

2008-12-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

On Friday, December 12, 2008 we had the privilege of flying Dave (and his wife Michelle pictured below) from a treatment center in Kansas City back to his home in Gillette, Wyoming. Dave is not yet forty years old and has ALS and Lyme disease.

Thank you for your prayers during this Mercy Flight - we made it safely! However, please join us in continuing to pray health & healing for Dave's body, as well as comfort and peace for both Dave and his family.

Arriving in Arkansas

2008-12-03T16:56:00.001-07:00

We were greeted by some of friendliest & most accomodating people in Mena, Arkansas during one of our last city stopovers on round 3 of the Spirit Tour. Phyllis Bell & Barbie Hatfield (pictured below) rallied the troops in Mena and handled the details for what turned out to be a fantastic reception at the local airport!

Dallas, Take Two...

2008-12-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Our large group event in Dallas was hosted at the Business Jet Center at Love Field. Some great shots were taken of the plane & we had the opportunity to introduce Samaritan to several new people.

Dr. David Brown, one of Samaritan's Board Members & a local Dallas/Ft. Worth resident, standing in front of the 206 at our event.

Next Stop, San Antonio

2008-12-03T15:08:00.001-07:00

We stopped over in San Antonio to catch up with some dear friends and we enjoyed staying with them on their ranch. They continue to bless us by their friendship & faithful support to Samaritan.

Quick Stop in Austin...

2008-12-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

Spending some time with our good friend & Samaritan supporter, Ted Dekker. The "Spirit of Paradise" was loving the backdrop of an island sunset!

Great turnout in Houston!

2008-12-03T11:06:00.001-07:00

Our event in Spring, TX (just outside of Houston) was a hit! American Flyers gave us a great venue to host the evening and a large, anxious crowd showed up to see the plane in person.

Guests included 3 generations of the Carroll Family!! The Carroll's are long-time, loyal supporters of Samaritan and it was a real treat to see all of them in Houston.

Destined for Dallas!

2008-12-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

After leaving Florida, we started en route to Texas!

Aerial view of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. After meeting with the World Missions Director on staff, Samaritan might have the opportunity to be supported by and or partner with this congregation!

Onward to Ocala...

2008-12-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

As the tour continued in Florida, we made a stopover at Landmark Aviation in Ocala. With the support of Gary's parents & some other locals, the event proved to be a success. Many attendees heard Samaritan's story for the first time.

It was a privilege to have lunch with Steve Saint & spend the day with some of his crew at I-TEC in Dunnellon, FL.

Spirit Tour Resumes in Southeast!

2008-11-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

The third leg of our national tour started out in Southern Florida. Kudos to our amazing friend & Photojournalist, Jim Sitton (from Corpus Christi, Florida) for shooting an awesome video of "The Spirit of Paradise" in action.

Amphibious Landing on Lake Ooooo!

Mercy Flight to Denver

2008-10-29T15:16:00.001-06:00

Sierra Smith, a young girl we flew on a mercy flight for the first time last week (10/22/08), required more medical treatment in Denver today so we flew her & her mom Robyn back this morning. We are truly grateful for Galen, a wonderful friend & Samaritan supporter, who volunteered to be the pilot for this morning's mercy flight! If you'd like to know more about Sierra's story, please visit Samaritan Aviation's homepage.

Samaritan Meets with PNG Deputy Prime Minister!

2008-10-27T16:41:00.001-06:00

While on tour in NYC, Samaritan had the privilege of meeting with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Puka Temu. The meeting was an opportunity for Samaritan to share their desires and goals in regards to receiving the remaining 8 (of 10) land lot titles applied for in PNG over 5 years ago. Dr. Temu & Ambassador Paki have been very instrumental in working towards this goal of gaining ownership of the land.

Left to right: Mark, PNG Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Puka Temu, Gary, Ambassador Evan Paki

Check out the article that captured Samaritan in The National (a national news source for PNG). Scroll down to the article entitled "US Mercy Aviators Keen on PNG".

North Carolina Campers on Mission

2008-10-27T16:30:00.000-06:00

Flying into Denton, NC to speak at the gathering of North Carolina Campers on Mission (NCCOM).

We were extended the invitation by David & Sharie (in Mark's extended family) and we were blessed by their eager hearts for Christ, as well as their interest in the work our 206 will be doing in PNG.

South Carolina Stop Over

2008-10-27T15:53:00.001-06:00

Dr. Dan Cransten (Samaritan's Field Medical Director) assisted us in planning an event for local supporters & donors in Greenville, SC.

We had a great visit with New Life Chemical & Equipment (based in Greenville, SC) and had the opportunity to meet several employees of a wonderful organization who supports Samaritan.

Thanks for hosting us for lunch New Life!

Another highlight to "The Spirit of Paradise Tour" was stopping over at Bell Aviation in Columbia, SC. God continues to bless us with new friendships, including Don Bell (pictured above). We were super excited to go flying in his T-6 and hot air ballooning!

Embassy Event in D.C.

2008-10-27T15:38:00.000-06:00

Samaritan was invited to speak at the 33rd Independence Anniversary of Papua New Guinea...what an amazing opportunity, and with honor we gladly accepted!

New contacts made at the Embassy Event...a great opportunity to network with several people who were hearing about Samaritan for the first time.

Samaritan's story capturing the attention of many eager listeners at the Embassy!

On Tour in Virginia

2008-10-27T15:13:00.000-06:00

Stopping over in Virginia on the tour was time well spent! We had the opportunity to speak at a wondeful church, catch up with long-distance friends & share what the Lord is doing with Samaritan!

We truly enjoyed speaking at Baptist Novum Church in Reva, VA. Mark was able to lead worship at two services during the weekend and Pastor Jeffrey Light (pictured above) and the entire congregation were very welcoming to Samaritan.

While in Virginia we stayed with long-time friends & Samaritan Supporters, Jay & Margie Johnson.

Eating a wonderfully prepared meal with Jay & Margie...thanks for your hospitality!

Catching up on the tour!

2008-10-07T01:22:00.000-06:00

Our hosts in Smoke Town drove us to the airport early in the morning and helped us load the plane. We have had a chance to meet many wonderful people on the tour and value the new friends that have been made.

Final Approach to Morgantown

After leaving Smoke Town we flew to Morgantown, WV where we had a lunch meeting with old friends, Jamey and Cara Gremillion, as well as a small group from their church. It was fun to catch up with them again.

After lunch we took some time to show them the Spirit of Paradise before heading off to our next meeting that evening in Virginia

We filed an IFR flight plan out of Morgantown and headed to Brownsville, Virginia. It was the first time we had flown this plane in actual IFR conditions and everything went as planned.

We arrived in Brownsville in time to set up for our next presentation. The airstrip at Brownsville was short with trees on each end. It made for an interesting landing but an even more interesting departure.

We made the presentation to a small but friendly group that included old friends Phil and Margaret Estes and even the Mayor of Brownsville.

The next morning Phil and Mark drove the cargo over to Orange County, VA so we would have a safety margin for take-off. It was a short flight and then Phil was given a ride that included a "splash and go" on lake Hanna.

We were soon met by Jay Johnson and his friend Mark. Jay is the inventor of the Glass Craft Spider Gun that sprays fiberglass. He and his wife, Margie, are dear friends and it was a privilege to catch up with them again and take Jay and Mark flying in the 206. Jay is an amazing pilot with an aviation history that includes friends such as Chuck Yeager and Burt Rutan.

After our visit with Jay and Margie we rented a hangar and put the "Spirit of Paradise" to bed. The first leg of the tour was successful and long. The next morning we flew out of Regan National on a jet and headed home to Colorado to spend time with our families and get caught up at the office.

Smoketown, Pennsylvania

2008-09-10T12:17:00.000-06:00

Steve Saint was at Missions Fest with a replica of the plane his father, Nate Saint, flew in Ecuador. Steve spoke about his experiences as a missionary and did a demonstration of the famous "bucket drop." Steve is a family friend and it was nice to catch up with him again.

Dave Voteman, one of the Kodiak founders, was also at Missions Fest. He is a long term missionary pilot and a passionate speaker. Dave has been a big help to Samaritan Aviation and is responsible for helping us become part of the Quest Mission Team. We were able to fly in the Kodiak for the first time and experience what our next airplane will be like. The Kodiak is a powerful and well built craft and will revolutionize mission aviation.

The event started early Saturday morning and ended Sunday evening. It was attended by 4,000 people from the local area. Each day there were flight demonstrations and speaking venues.

Before we knew it Missions Fest Lancaster had come to an end. We had a productive few days at Smoketown and were able to meet several interesting people. We would like to thank Merlin and Charlie for the invitation as well as all those who helped make the event a success.

Interesting fact: the Smoketown airport is owned by an individual who is into mission aviation work and they host Missions Fest each year.

Scranton, Pennsylvania was another stop along the way where we met some individuals for a late lunch meeting. The views were outstanding, just want to share a few pics!

Salem, Ohio

2008-09-03T23:12:00.000-06:00

After leaving Indy we headed east to Ohio. Just after crossing the state line we flew over this corn field. Click on the picture to enlarge it and see if you can read what it says.

The "Spirit of Paradise" on final approach to Salem Airpark where we spent time with some old friends and introduced Samaritan Aviation to several potential supporters. You can read more about our visit by clicking on the link to the Salem News. http://salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/504549.html

Indy

2008-09-01T02:24:00.001-06:00

Later that night we flew over Indianapolis to the northeast side of the city and spent the night with some of our long-time supporters. It is always exiting to show the plane to people who have helped fund the project.
After leaving Wings of Hope we flew past the Arch and on to Greenwood, Indiana where we met with some old friends about Samaritan Aviation.

St. Louis

2008-08-28T23:19:00.000-06:00

The next stop was in St. Louis where we showed the final product to our friends at Wings of Hope who helped us refurbish the Cessna 206. We also took the opportunity to do some maintenance on the plane and prepare for the rest of the tour. Special thanks to Wings of Hope for all they have done to help.

Kansas City

2008-08-28T22:36:00.000-06:00

We started the tour in Olathe, Kansas where we have a good group of supporters. Gary graduated from the university in Olathe so it was a time to catch up with old friends and make new contacts. We would like to thank the Dickie family who play bluegrass music at Silver Dollar City for coming out to play for the reception. Dr. James Dickie is on Samaritan's Board of Directors. We'd also like to thank Air Associates for hosting the event and Ray and Andrea for setting everything up. We set a goal for the tour of having 200 people sign up for $20 support for month. We picked up our first eight supporters towards the goal at this stop.

Ray was a mentor to Gary during his time in school here in Olathe. It was during that time that Samaritan Aviation was founded. It was a treat to bring the "Spirit of Paradise" to Kansas and get a picture with Ray and his plane. And thank him for his support during the early days.

Oshkosh Part 3

2008-08-22T13:57:00.000-06:00

Post-Oshkosh, we started the first leg of our national tour with the 206...keep checking our Blog or website for stopover cities & tour updates!

We enjoyed having Dr. Dan Cransten (our Field Medical Director) join us for a few days in Oshkosh.

Our Wonderful Host family - Bill & Linda, from Omro, Wisconsin.

We had the exciting opportunity to meet Shawn Tucker from Team Oracle at the air show. Left to right: Mark Palm, Jacob Carroll (SA Financial Director), Shawn Tucker, Ambassador Paki, & Gary Bustin.

Oshkosh Part 2

2008-08-22T13:07:00.000-06:00

We recently had the 206 on display at this year's Air Venture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where it generated quite a bit of interest. Ambassador Evan Paki, from Papua New Guinea, also visited the event and saw the "Spirit of Paradise" for the first time.

Oshkosh AirVenture 2008!

2008-08-16T12:43:00.000-06:00

The "Spirit of Paradise" reaches its final destination on Lake Winnebago for the AirVenture. This is what it's like landing on water in a float plane!

Day 1 at Oshkosh: Check out our tent and our new t-shirts!

Exhbit Location: Take a tour of the beautiful Seaplane Base.

Landing Oshkosh

2008-08-03T17:37:00.001-06:00

We have several pictures and short movie clips but can't upload them while we are here at Oshkosh. Check back in a few days to get caught up. It has been quite a week!

Welcome Aboard!

2008-07-27T06:38:00.000-06:00

Flight Across The Midwest

2008-07-26T10:30:00.000-06:00

We are in Sioux City, Iowa today and are headed out in a few hours for Oshkosh. We may not make it into the Seaplane base tonight but will get close.

The reason we are going to Oshkosh is because it is the largest aviation event in the world and we will have the "Spirit of Paradise" on display for a week in an area where 250,000 people will come by and see our plane. Our display is not located on the main grounds but will be at the Seaplane base a few miles away. There is a shuttle service to and from the main grounds. We will be spending long days talking to people about Samaritan Aviation and the difference this plane will make in Papua New Guinea. Evan Paki, the Ambassador, will be spending a few days with us and will be greeting the crowd on our behalf. Oshkosh is also a time to network with other mission aviation organizations and get the best deals on aviation related equipment. (You can find out more about the event by visiting http://www.airventure.org/)

Yesterday we flew over Kansas, Nebraska, and part way through Iowa. You can see the pictures of the States in that order. America is a beautiful place!

The Spirit of Paradise Tour begins!

2008-07-25T14:05:00.000-06:00

Spirit of Paradise

2008-07-25T06:57:00.000-06:00

Today we are headed to OshKosh for the first leg of our national tour. The plane has been fitted with all its decals and is ready to go.

We will be at the Vett Seaplane base from July 28th to August 4th. Make sure to come by and see us if you are at Oshkosh!

In Memory of Justice Warren

2008-07-15T16:56:00.000-06:00

Justice Warren, a young boy we have been transporting through our Mercy Flights, passed away yesterday 7.14.08 from battling brain cancer. A memorial fund has been set up in the name of Justin Warren and if you'd like to donate or send a card, please mail to:

Samaritan Aviation

c/o Justin Warren

PO Box 492

Montrose, CO 81401

Please note on your check or online donation "Warren Memorial Fund" or "Justice Warren". All donors' information will be forwarded to Justice's parents. As well, please join us in prayer during this difficult time for Justice's family & friends - Thank you.

6th Annual Samaritan Aviation Golf Classic

2008-07-13T00:22:00.000-06:00

Today was another big day at Samaritan Aviation. We held our 6th Annual Samaritan Aviation/Lone Eagle Golf Classic.

There were 108 golfers at the event and a host of volunteers. The shotgun start began with a fly-over, as is our tradition. The plane then circled above the players and dropped prizes all around the course. It is an exciting way to start the tournament and the competition to catch the prizes out of the air is amazing.

We started the event last night with a dinner for almost two hundred people that included a presentation on Samaritan Aviation and a live auction.

The proceeds from the weekend will go both to the family of Justice, a seven year old boy who we are working with right now, and the operation expenses of the organization.

We would like to thank all the sponsors and participants for making this our biggest tournament ever!

2008-07-11T14:37:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a day to celebrate as we finally finished the Cessna 206 that we have been working on for the past 2 years! The plane looks amazing (inside & out), especially with the floats attached. We are now gearing up for our 6th Annual Charity Golf Classic event, so enjoy the pictures and check back in with us soon!