We had a real treat today--a guided tour of the SIL/MAF airplane!
Some colleagues from the south of the country are in town this week, and they traveled in style--the organization's five-passenger plane. (The airplane means that the group could make the journey within a single day, which helps these meetings happen at all!) The plane is flown by our colleague Steve, who is an experienced missionary pilot and like his plane now serves both Wycliffe and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
While they're here, Steve agreed to give the kids an airplane show-&-tell. We gathered at the learning center, where Steve taught us how an airplane flies, explaining the various parts involved. (Did you know all those flaps are not called flaps? Ailerons, elevators, the rudder, spoilers... and yes, some are flaps...) He also shared about the process of becoming a pilot and specifically a missionary pilot. He sure had the kids' attention!
But the classroom time was just a warm-up for the main event, when we all drove down the street to Musoma's air field to check out the plane.
Look at those smiles! These kids are no strangers to air travel, but here was a plane just the right size to examine in detail.
And of course, they had Mr. Steve to actually show them how everything works.
He demonstrated all of the... flaps (a category name is just easier!)... that he'd explained in the classroom.
He even let the kids take turns climbing into the cockpit!
Talk about best field trip ever!
Afterwards, a couple young flying enthusiasts (and their dads) got to go for a ride in the plane. Back at the learning center, we heard them coming and rushed outside to wave as they flew overhead. Don't know if they saw us, but I do know that flight made the day for those boys!
So much fun.
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