Who we are
This is kind of a long story, l mean “life long”. Let me start in the beginning. Father’s Day, 1964, Dad, was going to come and share some chocolate cake with me! He was on a search and rescue mission with Civil Air Patrol that weekend.
It was not my dad, but my grandfather, who showed up. He told me that my dad was not coming home. He had died on that mission.
Before tears feel, before grieving the loss, I remember looking up at my grandfather, knowing that I was going to do everything I could to honor my dad with my life, by being involved in aviation, because I knew that was one of the loves of his life.
In the early 80’s I spent a couple years serving at Wings For Christ, in Waco Tx. Keith Hull had founded this missionary organization. WFC in Waco offered training to those who were going to serve in other aviation organizations around the globe, such as Mission Aviation Fellowship, and Jungle Aviation and Relay Service .
Upon returning to Washington State, I set out to acquire the training necessary to maintenance the aircraft I hoped to acquire. I wanted to set up another chapter of Wings For Christ.
Dad and me, 1964
Concrete Airport
After a few years at North Sound Aviation, and a few more in school, Boeing hired me on as the Chairman of the I/R department on the 777 program.
At the same time I set up a shop at Concrete Airport and launched Wings For Christ, Washington Chapter.
Wing Jigs
Time passed, I relocated to eastern Washington. I set up another wing shop and though we gained one student and volunteer instructor, the dream of a missionary flight school never seemed to get off the ground. However, the skills I acquired to rebuild Cessna Wings had always proved valuable.
Several more years passed, I was approached by Patrick Cullinane, who was in the process of overseeing the rebuild of one of the first Cessna 180’s off Cessna’s production line.
He convinced me to rebuild their wings. However, there were a couple hurdles:
1. I had sold my wing jigs and thought I was done building. (this was the second time I had sold them. the first time they ended up in southern California, and were laying out behind a building collecting dust.)
2. I did not have adequate shop space and/or the tools and equipment to dive into a set of wings.
Nonetheless, Patrick was convincing. This time the wing jigs were in Las Vegas. The new owner of that company did not want to set up a wing shop. Once again, I negotiated a deal to acquire the wing jigs I had built several decades before.
I bought an 94 F250 off market place and headed to Las Vegas. There were some stunning views traveling through the desert.
The Epiphany
My story can look different than Keith’s! I build wings, and “whatever your hands find to do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord”!
I can build Wings For Christ!
Our little farm here in Carlton has one more facet to it’s beauty. A Washington State 501 C-3 Non Profit “Wings For Christ” and bonafide wing shop.
The shop is in the process of getting a facelift. Taking a pole building and turning it into a very organized and well tooled up shop.
We can turn your old wings into opportunities, training, and funds for humanitarian projects.
Please consider donating those wings laying out behind your hangar!
Or have us repair/rebuild your wings or control surfaces, knowing that you are paying it forward for some non profit using aviation to help people. We will set aside funds from every project that will be used to help keep them flying, the people out there in the bush, or in the wilderness, who are using their airplane and their skills to help others.
Cessna 180, the best bush plane in the world. Let’s keep them flying. If your organization needs our help to keep flying missions, if your mission is building the Kingdom of God, we are here to help.
This Ain’t My First Rodeo
This will be the 5th wing shop I’ve set up. It just keeps getting better!
We built this shop around a C-170, dragging it out when we needed to put up walls and trusses!
From the floor up! It seems to be the way of it. Constantly making thinks better, creating space to continue this wonderful craft. And I keep coming back to this. I won’t be selling the jigs again.
My dear friend and mentor, Karl Anderson. He and I spent several years together at North Sound Aviation. He has been holding up the fort at Aircraft Northwest for the last several decades. He is one of the best wing builders in the world.
