The Mission Aviation Fellowship-Australia, a Christian aviation group based in northern Queensland, took delivery of a new GA8 Airvan on Tuesday August 31st for service in Arnhem Land to isolated aboriginal groups.
In a special handover ceremony at Gippsland Aeronautics Leighton Pittendrigh-Smith, Vice Chairman of the MAF-Australia National Board, took delivery of the Airvan from Gippsland Aeronautics Director Mark Burgin. The Airvan is the first new aircraft bought by the organisation in 20 years.
Former MAF CEO, Mr Jim Charlesworth, said MAF bought its last new plane in 1984 in the United States. It was a hail-damaged Cessna 206 and carried the low price tag of $A81,000.
"We got a good deal," said Mr Charlesworth who was present at the handover ceremony and believes MAF has received another good deal with the latest purchase.
The price tag for the new GA8 Airvan is around $650,000. Much of the money used to buy the aircraft has been raised by private donations.
The GA8 - the first of two to be bought in 2004 by MAF and destined for humanitarian work - will be based at Gove in the Northern Territory. It will be used for passenger transport and the delivery of essential supplies to aboriginal families living in remote outstations throughout Arnhem Land.
MAF's first plane - a Tiger Moth that served during WWII - was given to its pioneer aviators as a gift in 1949. The aircraft was used for a survey "flight of faith" from Melbourne to Queensland and the Northern Territory. MAF was founded in 1951.
Present at next Tuesday's handover were senior personnel from MAF and Gippsland Aeronautics and the Mayor of the City of Latrobe, Cr Darrell White.
For further information on this item please contact:
At Mission Aviation Fellowship
David Henry or Denis Lorimer
Phone 9890 4009 (mobile: 0425 861 653)
Email: david_henry@maf.org.au
At Gippsland Aeronautics
Marguerite Morgan
Sales Coordinator
Gippsland Aeronautics
PO Box 881
MORWELL 3840
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61 3 5172 1200
Fax: 61 3 5172 1201
Email: sales@gippsaero.com
