The Mission Aviation Fellowship Australia has just taken delivery of a new GA8 aircraft for service in Papua New Guinea.
This is MAF PNG's first brand new aircraft in over 20 years. The Airvan has a new colour scheme; designed to match MAF's Flying for Life logo. It is the first of MAF's fleet to have this new paint job, but over time other aircraft from the MAF fleet will be painted in this same style.
This plane will initially be based in Mt Hagen but the intention is that it will eventually fly out of the Western Province of PNG.
The Airvan has been purchased using money donated to the MAF Aircraft Replacement Fund. Much of that has come from faithful and committed supporters,
mostly church-based, generously giving small amounts over a long period of time. In addition, the Fund is supplemented by contributions from a small
number of significant overseas donors and sales of old aircraft.
Following a dedication service at Ballarat Victoria on Saturday April 2nd the Airvan has begun a journey that will take it from Victoria up the
country through various centres including the national Capital Canberra and to MAF Headquarters in Mareeba, North Queensland. The tour will provide
opportunities for people to view it en route, before being ferried across to PNG in mid-May.
If you want an opportunity to inspect MAF's new Airvan during the tour see the tour itinerary on the MAF Australia web site www.maf.org.au or contact email angela_harding@maf.org.au for more information about venues and times.
MAF Australia now has extensive Airvan experience as it operates seven GA8s in Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory. MAF also recently operated an Airvan in Sumatra Indonesia in support of the tsunami disaster relief efforts.
For further information on this article please contact:
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 
