Record Attempt Sends Aircraft to Timor

Parkes Regional Airport was a hive of activity on November 2^nd last year for a record attempt by a former Missionary Pilot.

Ron Watts, at the age of 64, was attempting to break an Australasian record for the most take off and landings by a single pilot in a single day. The target was 140 and at the end of the day, a new record was set with an average of 3 minutes between each landing.

A replica of the GA8 on display at Easterfest 2014

“We started the effort at 6am and by 4:30 that afternoon we had done it” Mr Watts said “It was a beautiful day in Parkes and the people were just fantastic”.

But this is only the beginning of the story. The record attempt also doubled as a fundraiser for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) who needed to make up the shortfall to pay for a second aircraft for Timor Lestē. 

 
A whopping $191 000 was raised, completely funding the $500 000 cost of the GippsAero Airvan 8 (GA8 Airvan).

Ron has been with MAF for almost 40 years. He's seen the difference light aircraft can make to remote communities and especially to the remote country of Timor Lestē where the only fixed wing aircraft in the entire country is a MAF GA8 Airvan.

MAF board chair Pam Condie poses with Ron at Easterfest

“The second aircraft would enable MAF to double the capacity to serve these people” Mr Watts explains, “We currently have 1 aircraft and 2 pilots flying missions that have regularly saved lives. Over the past year MAF have flown over 100 Medivacs, about 1 every 3 days, there are 30 aid agencies currently working in-country relying on our aircraft and our pilots to transport equipment and personnel across rugged and unforgiving terrain”. 



This is just the beginning of the work that MAF do with the Government of Timor Lestē also chartering the aircraft as required.

Mr Watts is looking forward to being part of the ferry team that will deliver the aircraft in June this year; “we’ve had to have a new engine fitted to the aircraft which has delayed the arrival, but I’m really excited about the way this second aircraft will boost the work of MAF to share the gospel through very real and practical service”.