Cessna 182N – Pathfinder Plane

Pathfinder Plane

The Cessna Skylane is a perfect Mission plane because it is a single-engine, four-place aircraft, can carry over 1,200 pounds, is able to operate out of 1,000 foot airstrips, travels at 170 MPH and has a range of 900 miles. In 1999, Adventist World Aviation and the International Pathfinder clubs together purchased and rebuilt this Skylane for mission service, thus the “Pathfinder Plane” was born.

At the 2014 “Forever Faithful” International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, AWA along with Thunderbird Adventist Academy and Andrews University, ran a ground school, flight simulator program, and offered “Young Eagle” flights for all interested. The “Pathfinder Plane” was on display, and Pathfinders from all around the world were not only able to see and touch it, but also meet the missionary who has been flying this plane in Guyana for the past several years.

This special plane is back in the U.S. for necessary maintenance. After five years of service, it needs a complete overhaul. Unfortunately, while it is sitting here waiting for the required work, the mission services it was providing in Guyana have come to a halt. A second “Pathfinder Plane” has been commissioned to replace this one in Guyana, and it is nearly ready to deploy. However, funds are desperately needed to make this possible.

We also need funding to provide the overhaul of the original “Pathfinder Plane” and return it to service in the mission field. It is slated to go to the Philippines where it is desperately needed as soon as the work is completed.

Encourage your Pathfinder Club, your Sabbath School class, or your school to raise funds to help get this plane ready for its return mission service—it is urgently needed. Without it, people in the hard to reach places are not receiving medical assistance or hearing the stories from the Bible.

Last updated: June 2017