Set Free!

Well, I've finally been set free in the Kodiak! :)  

Here's a few shots from the past week or so of flying in the Kodiak.  It's a little grainy, b/c it's from my point and shoot, but a nice rainbow appeared over the massive axe-head cliffs jutting out of the jungles north of Mahak Baru.

Dropping off a load of sugar and gas for the village of Binuang.

Over the past week and a half I've flown quite a few flights for the new Bupati (regional government official) as he goes around to each village thanking them for their support and assessing the needs and wants of each village.  It was pretty muddy in the turn-around area at the top of the Data Dian airstrip when I went in to pick up a group of people for the Bupati on Friday.

Actually it's more like clay, and it sticks to your tires and shoes and everything it touches!

The newly elected Bupati (in black) with some of his entourage.  Third one over from the left is fellow MAF pilot, Paul College, who was riding along with me that day as an "observer pilot" during the final phase of my checkout before I was "set free" to fly on my own.

Saturday was my first "solo" day.  The weather was gorgeous!  I flew nearly 800 nautical miles to eight different locations, carrying 23 passengers and about 2,300 pounds of supplies.  It's hard to imagine how much time and blood and sweat this saved the people that were served!

I'm thrilled to be fully-operational now in the Kodiak, and look forward to giving you many updates in the future as to how it's being used here to bless the people of Northeast Kalimantan!