![\"Larry](\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/phil-koop\/files\/2014\/07\/Larry-Dyes-Pictures-571.jpg\" "\\"Larry")
<\/a> <\/p>\nJune 6, 2014 NTMA\u2019s new Kodiak landed in McNeal, Arizona, at the operations center for NTM Aviation. <\/p>\n
Though a Kodiak for Papua New Guinea still seemed an impossibe dream last year, it is now a reality! Just six weeks ago, on April 24t<\/sup>h<\/sup>, a couple of ministry partners chose to buy a Kodiak for NTM Aviation\u2019s ministry in Papua New Guinea! <\/p>\n Now missionaries can breathe easier knowing that soon the Kodiak will be in PNG to sustain them as they bring Jesus to difficult remote settings and to provide medevac capabilities for them and their families\u2014even to Australia. <\/p>\n In a ceremony June 5 in Sand Point, ID, the plane officially changed hands. Quest Aircraft Corporation engineer Todd Harkins, a former NTMA colleague, handed the keys of the new Kodiak to Phil, executive director of NTMA. Quest Aircraft personnel who have prayed over every part of this plane joined with NTM personnel and local believers to surround the aircraft with prayer. Nels Pitotti, missions pastor of Valley Fourth Church in Spokane Valley, WA, led the whole group in giving thanks to God. <\/p>\n June 6 chief pilot Daren Spence and pilot Larry Dye flew it to McNeal. They landed to a cheering crowd waving colorful balloons and posters bearing messages like \u201cAll things are possible with God.\u201d \u201cIt was a beautiful day. We could not have asked for better,\u201d said Daren. \u201cThe Kodiak is a true joy to fly. It climbed smoothly to 19,000 feet and we stayed there for most of the 5-hour flight.\u201d He noted that the Kodiak\u2019s ability to climb well is a great asset for navigating over the mountains of PNG to the most isolated areas. <\/p>\n