N911MF is a Cessna 310. As it's tail number indicates, this is MFI's emergency airplane. It can seat 5 passengers and allows MFI to transport a small number of passengers when the need arises.
WHO WE ARE
Mission Statement
to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in partnership with Bible-centered missions by providing reliable transportation and logistical services.
OUR STORY
Don Beldin sitting at his desk in 1968.
Don Beldin was just one man flying a small single-engine airplane in the 1960s for Youth for Christ evangelism in the Bahamas. Responding to need, Don began transporting other missionaries and equipment in his plane. In 1964, the Lord guided Don to incorporate Missionary Flights International (MFI) to meet the growing needs of Bible-centered missions. The need for air service increased, so MFI acquired larger planes and added new countries.
MFI Pilots in the cockpit of the DC-3.
After 42 years in West Palm Beach, MFI moved to Fort Pierce, FL in 2006. Today, MFI operates out of two hangars flying turbine-powered DC-3s to meet the needs of over 600 missions in the Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and wherever the Lord directs. About 300 tons of cargo and 4,000 Christian workers are transported every year.
LEADERSHIP
Joe Karabensh, President
Roger Sands, Vice President of Administration
Larry Campbell, Vice President of operations
Brian Johnson, Vice President of Marketing & Development
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale Bradley
Special Agent for the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, retired
Rock Hill, SC
Randy Crowe (Chairman)
President, Island Outreach Inc.
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Dr. Ron Giddens
Optometric Physician
Boynton Beach, FL
Chuck Hanlon
Researcher for the South Florida
Water Management District
West Palm Beach, FL
Water Management District
West Palm Beach, FL
Cyndy Hazlewood
Long-time volunteer at MFI
Senior Flight Attendant at MFI
Local volunteer at MFI and Habitat for Humanity
Harold Martin (Vice-Chairman)
President, FEA Ministries Inc.
Hobe Sound, FL
Former V.P., Missionary Flights
Former Pilot, Missionary Flights
Dr. David McEwen
Chiropractic Physician
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Bud McLaughlin
Information Systems (30 years)
Haiti Missionary (8 years)
President, Haiti Mercy Mission
Fort Pierce, FL
Dick Snook
President Emeritus, Missionary Flights
Fort Pierce, FL
Dennis Stauffer
General Manager - Priority Air Charter (Kidron, OH)
Seasonal pilot for Northern Youth Programs (Dryden, Ontario, Canada)
Mark Stoltzfus
Owner, Preferred Airparts LLC
Owner, Priority Air Charter LLC
Kidron, OH
Joe Karabensh
President, Missionary Flights
Vero Beach, FL
SUPPORTED STAFF
Most of our staff must raise their own financial support in order to work at Missionary Flights. If you are interested in supporting one of our staff members, please designate an amount below or click on their picture.
OFFICE STAFF
Our office staff do not rely on financial supporters in order to work at Missionary Flights. They provide support for the daily operations at MFI. If you are interested in learning more about one of our staff members, please click on their picture below.
Receptionist
Bookkeeper
Warehouse Assistant
Development & Special Event Coordinator
Digital Media Specialist
Warehouse Administrative Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator
Purchasing Manager
Human Resources
THE FLEET
"THE AIRPLANE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD"
The Douglas DC-3 launched the commercial airlines in the 1930's, flew as a war-time transport in the 1940's, and continues in active commercial service today. No other aircraft has achieved or matched the safety record of the Douglas DC-3 or its rugged dependability. General Dwight Eisenhower listed the Douglas C-47 "Gooney Bird" (DC-3) as one of four pieces of equipment that he considered vital in winning the Second World War.
Douglas produced the DC-3 aircraft from 1935 to 1946. Some 12,000 DC-3/C-47s rolled off the production line; an estimated 1,000 are still flying. MFI's flagship passenger turbine DC-3 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine engines, each of which produces 1,230 horsepower at takeoff. The turbine DC-3 cruises at an average of 225 mph., burning 145 gallons per hour and carrying up to 1,030 gallons of fuel. The cabin of the passenger DC-3s can seat up to 32 in comfortable reclining seats.
The Douglas DC-3 is a proven workhorse and is ideally suited for missionary service because of its versatility, dependability, and low cost of operation. Fully loaded, it can operate safely off many different sized airstrips. MFI has flown Douglas DC-3s in missionary air support service since 1976 and now operates two turbine DC-3s as well as a Cessna 310N.
N200MF
N300MF
The drastic situation in Haiti is even more reason for Missionary Flights to trust God for the completion of the third DC-3 aircraft. MFI wants to do more for missions and be ready to "Stand in the Gap" for any need that comes up. The third plane will help MFI do just that! This $6.1 million project started in the Spring of 2015 and is hoped to be finalized by the end of the year with less than $800,000 left to be raised. The wings have been attached, the brand-new turbine engines have been installed and rigged and the interior is almost up to FAA regulation standards.
N500MF
N500MF was originally built in 1944. MFI purchased it in 2010 from a company that had been flying it in Canada but no longer had a need for it. After a year and a half of total restoration in Ohio, two freshly overhauled PT-6 turbine engines were installed and MFI began flying it for missions in the fall of 2011.
N911MF
EVENTS
Join us on November 1st, 2024,
in Fort Pierce, FL.
In-person tours for individuals, families, and groups.