INITIAL SKETCH

INITIAL CONEPT

During the 10:00 am service at Grace Bible Church, Tayler felt a strong presence and a growing feeling that culminated in an idea. This followed a presentation by Mark Stockeland, leader of Haiti Mission, who shared inspiring stories of empowering Haitian leaders to spread the gospel but also detailed the difficult and dangerous situation in Haiti, particularly the gang control of the Port of Prince, hindering access to their mission base. The idea that came to Tayler was to build an amphibious airplane, enabling the mission to bypass the gang-controlled port and maintain access to resources and safe passage.  He had three years of experience as a product engineer at Lockwood Aircraft Corporation, primarily focused on new product development, but no experience designing or building an entire aircraft.  Nevertheless, he felt confident that the Lord would guide him. This idea felt like an answer to his ongoing prayers about how he could serve God, specifically whether he should quit his job to become a missionary.

Tayler didn't immediately begin construction. He focused on his work and family life, but the feeling that he needed to pursue this mission for the Lord remained constant and pressing. 

September 9, 2022: During his break time at work, Tayler was in the break room when he noticed a water-flying magazine titled "Good Samaritans."  The July/August 2022 issue featured an article in red about Good Samaritan Aviation, a non-profit based in Papua New Guinea.  They used three Cessna 206 float planes for missionary work and humanitarian air evacuations.  Seeing this real-world example of a similar mission using aircraft across the ocean reignited Tayler's passion and confirmed the need for such a plane in the mission field.  He immediately began researching and gathering all available resources and information about airplane design and construction.

Tayler and his wife, Chelsea, hosted a dinner for missionary Lauren Hill. They spent time with her, learning about her recent activities and fundraising efforts during her time in the States.  She shared that she had been successful in raising funds for both personal needs and for Overland Missions as a whole.  Tayler then felt prompted to ask Lauren if she could use an airplane in Africa, where she served as a missionary.  Lauren began to cry, explaining that before leaving for the States, she felt God telling her to fundraise for a runway in her village in Africa.  She had argued with God, pointing out that she didn't even have access to an airplane.  Tayler then shared his ambition to freely provide an aircraft for mission work.  They collectively felt that this exchange was a confirmation from the Holy Spirit.

• Approximately one week after February 3, 2023: Tayler and Chelsea attended church and, due to seating arrangements, sat next to people they had never met before.  After the service, the man sitting next to Tayler said, "I don't normally do this, but I think the Lord wants me to tell you that you are about to do something great for Him, and to not get discouraged and to not listen to the people who are going to tell you otherwise."

• February 2023 onwards:  Tayler continued to dream and visualize what the airplane would look like and how it would function.  Concurrently, he continued working at Lockwood Aviation, where he gained valuable experience in aircraft design and structural load testing validation. This hands-on experience further equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary for his mission.  He also dedicated numerous hours to creating spreadsheets for calculations and studying aircraft design books to further his understanding and refine his plans.

• February 9, 2025: At church, the founders of Overland Missions spoke after the service, mentioning their search for fundraisers in the States.  During the service, Tayler felt the Lord prompting him to begin his mission by fundraising to build and donate an AirCam (the type of aircraft manufactured by his employer). He texted his dad to ask for help reaching out to potential donors and committed to dedicating more time to praying for the cause, specifically planning to wake up early each morning for prayer and communion with God.