This Cessna T206H joined Mercy Wings International which is the aviation division of Living Water Teaching in 1999. 

The country of Guatemala is a mix of many environments, coastline, valley, jungle, volcano range, and high mountain.  And we require this aircraft to deftly negotiate these and many other hardships. 

Santa Maria Volcano as seen from nearby Santiaguito Volcano (left). 

And the Santa Maria Volcano as seen from our city, Quetzaltenango (right)

 Our mission base is located at 7800 feet on a volcanic plateau, here many piston aircraft struggle to make sufficient power to get off the runway, climb, or just maintain level flight.  Summer temperatures and humidity sap performance by producing high "density altitudes" in this already atmosphere starved location.

Inside the cowl is a Lycoming TIO-540.  The "T" designation in the model number, means this big engine is turbo-charged.  As piston aircraft gain altitude the thinning air becomes less and less useful in making a combustible mixture to produce a percentage of rated engine power.  Result: power produced is limited at higher altitudes. 

By super-charging, a greater volume of air is made available to the engine, thus making up for the thinning atmosphere.  Enabling power levels to be maintained at our higher altitudes.  Giving a very comforting 1000 ft / minute climb rate up to 14000 ft/MSL. 

The "I" designation means fuel is injected into each cylinder for uniform power, temperature, and efficiency.   Allowing all six cylinders to work in concert to produce 310 horse power under specific conditions.  The injection system on this engine has been specially modified , to further balance injected fuel for optimal efficiency.  All this to gain greater performance and margin for safety in the unforgiving terrain of Guatemala.

The aircraft is also upgraded with heavy landing gear for rural and jungle take off and landing.  Over sized tires absorb the shock of smaller obstacles encountered on unimproved strips.  And heavy duty brakes to stop a loaded aircraft on short fields.

Inside the fuselage is an array of modern instrumentation that provides the pilot with the ability to traverse this unpredictable environment with an above average degree of situational awareness. 

 This part of Guatemala has elevations from 10,800 ft to 12,500 ft; the minimum altitude while crossing one of these is at least 1000 ft higher.  At these altitudes it is a requirement to use oxygen, this aircraft is equipped with a system that makes breathing oxygen available for the pilot and up to five passengers.  That's the green tank in the tail cone.

The cabin/fuselage has room for six and storage for luggage or cargo in the aft section.  the seats can be removed in any combination to accommodate most any mission.  Including someone laying down, with easy access through the big cargo doors.  Overall well suited for it's role in Guatemala.

This aircraft cruises at 140 kts making visits to surrounding countries very possible.  For instance, the distance between Guatemala City and Belize City is about 220 Nautical Miles, this trip could be done in 1.6 hours. El Salvador in less then an hour, Tegucigalpa in 1.4 hours, Managua in 2.1 hours.  You get the idea.