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 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.
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.
MISSION AFFILIATION
NEW ANNOUCEMENT (9/24/25)
MFI only serves or flies those working with missions affiliated with MFI. To qualify for affiliation, each mission must be actively involved in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Other criteria include being a church or a registered non-profit organization with a Protestant statement of faith.
If you are already an affiliated mission and just need to add a new missionary to your account, click below on the Mission Staff Information link. No password is required, but you must already be an approved affiliated mission and have your Mission ID to submit.
LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale Bradley
Special Agent for the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, retired
Randy Crowe (Vice-Chairman)
President, Island Outreach Inc., Pastor
Dr. Ron Giddens
Optometric Physician
Chuck Hanlon
Cyndy Hazlewood
Joe Karabensh
President of Missionary Flights International (MFI)
Harold Martin (Chairman)
President, FEA Ministries Inc.
Dr. David McEwen
Chiropractic Practice
Bud McLaughlin
Dick Snook
President Emeritus of Missionary Flights (MFI)
Dennis Stauffer
Government Employee
Seasonal pilot for Northern Youth Programs
Mark Stoltzfus
Former Owner of Preferred Airparts LLC
& Priority Air Charter LLC
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
N200MF was originally built in 1943 and rebuilt in 1989. It is a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine-engine-powered DC-3 purchased in 2003 from Dodson Aviation. With its greater cargo capacity, faster cruising speed, and reduced maintenance costs, N200MF has become the workhorse of the MFI fleet.
N300MF
Missionary Flights International's third DC-3 aircraft project, launched in 2015, recently completed its final test flights in March 2024. Nearly $6.1 million was raised for this aircraft, and it will soon be flown to Florida for a 6–8 week paint job, marking a significant milestone in expanding MFI’s fleet.
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
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.
