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I have a couple of friends who were missionaries in Nepal a few years ago. While in Nepal, they often flew in special STO (short take off and landing) aircraft due to the size of the landing sites.

One such site was carved into a mountain side. Upon landing, the pilot immediately hits the brakes to avoid hitting the mountain side.

For takeoff, they pushed the aircraft backwards against the mountainside and revved the engines to their max while holding the brakes. At the last possible second, the brakes are released and the craft heads for the edge where it falls off downward in a steep dive to acquire enough speed for lift after which it then levels out and begins climbing to avoid the surrounding mountains.

It requires a LOT of faith to be a missionary considering the risks they are exposed to. Ignorant people often consider missionaries/preacher/evangelists as being somewhat less than brave, but that doesn't reflect the reality of their commitment.

I was once in a plane that hit one of those legendary clear air turbulances. During that incident, I had to reach down and pull myself back into the seat because I was floating in the air. Afterwards, the pilot announced that the plane dropped 2000 feet from the encounter.

I'd hate to experience a drop like that every time I took off in a plane. It would definately fill me with fear knowing that I was going to experience the equivilent of a parachuteless free fall.

It took twenty five years before I got on a plane again, and to make matters worse, it was on a business trip to New York that I couldn't avoid and it was on the day after the Challenger explosion.