Maurice Kirk is in Africa
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Wales
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is the only bit I have to guess at and am not sure:-
"...either uses her for a camping den or as great play- ground mega slide.."
Narus is a girls school. So I am not sure if his poetic language refers to that, his dreams of a school or his imaginations of the Cub being used as a playground.
Th rest is a variation on what he is normally like offer to take the nurse for a flight in his Cub and even trying to dance with the nurse but falling over with his infected leg. So one step at a time meaning wait until he recovers more before trying to dance
It helps to get into his frame of mind such as when having a hip operation in "rural" France he "escaped" from the ward without permission for an hour or two and went to a very local race meeting in his hospital bed clothes. He got on very well with the hospital staff.
I thought this was not supposed to be shown but the cub and more :-
I WON'T give up, says Captain Calamity: Eccentric aviator, 72, vows to continue perilous journey across Africa despite crash-landing in a warzone, getting robbed and being stricken by malaria | Daily Mail Online
"...either uses her for a camping den or as great play- ground mega slide.."
Narus is a girls school. So I am not sure if his poetic language refers to that, his dreams of a school or his imaginations of the Cub being used as a playground.
Th rest is a variation on what he is normally like offer to take the nurse for a flight in his Cub and even trying to dance with the nurse but falling over with his infected leg. So one step at a time meaning wait until he recovers more before trying to dance
It helps to get into his frame of mind such as when having a hip operation in "rural" France he "escaped" from the ward without permission for an hour or two and went to a very local race meeting in his hospital bed clothes. He got on very well with the hospital staff.
I thought this was not supposed to be shown but the cub and more :-
I WON'T give up, says Captain Calamity: Eccentric aviator, 72, vows to continue perilous journey across Africa despite crash-landing in a warzone, getting robbed and being stricken by malaria | Daily Mail Online
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've recovered a few wrecked 'planes in my time, and objectively speaking, that Cub, as shown in the newspaper article, needs much more than a prop and a gear leg. The cost to recover (considering where it is) and repair that 'plane exceeds its value in my estimation. If it flies again before an inspection of the fuselage, structural repair and inspection of the wings and a sudden stoppage inspection of the engine, it will be in violation of it's C of A, and certainly not eligible for flight in foreign airspace.
Mr. Kirk should cut his losses, regain his health, and go home.
is a bit worrisome.... Hopefully it's journalistic license...
Mr. Kirk should cut his losses, regain his health, and go home.
and the phone that was stolen was his main navigational tool
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Wales
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What Step Turn says is extremely helpful. With his previous cub, it sank in the sea and he used publicity to get private sponsorship to buy another to carry on.
Knowing the way he thinks can we break down the recovery potential into the local situation?
So is the only recovery option that he would need to get a lorry to take the cub to an airport that could carry out the work and the inspection? Does anyone know which are the airports that could do both repair and inspection? And what the costs would be?
Knowing the way he thinks can we break down the recovery potential into the local situation?
So is the only recovery option that he would need to get a lorry to take the cub to an airport that could carry out the work and the inspection? Does anyone know which are the airports that could do both repair and inspection? And what the costs would be?
Thread Starter
It appears Maurice is thinking of changing the engine on site.
This from his latest facebook
Picture of the Cub in its current location.
This from his latest facebook
Maurice Kirk
Maurice Kirk Another c90 john asap ship as soon as possible put word about and he who finds my three Pipers last known about in hangar 80 miles south of houston and ships two .....keeps one, yes , keeps one
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Maurice Kirk Another c90 john asap ship as soon as possible put word about and he who finds my three Pipers last known about in hangar 80 miles south of houston and ships two .....keeps one, yes , keeps one
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 11th Dec 2016 at 06:07.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: North Up
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If ever a picture begged a Caption Competition on Proon, then that's the one.
Edited to add: Oh, I see it's already got a caption.
Further edited to add: I should have looked at the thread title to see the caption of the photo.
Edited to add: Oh, I see it's already got a caption.
Further edited to add: I should have looked at the thread title to see the caption of the photo.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: cambridge
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This picture, the first we have seen, puts a very different complexion on the condition of the aircraft. In addition to the engine which Maurice has now mentioned (from the prop damage it was turning on impact), there appears to be wing damage, and there is probably more. It's certainly repairable, but not there, and in insurance terms it is almost certainly a write off. As others have said, unless he has specific cover for S Sudan his insurance is probably not valid. That's a great shame, and I am not sure what help any of us can offer for the aircraft. If he can get it to Kenya, and throws manhours and money at it it could be recovered to flight, but I wonder just how much of the insides have been stripped out by the locals. His best bet is to leave it there and get out of the country himself.
Last edited by terry holloway; 11th Dec 2016 at 07:11. Reason: Spelling!
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In an ever changing place
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thats an interesting picture
This latest picture is interesting because I posted the picture below last week and was categorically told by 'Jetblu' that the aircraft in it was not Maurice Kirks.
I deleted the picture to avoid wrong information and later when posted again it was deleted by the MODs.
Now we have the same aircraft and picture but this time without the people and it seems now it does belong to Maurice.
Anyway that aircraft is not going anywhere without a major repair and inspection, if financially viable, which I very much doubt it is even if the insurance is valid in the South Sudan.
Now if Maurice Kirk seriously believes that he can get away with replacing the prop and left under carriage leg then fly the Cub to Kenya, he is severely deluded. As the Cub 'Liberty Girl' is UK registered and flying on a UK LAA permit to fly an inspector from the LAA is going to have step forward and volunteer to go to South Sudan to sign off Maurice's handy work before the aircraft is allowed to fly, equally as Maurice has contracted a couple of interesting medical conditions while in Sudan he should have his CAA medical renewed.
If I were Maurice I would cut out all data plates with part of the frame, set fire to the rest and rebuild a Liberty Girl III from the data plates.
.
I deleted the picture to avoid wrong information and later when posted again it was deleted by the MODs.
Now we have the same aircraft and picture but this time without the people and it seems now it does belong to Maurice.
Anyway that aircraft is not going anywhere without a major repair and inspection, if financially viable, which I very much doubt it is even if the insurance is valid in the South Sudan.
Now if Maurice Kirk seriously believes that he can get away with replacing the prop and left under carriage leg then fly the Cub to Kenya, he is severely deluded. As the Cub 'Liberty Girl' is UK registered and flying on a UK LAA permit to fly an inspector from the LAA is going to have step forward and volunteer to go to South Sudan to sign off Maurice's handy work before the aircraft is allowed to fly, equally as Maurice has contracted a couple of interesting medical conditions while in Sudan he should have his CAA medical renewed.
If I were Maurice I would cut out all data plates with part of the frame, set fire to the rest and rebuild a Liberty Girl III from the data plates.
.
Last edited by Above The Clouds; 11th Dec 2016 at 13:34.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: In the boot of my car!
Posts: 5,982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dai...?client=safari
There is nearly a whole page in the mail on Sunday
I won't give up states Captain Calamity
I wonder how much the mail are Paying him for that ? Enough to get parts and engineers flown there to fix and finance the rest of his trip ?
A bit like Eddie the Eagle you wish him to succeeed )
There is nearly a whole page in the mail on Sunday
I won't give up states Captain Calamity
I wonder how much the mail are Paying him for that ? Enough to get parts and engineers flown there to fix and finance the rest of his trip ?
A bit like Eddie the Eagle you wish him to succeeed )
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In an ever changing place
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dai...?client=safari
There is nearly a whole page in the mail on Sunday
I won't give up states Captain Calamity
I wonder how much the mail are Paying him for that ? Enough to get parts and engineers flown there to fix and finance the rest of his trip ?
A bit like Eddie the Eagle you wish him to succeeed )
There is nearly a whole page in the mail on Sunday
I won't give up states Captain Calamity
I wonder how much the mail are Paying him for that ? Enough to get parts and engineers flown there to fix and finance the rest of his trip ?
A bit like Eddie the Eagle you wish him to succeeed )
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In an ever changing place
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: EDINBURGH
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sure the old boy will make it to Cape Town.
He is free up there in the sky unlike his constant fights with the judicial system which incarcerates him routinely.
Looking closely at the picture below there appears to be a plastic drum and a couple of jerry cans in the front of the Cub? A liferaft strung above?
Where does the pilot sit?
Given his past record that aircraft could have some serious range?
He is free up there in the sky unlike his constant fights with the judicial system which incarcerates him routinely.
Looking closely at the picture below there appears to be a plastic drum and a couple of jerry cans in the front of the Cub? A liferaft strung above?
Where does the pilot sit?
Given his past record that aircraft could have some serious range?
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: EDINBURGH
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He may well be unconventional, he may well be eccentric, he is certainly a GOOD HANDLING PILOT...... Look at his past flying achievements & stop looking to 'cherry pick' out the bad bits..... getting a Cub from Biggin Hill to Sydney was no mean feat. That trip is easy in a uber modern light aircraft, but not so in a 1943 Cub.
Cut the guy some slack eh ?
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 913
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For all the negativity about Maurice I can categorically state that I would happily fly with Maurice..... I have flown with some very impressive pilots over the years & Maurice is " Up there with a lot of them "
He may well be unconventional, he may well be eccentric, he is certainly a GOOD HANDLING PILOT...... Look at his past flying achievements & stop looking to 'cherry pick' out the bad bits..... getting a Cub from Biggin Hill to Sydney was no mean feat. That trip is easy in a uber modern light aircraft, but not so in a 1943 Cub.
Cut the guy some slack eh ?
He may well be unconventional, he may well be eccentric, he is certainly a GOOD HANDLING PILOT...... Look at his past flying achievements & stop looking to 'cherry pick' out the bad bits..... getting a Cub from Biggin Hill to Sydney was no mean feat. That trip is easy in a uber modern light aircraft, but not so in a 1943 Cub.
Cut the guy some slack eh ?
My comment was made in light of the several incidents he seems to have been unlucky enough to have suffered. I suppose that his ability to survive them is testament to what you say, whilst his bad luck in experiencing them in the first place is what caused me to say what I said.
The superior pilot uses his (or her) superior judgement and airmanship to avoid the need to exercise his (or her) superior stick & rudder skills.
At least that was what I was taught from day 1 of my flying training...
PDR
At least that was what I was taught from day 1 of my flying training...
PDR
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: EDINBURGH
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The '69' was his Air Race Number from a Royal Aero Club Event that he had planned to participate in....... Numbers are given on merit in Air Racing so I guess there is a background story to why he was given '69' in much the same way as I was part of the '666' Royal Aero Club Air Race Entrant crew in a Grumman Cougar.... I have also been part of the '9' Royal Aero Club Air Race Entrant crew in a World Famous Cessna 310
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater
Fair enough: I'm happy to defer to your experience of his flying ability which is obviously greater than mine.
My comment was made in light of the several incidents he seems to have been unlucky enough to have suffered. I suppose that his ability to survive them is testament to what you say, whilst his bad luck in experiencing them in the first place is what caused me to say what I said.
My comment was made in light of the several incidents he seems to have been unlucky enough to have suffered. I suppose that his ability to survive them is testament to what you say, whilst his bad luck in experiencing them in the first place is what caused me to say what I said.
Maurice's piloting skills are extremely good, that is different to me saying he is a good pilot....his decision making leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to wise decisions ;-)
I lost count of how many Night Landings he made before even getting to Crete ! I am aware he has made more Night Landings since Crete & don't doubt that the Sudan accident was caused by a Night Landing ( I have a theory on what happened, but will withold that theory at this time ).
My point is : if the chips are down, Maurice will survive.... if I was in what I considered an unsurvivable instance I would hand control to him in the vain hope his survival mantra includes anyone onboard.
Maurice has great piloting skills & has held commercial licences, as to whether he shows good airmanship & makes good decisions is something that is subjective.
Lets look at the DEBATE on his Navigational skills : Sam says he had a deficient Compass & no GPS.....That could well be true, however with a deficient compass & no GPS he has managed to get to every destination ( that in my opinion shows he is navigationally astute ).
I agree with everything you say.....avoidance is better than cure..... sometimes we miss the avoidance signs and then move swiftly to a point where the cure is the only remaining option.
Been there, done that. Errors in judgement are human nature ! On a Flying Trip to India I had a female Co Pilot who during the sectors from Egypt through Saudi through Bahrain through Oman through Pakistan into India was acting as my P2 and at any point I could have been jailed for having a female with me who wasn't my 'significant other'
I guess they weren't looking for reasons to jail me, but the tables could have turned very quickly if I had ruffled feathers.
I honestly think Maurice doesn't help himself in times of conflict.