ZS-OUT Stolen - Location sought
 

Two years ago, this aircraft was sold to RJM in Chad. The buyer never paid and the sale agreement was terminated. Two South African pilots were arrested when they were sent to Chad to retrieve the plane. On News24 today, the following report of the same plane:


"Johannesburg - Foreigners who are fleeing from Chad's war zone to Lagos, Nigeria, via Cameroon could be aboard a South African plane which has been reported as stolen to Randburg police.
The King Air 200 was used, among other things, to fly Hollywood star George Clooney from Chad to Darfur.
But, it has since been entangled in a legal wrangle in South Africa after its sale was cancelled. The South African owner took steps on Tuesday to ask the civil aviation authorities in Cameroon to prevent the plane from taking off again, should it land there."

Does anyone know where ZS-OUT is at the moment?

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/photos/.../1/0233121.jpg

...and when one digs you always come up with the same old names stuck among the crap under your finger nails...

...what is confusing is that rumours at the time stated that this aircraft was apparently written off (wings spars bent) a few years ago after encountering a severe CB in the Seychelles I believe?:confused:

Don't know when that photo was taken... ZS-OUT is the reg of the plane in question ... ( I was the guy flying Clooney.. and the President of Chad around in it ).. but not with that paint scheme... I also heard that the aircraft had suffered damage in a heavy arrival somewhere.

And before anyone hastily rushes in with info on the aircraft's current location I would suggest thinking before acting... the details of the very involved circumstances surrounding the lease/purchase of the aircraft by RJM are far from straightforward... And no.. I have no idea where it is at the moment and have had no dealings with Thierry for a year or more.

ZS-Registration : ZS-OUTAircraft Make/Model : BEECH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION 200
Aircraft Serial Number : BB-764
Aircraft Year : 1981
Aircraft Owner : SPRING LIGHTS 1 (PTY) LTD
PO BOX 5010
RIVONIA
2128
Phone : 011-8076038
Ownership Date : 10-Jan-2002
Registration Date : 10-Jan-2002

This a/c is becoming famous (infamous?)... and there's more to this than simple theft.. it's been bandied about as stolen for some time.. so why by now hasn't it been reported as such and the insurance money spent ? And the two protagonists here are each suffering from piss-poor reputations... it would be difficult to choose between them...maybe they deserve each other.

Yes this type of story is well practised by both parties involved.:ugh:

ZS-OUT the ongoing saga
 

There is a court order in Chad regarding money owed to Thierry, there is a court order in SA ordering the return of the aircraft to the owner. The owner tried to get a ferry pilot to bribe Thierry's engineer to sneak the plane out of Chad for $20,000. The aircraft has no C of A. It has been damaged in a hard landing, and should not be flying. It seems both parties have some claims, but right now the machine is not airwo:ugh:rthy- who are the poor buggers flying it?
Apparently Thierry arrived in SA to negotiate and the owner had him arrested for theft and jailed for a week. Eventually Thierry skipped bail and gapped it with his passport still held by the SAPS. A luta continua!

It appears that this frenchman has been flying the plane himself, without an SACAA validation or a rating on the plane. He can be thankful that he jumped bail in SA.

And so the wheel turns, Sayers finds himself at the bottom for a change!

AFL

The debate continues...
 

I met up with a mate of mine in JHB, who had dealings with this aircraft. He ain't saying much other than TM was in the slammer for 3 weeks, then released on bail. He then was released on bail, and then after 3 weeks he gapped it, skipped bail, and is in a deep sh*t. Interpol has issued a warrant for his arrest.

The heading is updated to '- now recovered'. How did that come about ? Is it back in SA ?