Maurice Kirk is in Africa
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Jonzarno
I have never met the guy but can imagine his preparation for the flight was to kick the tyres one morning and set off.
I also doubt he had that much money to plough into the trip buying back up GPS units etc. Very much a point and go merchant
The fact that he made it so far still intact must say something about his ability to go the remaining distance and complete the trip.
I don't know what he got from the mail for that nearly full page article but maybe enough to get both himself and the aircraft fixed
A bit of the Eddie the Eagle syndrome but I hope he does go on and finish the trip
I have never met the guy but can imagine his preparation for the flight was to kick the tyres one morning and set off.
I also doubt he had that much money to plough into the trip buying back up GPS units etc. Very much a point and go merchant
The fact that he made it so far still intact must say something about his ability to go the remaining distance and complete the trip.
I don't know what he got from the mail for that nearly full page article but maybe enough to get both himself and the aircraft fixed
A bit of the Eddie the Eagle syndrome but I hope he does go on and finish the trip
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Looking at some of his recent posts, he seems to be prepared to have a go at everyone, including those who are trying to help him.
Seems everything has to be on his terms or not at all
Seems everything has to be on his terms or not at all
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Once you get to understand & accept that....he becomes tolerable ( I spent many hours burning the midnight oil getting things sorted or smoothed over for him )
His disorganised mannerisms are part & parcel of his flying skills but just like a bad penny he always turns up.
Bush Flyers vs. the Paperwork Brigade
MK would likely fit in very well with Alaska and Canadian bush flying where paperwork didn't matter much because the government folks were absent, supposedly only in the good old days before SMS fixed that 
Closer to civilisation and inspector offices, paperwork adherence becomes more important.
These are two very different cultures that tend to look down their noses at each other.
As for missing pieces that villagers may have taken into protective custody, a few goats would likely assure their return in good condition along with any local help that may be needed
Closer to civilisation and inspector offices, paperwork adherence becomes more important.
These are two very different cultures that tend to look down their noses at each other.
As for missing pieces that villagers may have taken into protective custody, a few goats would likely assure their return in good condition along with any local help that may be needed
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Prior to this thread, I had no knowledge of Mr. Kirk, and very little about Sam R. and the rallies with which he is associated, so my comments emanate from what I read here.
If Sam wants to organize a rally, and charge an entry fee, that is his business, accept the terms, and pay, or choose not to be involved. Don't complain about the terms you chose not to accept, you chose not to accept them!
Mr. Kirk's apparent reputation as an aviation rebel does little to enhance aviation professionalism. Things I read like
Pilots are required by regulation to carry adequate navigational material for each flight. Don't have the material (for any reason) don't fly until you get it. "Lost somewhere else" is about like "the dog ate my homework" = lame.
Okay, so he does not like paperwork, many of us do not. Then agree to the terms of a person/company offering the service for sale, or choose not to, and stop whining. You don't get something for nothing!
I suspect the Cub is BER too. If Mr. Kirk has an emotional attachment to it, and wants to recover it, fine, pay the price - he flew it to that place, he can't be surprised that the plane is there now! But it's his to arrange, when conventional (very experienced) wisdom agree it should just be abandoned there. If people want to assist nice of them, but people who view this as a fool's errand aren't wrong either!
Mr. Kirk has only a small amount of sympathy from me, as it does not sound like he takes personal responsibility for doing things properly. In don't care how good your hands and feet are, that is not an excuse for sidestepping proper piloting habits!
If Sam wants to organize a rally, and charge an entry fee, that is his business, accept the terms, and pay, or choose not to be involved. Don't complain about the terms you chose not to accept, you chose not to accept them!
Mr. Kirk's apparent reputation as an aviation rebel does little to enhance aviation professionalism. Things I read like
Maurice left the UK with a Garmin GPS ( Which he dropped down a drain in Cannes ) he had Maps which he lost somewhere else ( excluding the few he used for Fag Papers ) He had some kind of IPAD with an Aeronautical Nav program on it, so he wasn't ill equipped on departure from the UK.... It does seem to have gone rapidly downhill from Crete onwards.
Maurice wanted to be part of the Vintage Air Rally because he abhors paperwork & if the Crete to Cape Town Organisers were responsible for doing all the paperwork it suited him to do so.
I suspect G-KURK under normal circumstances is beyond economical repair, however the tenacity of Maurice would be to get it back in the air by hook or by crook.
Mr. Kirk has only a small amount of sympathy from me, as it does not sound like he takes personal responsibility for doing things properly. In don't care how good your hands and feet are, that is not an excuse for sidestepping proper piloting habits!
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Properly? OK agreed in that he is not always proper. But.....
We are all aware that Maurice on this and past trips is an adventurer who is testing the boundaries of what a 72 year old but very experienced pilot can do ‘unsupported’ in an even older very primitive WW2 aeroplane flying long distances through the more remote and dangerous places in the world.
It is not the normal way of doing things. We all know the expression when true life adventures or stunts get onto film. Someone has to do it. We like to watch. We can learn from it. But "do not try this at home".
We are all aware that Maurice on this and past trips is an adventurer who is testing the boundaries of what a 72 year old but very experienced pilot can do ‘unsupported’ in an even older very primitive WW2 aeroplane flying long distances through the more remote and dangerous places in the world.
It is not the normal way of doing things. We all know the expression when true life adventures or stunts get onto film. Someone has to do it. We like to watch. We can learn from it. But "do not try this at home".
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Step Turn:
You have Maurice and his situation summed up quite perfectly.
I sincerely wish Maurice the very best. I also feel sorry for those who will suffer Maurice getting his very best. Suffer they always do.
You have Maurice and his situation summed up quite perfectly.
I sincerely wish Maurice the very best. I also feel sorry for those who will suffer Maurice getting his very best. Suffer they always do.
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Sad to say, but I think Maurice is using the whole stuck in Sudan story as a publicity stunt.
According to his latest post on FB he states:-
This to me makes me think he has a passport and is able to leave South Sudan but has been playing the media to gain funds.
Even some one on FB who is asking her son to provide legal assistance has stated:-
All very bizarre I think, more worried about the South Wales police than getting out of South Sudan.
According to his latest post on FB he states:-
Maurice Kirk
Plan F....Abandon my cub and I fly direct to Nairobi, today, to find lawyer who is at least prepared to simply file my appeal re 23 year running BS614159 etc Maurice Kirk v Chief Constable of South Wales Police and equally wicked 6 year stay of machine gun lift stay to applications at Royal Courts of Justice....possible addresses of Naiobi solicitors or barristers, pdg, please ,anyone?
Plan F....Abandon my cub and I fly direct to Nairobi, today, to find lawyer who is at least prepared to simply file my appeal re 23 year running BS614159 etc Maurice Kirk v Chief Constable of South Wales Police and equally wicked 6 year stay of machine gun lift stay to applications at Royal Courts of Justice....possible addresses of Naiobi solicitors or barristers, pdg, please ,anyone?
Even some one on FB who is asking her son to provide legal assistance has stated:-
Pamela Almaz
Maurice STOP giving Mail a running commentary... they must pay you. They don't know half of what's happened to you. You can sell the script to Hollywood! Ask Mail for funds to get you out of there. Disgusted with the vintage pilots for leaving you in the lurch.
Maurice STOP giving Mail a running commentary... they must pay you. They don't know half of what's happened to you. You can sell the script to Hollywood! Ask Mail for funds to get you out of there. Disgusted with the vintage pilots for leaving you in the lurch.
Pamela Almaz
You have to WANT to know the truth before seeking it, keep an open mind and listen... not a British trait alas. You can change that with your story... I'll plug it for all its worth but get the hell out of there and refuse to give the Mail any more details without payment up front.
You have to WANT to know the truth before seeking it, keep an open mind and listen... not a British trait alas. You can change that with your story... I'll plug it for all its worth but get the hell out of there and refuse to give the Mail any more details without payment up front.
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I wish Maurice would just focus on getting himself & G-KURK to Cape Town or back to Blighty " Bleating on about his legal wrangles is now becoming tediously boring, he needs to prioritise on his Final Flight.
People who encourage him beyond his prearranged plan to recover the Cub are leading him into a fairy tale, and giving him false hope. He'll get more sick, and in more conflict going back for a wrecked plane, and the whole episode will turn into more drama for nothing. When that happens, it will be more than just Maurice's fault!
As a Firefighter, I've rescued a few people, and had to tell them that property was gone, sorry, move on, you have your life. Maurice, your Cub is gone, go home, you have your life.
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I know much of the detail of Maurice's situation and know why he is correct to firstly stay in Africa even at a risk to himself and then to see if he can press on even for a real big trip. Because he is genuinely not safe in the UK. I will post more about this once I work out a way to briefly explain.
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Step Turn
Advice like this is more problem than solution. If Maurice needs help beyond that which he had prearranged (before he started the trip) to recover the Cub, the mush better advice is to abandon it, and get home with his health. Thereafter focus on a part of an adventure which went great, but could not be completed.
Advice like this is more problem than solution. If Maurice needs help beyond that which he had prearranged (before he started the trip) to recover the Cub, the mush better advice is to abandon it, and get home with his health. Thereafter focus on a part of an adventure which went great, but could not be completed.
In fact a few comments are now appearing that if he doesn't stop and focus on getting out of South Sudan he will lose any support he has gained, which makes me believe he is using the whole situation for media attention and trying to gain funds via the newspapers.
To be honest the whole affair is becoming rather tedious to read as he simply will not listen to advice.
Maurice Kirk
What
is the current joint
cost of 23 years litigation, so far, to tax payer and me all because the Cardiff judges/outside police forces both refuse to enforce either earlier court orders or the law ? DO YOU know the current millions?
What
is the current joint
cost of 23 years litigation, so far, to tax payer and me all because the Cardiff judges/outside police forces both refuse to enforce either earlier court orders or the law ? DO YOU know the current millions?
Maurice Kirk
Is any lawyer, in, any country out there, prepared to act for me on any aspect relating to the welsh police or welsh Iaw courts or do I really have to come back and abandon my cub to the scavenging poor neglected South Sudanaese to make pots and pans out of her?
Is any lawyer, in, any country out there, prepared to act for me on any aspect relating to the welsh police or welsh Iaw courts or do I really have to come back and abandon my cub to the scavenging poor neglected South Sudanaese to make pots and pans out of her?
My french cub and 1931 Morris minor OHC (for sale) are srtolen and may be in Langport areais believed stolen in the Langport area,,,,,if nothing els else has been achieved in this South sudan incident.....there remainains boxes and boxes of rec on parts ready for G-KERK due for float to vbe based in Irerland for my retirement......a substantial reward out forrtheir where abouts , as well, please.
... I have no post faxes, no phone etc,, to use to expose vulnerable English court system, using what goes on, daily, in Cardiff that the cabal is using South Wales the launch pad to be introduced across the rest of the unsuspecting UK if BREXIT happens YOU and I know it is far from that simple after the masses who either do not understand the seriousness of our corrupt court system or consequences in years to come....Europe is now ripe for effective reform for individual countries.
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How can he take advice on his very complicated life, from many people who have not taken the time to understand exceptional circumstances to be able to advise him on the bigger issues?
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How can he take advice on his very complicated life, from many people who have not taken the time to understand exceptional circumstances to be able to advise him on the bigger issues?
If Mr. Kirk has other complicating factors beyond crashing his plane and being unwell in an unwelcoming area in Africa, that's outside the scope of the advice (but probably does not change it anyway).
Because he is genuinely not safe in the UK.
Muddling otherwise unrelated circumstances does not cause them to suddenly relate well to each other!
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Interestingly I do not know if MK realises, but posting everything on Facebook will actually hinder his chances of success in a UK court of law.
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no less than eight public buildings had to be visited and still no the essential piece of paper needed for exit.....meantime my sitiuation remains precarious
The FCO guidance to travellers
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-sudan
..and the advice to travellers
We therefore recommend that if you feel threatened, you should leave the country at the earliest opportunity, if it is safe to do so, in line with our travel advice. If you do not, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to assist you to leave the country at a later stage
The South Sudan government and the British Embassy are thought to be trying to convince Mr Kirk to return home to Britain, and the Foreign Office says it is providing ‘support’. But Mr Kirk has other ideas and is vowing to rejoin the Vintage Air Rally route – despite having been kicked off the official adventure in a row over his rebellious approach.
Leave the bl**dy Cub and get out....!
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Sounds a bit like the Clipper around the world races ?
People pay a lot of money to act as crew with someone making all the decisions and calling the shots
Of course there is nothing to stop someone arranging and sorting their own trip as do many ferry pilots moving different machines through Africa
Some people like in sailing need to be part of such an organisation others want to be independent and control everything themselves whether in boats or planes
Kirk doesn't sound like a team player but more of the loan sailor type
People pay a lot of money to act as crew with someone making all the decisions and calling the shots
Of course there is nothing to stop someone arranging and sorting their own trip as do many ferry pilots moving different machines through Africa
Some people like in sailing need to be part of such an organisation others want to be independent and control everything themselves whether in boats or planes
Kirk doesn't sound like a team player but more of the loan sailor type
Moderator
Posters, to enable the peaceful coexistance of the Cape to Crete (or vice versa) thread, and the Maurice Kirk is in Africa thread, let's stay on topic within each thread please. If the posts wander into each others topics so as to be confusing, the two threads will not be able to both remain.