I have managed to track the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Chief Pilot and Operations Manager for Kenya and South Sudan, who might be worth contacting. He is experienced in operations on PC12 and C206 in South Sudan and Kenya out of small landing strips. His name Ryan Cuthel and possibly an Aussie. As he is familiar with the region, I wondered if he might be able to help, such as getting the spares to Maurice, transporting Maurice somewhere, and assisting Maurice with the paperwork. As MAF is highly regarded in this region, I suspect Ryan Cuthel may be able to smooth things over with the authorities.

The problem is I do not have Ryan's e-mail, so I wondered if someone who is on linkedin (Terry?) could contact him. Below is his Linkedin page

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-cuthel-1b031664

Very glad that Maurice is in safe hands, though saddened that his Rally ended this way.

I agree with some of the comments on this thread, and disagree with others!

Fly safe, Sam.

Sam.................


Who says that his Rally has ended? Just need Maurice to recover and then get G-KURK back in the air and he will be on his way again.......!!!

Yup, I agree with that!

His Rally has ended, not necessarily his attempt to fly to the Cape...

Maurice will obviously continue some how, but surely Sam will sort out the paper work from South Sudan to Kenya?

I've sent a message to him

Terry Holloway.............

Thanks Terry, I have emailed MAF UK today, so hope to hear from their office on Monday. I will keep you updated. Above the clouds has also sent a message via Linkedin, but there is nothing wrong with a three pronged approach. I think Ryan Cuthel is based in Nairobi, so hopefully he picks up emails on a regular basis.

I will keep you updated. Do we have a way of contacting Maurice in the event we can get him help, for example mobile, email, consulate, embassy or police?

"On the plus side the prop fitted I believe was wooden which 99% of the time may not require an engine to be inspected after suspected shock-loading."
Given who it is and where it is , that made me spill my coffee :D:D

From my experience with Piper "Cub" type airframes, if you have damaged the prop, and a main gear in one event, there is most likely more damage to the plane than first look would reveal, particularly if that first look is made with a view to continuing a trip, rather than making the plane genuinely airworthy again. If the pilot of such an event is reporting a headache, that pilot is probably not fit to fly until either examined, or at least a very good rest.

If an aircraft with doubtful airworthiness is flown out for repairs (and I've done it many times), your route should be toward safety and good maintenance capability, and not the continuation of an adventure, disregarding the need for a comprehensive inspection. In the absence of proper repair and a thorough inspection of the airframe, likely another defect makes itself known, and probably at an even less convention time/place.

Getting a stranded pilot "parts" like a tire, or more oil is one thing, but when that parts are as comprehensive as a replacement prop and main gear, simply getting the parts there is not enough. We are not doing Mr. Kirk a favour by saying "here, we got parts to you!". 'Nice sentiment, but there's more to it than just that....

Given the number of engine failures this a/c has had "genuine airworthiness" does not seem historically to have been a primary goal, if indeed it was ever a goal at all.

Someone on Facebook has asked if there are any pictures showing the condition of the aircraft since its forced landing, that would certainly help define what happens next as far as trying to fly the aircraft again.

Been reading the Saturday Times Newspaper and in there is a column about a crash of a Boeing Stearman in the rally, father and daughter from Ireland. Both walked away from the upturned wreck.

Now someone on this thread has made the suggestion that the RAF often has a C-130 lurking around Kenya and that he might be able to get some help to the hopeless cause.

I flew for 16 years in Transport Command and its successive guises for 16 years and I could tell you a myriad of stories about how it used to be possible on "training flights" to take a 4-engined aircraft to Machrihanish in order to get fresh lobsters and kippers for a dining-in night (just as a modest example).

I even remember a famous AOC using a Beverley to move soil and associated carp from Nairobi to Aden for his garden.

Surely those days have gone?

Anyone nowadays who is found out to have used MoD equipment to rescue an elderly eccentric from the middle of darkest Africa in order for said eccentric to continue his fantasy for another 50 miles or so is a very brave man indeed.

Let us be realistic, get MK home in one piece and leave his Cub to rot into the African bush. You can get another one for £30k.

Just how long do you think you can you operate a C-130 for £30k?

The taxpayers (including me) will want to know.

Believe it or not JW411, taxpayers money does get squandered on military aircraft flying around aimlessly. Many are flying around the Med looking for boat-people seeking that fantasy which you speak about. :rolleyes:

I understand that Maurice needs a few parts to get the girl airborne but what I don't understand is why insurers don't seemingly appear to be on-board sorting the logistics out. :confused:

Has he contacted the insurers?

Does his policy cover that?

Quoting from Jetblu :
"I understand that Maurice needs a few parts to get the girl airborne but what I don't understand is why insurers don't seemingly appear to be on-board sorting the logistics out. "

Hmm - if Mr Kirk is operating to his normal standards "insurers" are unlikely to be involved. I think that may be one of the things he 'doesn't believe in', like airworthiness.

Get him back to a safe place and leave the wreck where it is.

Latest update from Maurice's Facebook

Admitted to a Juba clinic with diagnosed Malaria, a septicaemic leg, with a high white cell count and a fever.

As an aside, if you genuinely believe that he does not have the hull insured, that is not unlawful and neither is it criminal, but, wishing that he leaves his 'wreck' [your words] perhaps again demonstrates a little more about yourself.

Biscuit74 and BEagle;

I'm afraid I'm with you on this. Get him home safe, leave the aeroplane where it is. From personal dealings with Mr Kirk I suspect that many of his supporters on here have never met him.

I'd be very worried if I was the LAA inspector who signed the aircraft off. Because if questions are asked it will all be someone else's fault and nothing to do with MK.

SND

If some loon was trying to drive his battered 1943 car from the UK to Cape Town and had a puncture and broke his suspension, and crunched his drive shaft (propeller) ...twice....and also found himself with no paperwork, in darkest Africa, who would suggest calling out the FCO, the Embassy, the RAF, the local S @R twice, or anyone else?
No one would give a toss.