I’m not sure if this is the right forum but here goes anyway.As you might have seen on various sites, there have been at least 20 thefts of Rotax 912 engines from aircraft in the last couple of months. This engine is just about the standard for most microlights and the new “plastic fantastic” so will find a ready market, probably elsewhere in Europe. So how does this affect us as enthusiasts? Well, I was at the Fly-In at Old Buckenham on Sunday and talking to a well known microlight strip owner he told me that he has already put up a sign saying “No Spotters” as he reckoned that the thieves were using our hobby as cover. These guys are very sophisticated in that they are only taking low time engines so obviously use all available sources of information for their targets. There is a thread running elsewhere on this forum seeking information on the whereabouts of a specific aircraft and although I’m sure it is done with the best intent I think we ought to be careful with what is put on here. I don’t know the answer but it is a problem.
By: jack windsor - 12th November 2016 at 10:20
Just too easy to blame spotters……
hi,
we (spotters) are a handy excuse to blame, I know there are idiots but in general we are ok! most are middle to aged! age band, but we have had a bad press over the years and are looked upon by a good few in general aviation as pests, but then as in the present case of Redhill our support is asked for to sign a petition…em I will think about that!!!
regards,
jack…
By: skyskooter - 9th November 2016 at 20:20
A spotter will have a camera slung around his neck.
By: ericmunk - 9th November 2016 at 10:27
Just too easy to blame spotters……
Never blamed the spotters. But I caught somebody out claiming to be a spotter recently who was trying to force his way into a trailer on the airfield. Having a look around an airfield to spot planes or to see if there’s something of value are two different things, but one can be a good cover for the other unfortunately.
By: ericmunk - 9th November 2016 at 10:25
Not at all familiar with the installation of Rotax engines, but would it be possible to use an auto wheel locking nut to secure the engine? (Not too familiar with auto locking nuts either!).
In some cases the engine was disassembled properly. I have seen photos of a case where it was hacksawed out of the firewall. Using other nuts will not help there, even if available. A recent case in Germany saw collatoral damage to two other aircraft two when they were hit by the stolen car used to get the engine out of the hangar. Simply pushed the aircraft aside. Two years ago (I think) there was a pair of Gator vehicles stolen from a glider club hangar too, and driven out right over the wing of a glider (totalling the aircraft). Makes you want to cry…
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2016 at 20:23
Sounds like a syndicate.
By: John Green - 8th November 2016 at 18:26
More on Rotax thefts. So far this year, it is estimated that twenty engines have been stolen. The latest from Fenland, Benwick and Audley End airfields.
By: Newforest - 3rd November 2016 at 08:12
Not at all familiar with the installation of Rotax engines, but would it be possible to use an auto wheel locking nut to secure the engine? (Not too familiar with auto locking nuts either!).
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th October 2016 at 21:51
Can’t be Gypsies.
By: STAN05 - 18th October 2016 at 09:39
Ref post 13, I saw the same product but it was aimed at cycles:
By: John Green - 12th October 2016 at 14:43
If the engines are low time there won’t be that much of a paper trail regarding servicing and maintenance records that can, for example, be cross referenced, because the engines will have been thru’ few hands.
By: Beermat - 12th October 2016 at 14:32
No doubt many of these thefts are to order and there are sophisticated operators managing these and fencing their results. I suspect that such sophisticated operators will not find it much of a challenge to produce convincing fake documentation for the engines as they re-emerge into the supply chain.
If documentation is being faked before entry into the supply chain, why the focus on low-time engines?
By: paul178 - 12th October 2016 at 14:08
It’s not just engines.
A farmer friend from Kent recently visited my rural area and was shocked that farmers/ranchers leave equipment in the fields at night.
He said, if he did anything like that, they’d either steal or strip the tractor or at least drain the petrol.
Its Land Rover Defenders that is the target now
By: John Green - 12th October 2016 at 12:59
Perhaps the subject is so serious that it deserves the widest possible publicity.
By: avion ancien - 12th October 2016 at 12:21
I wouldn’t buy any engine without supporting documents or logs, or do Rotax’s not have any?
No doubt many of these thefts are to order and there are sophisticated operators managing these and fencing their results. I suspect that such sophisticated operators will not find it much of a challenge to produce convincing fake documentation for the engines as they re-emerge into the supply chain.
I must say that I’m amazed that a topic with no connection whatosever to aviation history has survived so long on this forum without being shifted to the GA forum!
By: John Green - 12th October 2016 at 11:31
Newforest,
Many thanks for that useful link. I’ve contacted, asking for average range details.
By: Newforest - 11th October 2016 at 22:08
Is there available a reasonably sized tracking device with a sensible range that can be unobtrusively attached to the engine?
http://www.studylifestyle.com/2016/trackr/10/?cid=12&utm_term=dailymail-row&sxid=ao8kriwck8jc
This is a new product which seems very promising, but I don’t see any reference to the active range. I have no recommendation or connection with this product.
By: J Boyle - 11th October 2016 at 22:04
It’s not just engines.
A farmer friend from Kent recently visited my rural area and was shocked that farmers/ranchers leave equipment in the fields at night.
He said, if he did anything like that, they’d either steal or strip the tractor or at least drain the petrol.
Probably word got around the criminal community that the engines had a ready market on the continent…
I wouldn’t buy any engine without supporting documents or logs, or do Rotax’s not have any?
By: John Green - 11th October 2016 at 18:13
Is there available a reasonably sized tracking device with a sensible range that can be unobtrusively attached to the engine? I’ve operated a Rotax on a Group A for the last twelve or so years. Their use is not confined to microlites which tend to use the smaller two stroke Rotax’s
There is probably more uptake of the Rotax for Group A than any other category. Many of these a/c are kept on fairly isolated farm strips. The opportunity for successful theft is therefore good.
By: scotavia - 11th October 2016 at 16:55
Prune has a developing thread on this
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/583257-rotax-912-engine-thefts-plane-spotters.html
My pilot had a brand new laptop stolen from his home and its likely that the thief knew which house to target as it is known that dodgy shop assistants sell lists of addresses to criminals . Plane spotters have little interest in engines and what hours they have.
By: Sabrejet - 11th October 2016 at 16:14
To be fair, discouraging visits from non-pilots seems to be just one measure. Less people on site means less info about the site being shared in the public domain. Same goes for a close look at the Facebook postings some owners make. “Hooray: aircraft X flying again after fitting a new zero-houred engine” does not help for a low-profile in the public domain.
The gist of my post above was that it’s not beyond impossible that at least one pilot might be involved in said thefts: thus rather pointless excluding one group and pretending the problem has gone.
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October 11, 2016 at 9:59 am