Maurice Kirk prangs Cub in African air rally

I think what AA was getting at (and the rest of us understood) is that it will need a set of wings to be attached before he flies it out of there…

NEWSFLASH

Maurice has remembered to put the wings on !

We are lucky to have rescue services who will come out immediately, frequently putting themselves in mortal danger in order to help their fellow man, and we are lucky that they do not charge those they assist (although a donation is always gratefully accepted) but surely the emphasis should be on making sure that these people do not place themselves unnecessarily at risk just to satisfy the desires of ‘eccentrics’ – and that should be the watchword the world over, wouldn’t you agree?

Finally someone said it!

Maybe that is moutain rescue people, but imagine how their families feel – or would feel if something tragic happened to them.

There was a lot of heartache for those left behind after the Penlee lifeboat disaster (just 35 years and twelve says ago) which is still ongoing, with Mousehole’s Christmas lights all switched off each 19th December, in memory of the eight men from the area who died. So maybe I should have mentioned idiots who take no navigation equipment (sounds familiar?) other than a page ripped from an atlas, no life jackets, flares, radio, or even a mobile phone, have no sailing experience yet still expects to be able to sail west along the English Channel (very busy, the Channel) unimpeded; this particular eccentric was rescued when his boat was dashed to pieces on rocks off the southern coast of the Isle of Wight. Then there was a pair who were rescued several times because their newly purchased vessel was utterly unseaworthy and they were stupid.

We are lucky to have rescue services who will come out immediately, frequently putting themselves in mortal danger in order to help their fellow man, and we are lucky that they do not charge those they assist (although a donation is always gratefully accepted) but surely the emphasis should be on making sure that these people do not place themselves unnecessarily at risk just to satisfy the desires of ‘eccentrics’ – and that should be the watchword the world over, wouldn’t you agree?

Snafu, I fully agree with your comments about so-called “climbers” but talk to the mountain rescue teams and they seem to love it as it gives them something to practice on. No accounting for taste.

I provided bed and lodgings, checked out the original Liberty Girl, fitted a better long range fuel system, did a complete engine change, patted him on the back and sent him on his way to the next prang in Japan when he was here in New Zealand. all I can say is “Good on Ya Morrie, go for it” The world is a better place and less boring by having a few eccentrics like Maurice. For the Naysayers that looks to be standard J3 shock strut assemblies, not bush engineering, and yes, they do fail.

:applause:

Fully agree.

The world is a better place and less boring by having a few eccentrics like Maurice.

Maybe, but when those few eccentrics put others in danger by practising their eccentricities when their trick is not suitable for the purpose then doesn’t that verge on the criminal?

Example – idiots ‘climbing’ Scottish mountains (or, as the rest of the world might better understand it, walking up large hills) wearing sandals and a light jacket, carrying a copy of that days newspaper, an open packet of Doritos, and a half charged mobile phone when there is snow on the peak and the upper half of said mountain is obscured by low cloud/freezing fog: who assists those idiots out of danger?

It’s fine to be an eccentric (I’ve been called that myself)…but having four mishaps?
In this country, the FAA would have grounded him by now.

I provided bed and lodgings, checked out the original Liberty Girl, fitted a better long range fuel system, did a complete engine change, patted him on the back and sent him on his way to the next prang in Japan when he was here in New Zealand. all I can say is “Good on Ya Morrie, go for it” The world is a better place and less boring by having a few eccentrics like Maurice. For the Naysayers that looks to be standard J3 shock strut assemblies, not bush engineering, and yes, they do fail.

Perhaps you could change can of worms opener to Stater of the bleeding obvious snaff ; )

😮 LOL, I looked at the photo a few times before i twigged the wings were missing LOL.I was looking at the guy who seemed to be checking to see if something was bent on the front.

I think what AA was getting at (and the rest of us understood) is that it will need a set of wings to be attached before he flies it out of there…

Perhaps you could change can of worms opener to Stater of the bleeding obvious snaff ; )

Oh.

Nice one

I am sure he will fly it out of there. It is a very simple flying machine, barely more than a microlight, and as long as the engine keeps going and the controls are connected Ok, it should get in the air.

I think what AA was getting at (and the rest of us understood) is that it will need a set of wings to be attached before he flies it out of there…

Cape Town here we come ………..!!!!:eagerness:

I am sure he will fly it out of there. It is a very simple flying machine, barely more than a microlight, and as long as the engine keeps going and the controls are connected Ok, it should get in the air.

As to the wisdom of that, it probably comes down to personal judgement and individual risk assessment. MK has balls a’plenty, that is not in doubt.

Well, if that’s the result of the bush engineering, at least the Cub should stay on the ground – with less risk to the pilot and those who are expected to follow in his wake!

The adventure is back on !

Like a phoenix, the Cub has risen, and now sits on its wheels, after (quite) a bit of bush engineering. Just as well LAA engineering is closed for the holidays, and will be blissfully unaware of the engineering practices and mods being utilised ( as if ! )

The rally has officially ended, but Maurice Kirk is nothing if not determined. I wonder if anyone will give award a trophy, when the dust has settled.

pic from FB

One more wrecked Cub and he’ll be an ace.

He must either be:
– Very unlucky.
– Have other issues.

Looking at those photographs, I’m led to wonder whether he has been practising with a view to a rôle in a remake of ‘Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’. The only problem is that I can’t see a sewage farm in any of the shots!

On a completely random tangent, I remember about 1980 the Saffron Walden Weekly News running an interview with a man who really had fished an unfortunate aviator out of the Brooklands sewage farm.

Adrian

John doesn’t believe in sarcasm, it is probably metric. Very un-English.

[QUOTE=John Green;2361926]

There was nothing in my post to suggest I wished to play nudey leap

Very stuffy. Sense of humour failure.

It was a gentle slice of sarcasm John. I would offer the counsel “don’t give if you can’t take” but this might again be mistaken for innuendo?!