Stolen 582 Engines

[KlapperKnop]

The culprits ripped my Bushbaby cowls to pieces and simply cut all the wiring and pipes to get the eninge out.
They even forced open my cupboard and threw the contents on the floor.

Hi Joe, sorry to hear. I met you previously when I fitted training bars to my Cosmos.

John.com made some sensible comments; I feel the thieves are possibly much closer then we think? The thieves are pilots as they were after 582 engines; why would a thief leave the 2nd trike prop on the floor in tact and the clamps close to each other? This shows that it is someone with aviation passion hence why I believe it is someone of our flying community; it could even be someone on this forum?

It is rather sad that someone has to be this LOW; surely if they could not afford the passion for flying a simple asking would have been more appropiate? It saddens me as I was a tenant in the same hanger.

[Bundy]

I agree...as much as I hate to think that there are such "pilots" around, this was done for a purpose. We owe it to these guys to assist in any way we can to try and find these engines...Alex, can we not send out a warning to all AP's on the AeCSA database to be on the lookout when doing any Inspections or engine work on this type of motor. We can forward these Serial No's to all and sundry.

I would even extend the list of "suspects' to anyone who has had an engine failure, prop strike or failed a crank inspection recently? These parts will turn up somewhere....let's all be vigilant. The police wont do bugger all...it's up to us fellow aviators to keep our eyes and ears open.

Can someone confirm if the Engine serial # is stamped onto the block somewhere? Please post a pic of the Missing prop as well if you have one?

Let's get these thieving SOB's

[Madman]

Sorry to hear about your losses,this really gives a new meaning to the word SICK

With all p!ssed off pilots reading this and wishing you a bad one...I am sure you thieves will never get wheels off the ground and if so,like said before,I hope you land @$$ first and make a hole big enough for us to come and throw the dirt over you

The fact that the trike prop was left behind only narrows it down to a fixed wing puller...so keep your eyes open as somewhere in a hangar at some plek,there are guys all of a sudden very hard at work on an aerie...

Strongs guys,I am sure something will surface...

Rafs

[Cacofonix]

Very sad indeed. Sorry. To hear about this. Guys I think there is another option for our engines. I have heard and saw pictures of a fan boat a few years ago. Lookout for a dam in the area. I googled fan boats but just can't save a pic now. Hope we find the culprits.

[falconp1]

The puller theory as pointed out to me could turn out to be a red herring and on further reflection I realised that the bush baby had a prop spinner which is also missing. Which leads me to believe that the prop bolts were not as easy to get to so they didn't bother removing the prop.

Also I'm told that a spare exhaust was removed from the steel locker thats why we found it broken into.

[Tailspin]

Hey All

This is really sickening Please lets find these guys, Name & Shame I really cannot believe somebody would actually do something like this and think they could get away with it.

I will send the numbers and that to the EAA community aswell.

[Cacofonix]

This is what a fan or air boat looks like

[zoobie]

hi all

thanks for all your comments and support.

how do I attach an image?

cheers

Joe

[John.com]

hi all

thanks for all your comments and support.

how do I attach an image?

cheers

Joe

Hi Joe,

Click on "Upload Attachment" below the editing box and follow the steps.

There is a 100KB file size limit for pictures, so they need to be "low quality". The easiest way to achieve this is email yourself the picture and in so doing select the lowest quality option when prompted. Then, once you receive the email, re-save the image/s you sent yourself for uploading.

There is a "picture size" restriction on images also, but not sure how one gets around that on a PC! On my Mac I use an application called 'Resize-It', which achieves both files size and image size reduction in one.

Good luck,

John

[John.com]

This is what a fan or air boat looks like

Are these common anywhere in South Africa? I cannot recall having seen one.

I have only seen in footage of Okavango, Everglades (USA), etc.

[Air Hog]

I think we can rule out fan boats, they work in pusher configuration. These guys were looking for puller/tractor. This is used on a 3-axes aerie.
Just my 2 cents.

[Karman]

This is what a fan or air boat looks like

Are these common anywhere in South Africa? I cannot recall having seen one.

I have only seen in footage of Okavango, Everglades (USA), etc.

Closest is small hovercraft, some of them do use Puller setups. there a few in SA. But doubt they will us such large props, normally small multiblades

[Hadams]

Will surely keep our eyes open at our airfield, not that i would think anyone at our airfield can go so LOW as to take anything that does not belong to them!

Henry.

Proudly Panorama pilot!

[zoobie]

thanks John

here is a picture of the prop as well as the spinner.

Joe

[ZULU1]

We all know the issues and what we would do to the crooks...BUT I ask a question as its happened and as in life you have to move on.

Is there anything we can do as a community to help these blokes out ?

Maybe we throw in a helmet for a raffle at a get together, somebody has a spare prop, scrap block for a trade in or whatever ?

I am sure any ideas are welcome to ease the pain...

Zulu1