Stolen 582 Engines

[John.com]

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

Sorry Zulu1, I must disagree! You cannot simply "move on" on something like this. This is a complete and utter disgrace and EVERYTHING possible must be done to bring these culprits to book.

This is not simply about finding/funding another engine and parts and forgetting that this crime ever happened. This is about having a "pilot brother" (please let him not be, but my instincts tell me he is) in our midst that doesn't deserve to ever see the light of day again, let alone the freedom of flying our open skies!

And I am not talking about "revenge", or inflicting any harm on them. I am simply praying that they get what they deserve in terms of the laws of our land.

So NO, I am FAR from moving on! We need to explore every possible avenue RELENTLESSLY until they are caught, and that they will be!

I imagine if this was my aircraft that was desecrated in this fashion . . . . I would not sleep until these crooks were behind bars!

Furthermore, nice idea about a raffle for a "prop" but they need an ENGINE to make it turn!

[ZULU1]

John, I agree with those sentiments totally but I am trying to get the blokes back in the air...

[zoobie]

hi guys

I have been following all the comments and suggestions. I can't believe the support, camaraderie and anger displayed by our fellow pilots, its truly amazing that we are all united on this front.

My biggest concern is that these thugs will simply target the next airfield/plane/trike and it will become a viscious spiral.

They must be found and stopped. We can't live in fear that our precious planes are been targeted and trashed in this way.

Somewhere they will slip up and someone will see/has seen something. We must nab them and put them behind bars.

Any info is important, so please keep them coming.

regards

Joe
082 552 8233
joebettoni@vodamail.co.za

[John.com]

John, I agree with those sentiments totally but I am trying to get the blokes back in the air...

Agreed . . . . so two projects!

1: Find these bastards
2: Get our boys back in the air!

Any order!!

[Alpha]

Guys...this is shocking....do we now have to keep everything under watch...not too mention the cost of everything in this country has escalated by an average of 200% over the last 10 years, do we now have to have a securtiy officer/guard to protect our hobby? We cant even find solice in our hobby, the only escape we get from our real world and now that has been tainted....

My fellow aviators at klip, it is now time to pull together and put movement and life back into the airfield, i am sure the responsible parties know that klip is quiet and therefore can take advantage of that fact.

Joe...let me know if I can help with anything....even if it is a flip in a 503 trike just to keep you in the air...

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

Hope I don't put my foot in it again but I believe that John.com is correct right from the start. The thieves are known to you guy's and they know too much about you also. The lack of hanger security perhaps or no investment in CTV equipment. The scum knew their around that hanger. They been there before and not too long ago either. Seen anyone using the mobile (Pics)?

The sadness is, and for what it's worth this is how I see it. There is too much to have today, too many who want it and too few who have it. Sometimes the need overcomes the scruples of those whom you trust so you have to start believing the unbelievable. The cANCer in this country is producing poorer whites as well as blacks and white folk do not like doing without, they can steal as well as the next race of folk, and bear in mind you knights of the sky this isn't going to end this is just the beginning as Zoobie suggested. So my advice to you is update your security, pool together on the airfield and work together in protecting each other.

The b@stards will be caught because they will make the mistake they ALL make. They'll get greedy and want more. Stay strong Falconp1, its not the end of the world and the brotherhood will see you through this I'm sure.

Alles van die beste

[John Young]

The b@stards will be caught ....

Spud - 20 years ago they would have been caught already - proper detectives, finger prints, dogs, tracks etc.

Today crime is out of control and the cops are useless.

So sorry to hear of the losses.

Regards
John

[nicow]

The b@stards will be caught ....

Spud - 20 years ago they would have been caught already - proper detectives, finger prints, dogs, tracks etc.

Today crime is out of control and the cops are useless.

So sorry to hear of the losses.

Regards
John

Now you see why you left SA ...

[Vatso]

I have been reading the comments and I agree who ever stole the motors must know what they wanted them & as a group we should make as many people aware so if the stuff does turn up we can return them to the original owners and put these people behind bars.

I was reading the comments about theft and the police from 20 years ago. I hope we all realise that the economy could not afford for theft to stop - WHAT I hear you say well it's true about 10% of new cars sales are from theft and that goes for lots of products purchased. sad but true if theft was to stop tomorrow our economy would not survive!

I am now going to investigate insuring my trike after this as I can't afford a new motor

[Tribal Croc]

What will be next Arriving at the hangar just to find out that your wing has been stolen off

This is bad and so unnecessary

[Rhodie]

You are scum of the earth and my wish is that you never get airborne, and if by chance you do, I hope you come back to earth with one hell of a bump.
Harsh as it may seem, you deserve what is coming to you

I so agree with this, Karma is a bitch, it will nail them big time

Hope you are back in the air soon


Neil

[John.com]

What will be next Arriving at the hangar just to find out that your wing has been stolen off

This is bad and so unnecessary

I don't believe that this will happen. We are a brotherhood of aviators that respect one another, as well as our aircraft. Although never spoken about much, we all understand this and abide by the unwritten code that exists between us all, this bastard clearly excluded!

I strongly believe that this is a once-off crime to get this measly rat's aircraft airborne again. Conversely, I do not believe that it is the start of a "Rotax second-hand spare parts industry"!

Something like this is NOT the norm and I do not believe that we need to panic about the general safety of our aircraft.

This is MORE reason why this perpetrator MUST be locked up for this crime.

With that said, this is a wake up call and we do need to be cautious.

Let's all be vigilant, especially around what we may see happening either in the hangers (dusty aircraft suddenly with a new lease on life) or in the market (Rotax spares being offered).

What other thefts have there been over the past years? Can we list them? It may be useful in this investigation.

[ZULU1]

Several new years ago our hangar was hit for the batteries, my plane escaped as the battery was on the keel. But the damage was unpleasant and far worse the batteries got trashed when being removed. The aquillas battery is in exactly the wrong place.

[Bugwar]

If they needed the engine, why leave the carburetors? Spares maybe? Scrap metal more likely!! I think the prop was just coincidence.

May the fleas of a thousand camels flock to their nether regions so that it may itch for ever and their fingers turn into razor blades.

[Mogas]

At every ATF renewal airframe, prop and engine serial numbers are checked and forwarded to RAASA on the inspection notification form.
IMHO this and previously reported incidents were the work of unscrupulous aviators, not common thieves.
Somewhere along the line there will have to be an AP involved, even if it is just to doctor the paperwork for the engine or crank's next home.
As an AP I will certainly be keeping my eyes open but I think a far more effective check will be to get RAASA to set up a flagging system on the database where if ever that serial number appears again action can be taken. What say you Mr Boucher?
If and when the culprits are caught, at the very least the AP involved should be named and shamed, stripped of his privileges and charged like any other criminal.