Read all about it!
http://www.aviationanswers.com/index...66& Itemid=29
Polite Pilot Released From Psych Ward
Sunday, 04 May 2008
Welsh pilot Maurice Kirk gets full marks for politeness but his
questionable judgment landed him in a Texas psychiatric hospital.
Kirk, from the Vale of Glamorgan, was detained for psychiatric
assessment after landing his Piper Cub in a field about six miles
from President Bush's Texas ranch April 25. Known as the Flying
Vet, Kirk wanted to personally thank Bush for help he got from the
U.S. Coast Guard when he crashed off the coast of the Dominican
Republic in February. According to the BBC, police who stopped
Kirk in the Texas field originally thought he was drunk, but he
was sober. McLennan County Chief Deputy Sheriff Randy Phlemons
said he was not arrested but was ordered to undergo a psychiatric
assessment. Kirk was released from the Austin State Hospital last
Thursday.
Read Full Story: Click He
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news...ml?CMP=OTC-RSS
His wife, Kirstie, said that she was unsure if her husband would
be able to fly his airplane immediately because it may have been
damaged by the weather. He plans to take a break from the
adventure and fly back to Wales (commercially) this week. When he
resumes the flight, his wife suggests he'll be a little more
careful. "I guess that [the Secret Service] will want to check his
route before he leaves," she said.
Additional information:
http://www.pipercubforum.com/sydney.htm
L-4 AROUND THE WORLD
Hard landing in Kanazawa [Crash photo]
Maurice Kirk's plan to fly his 1943 Piper L-4 around the world was
rudely interrupted in October 2005. After nearly two years in
policy custody, Liberty Girl was released to her owner in August
2007. The plane was rebuilt in Maine, then lost at sea in March
2008. Read more at Flying Vet website.
http://kirkflyingvet.com/
http://kirkflyingvet.com/tags/Arrested/default.aspx
M is still being held at a deportation centre at Houston. This is
confirmed by consular staff. There is no indication yet of when he
will travel to GB but I hope to hear soon (there is still washing
up waiting).
I have been told a variety of stories regarding this second
detention though a clear common theme is that he was offered the
opportunity of release on the condition that he signed papers
accepting that he was intoxicated. He maintained that he was not
and so would not sign. At this juncture the
immigration/deportation system came into play.
I have not spoken to M since Thursday and I don't think that
consular staff have spoken to him yet. M's friends have been
unable to speak to him by telephone as he has no money to buy a
‘phone card - and couldn't be sent any until we could quote his
"alien number". This number was given to me yesterday afternoon.
Hopefully, he will be able to make contact soon. He will be
pleased to hear that his little aircraft is safe. We are trying to
track his belongings but this is not easy without direct
communication.
I expect that he is fine.
KK (M's wife)
Filed under: Around the World Solo Flight, Update, US President,
George Bush, Texas, Arrested, Deportation
Published May 07 2008, 05:42 AM by Kirstie Kirk
http://www.topix.com/world/turks-and...-the-caribbean
Turks and Caicos Islands
Feb 18, 2008
Crash pilot Maurice Kirk rescued from the Caribbean
“It may well have saved his life. "It was lucky he had that beacon
on him. That was a really good decision on his part.”
An accident-prone amateur flyer who is attempting to go around the
world in a 65-year-old aircraft once used by General George Patton
has crash-landed in the Caribbean.
On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:48:10 -0500, Gig 601Xl Builder
wrote in
:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...page_id=181 1
An British pilot flying solo around the world was arrested by U.S.
police today after trying to land his plane at George Bush's ranch in
Texas.
Retired vet Maurice Kirk, 63, wanted to "drop in" on the president to
say thanks after American coastguards saved his life two months ago.
Mr Kirk was impressed when they rescued him from shark-infested waters
of the Caribbean after his World War II plane ditched in the sea on the
latest leg of his around-the-world adventure.