This is a long Story, so I try to keep it as short as possible.
I know Rick since 1999 when we talked about a Conversion on a Mini500 to Turbine powered. I paid him about 20000$ for this on a progress base.in 2002 I finally decided to travel to Rick for finishing my Helicopter myself. Over one Year later the Mini500 was nearly completed when I put it in a Container to ship it to Austria.
The Helicopter was not able to operate at this point. I did my own troubleshooting and after about 30 Modifications I was able to run my Aircraft.
During this Time I was contacted by a Person (now a close Friend) in Austria to give him some Information about the Mini and Rick Stitt, because he was intending to buy a Complete Mini 500 located in Ricks Building, but owned by someone in Ireland. I told him to be very careful since Rick did this kind of Business all the time, only to take advantage about other unknowing people. After wiring the Money he had to wait one full Year to receive a Helicopter without Main rotor Transmission.
Now 2 Years later, on May 30st 2008 I met Rick in Sedalia, MO to see if he had some parts left or anything at all.initially I told him I would like to meet him, so we can talk things over.
That Meeting turned out to be very interesting:
When I arrived at the Sedalia Mun Airport he picked me up with a brand new black Mustang GT Convertible. He gave me a Tour on his Commercial Plant with 7 Buildings on Site, located on the Northwest side of the Airport, only 1/2 Mile away. There is a Fence surrounding this Property. Every Building has severe Damage, some have the whole Sidewall missing. One Building seemed to be intact and this he used for his personal belongings. I did not get access in this Building. Rick clamed that he purchased this Property for 11Mio $. He also clamed, that he is intending to invest 7Mio$, into a Bio Diesel Factory.
How many People dos he have to rip off to get that kind of Money?
I asked him for some small parts and he told me that he has nothing left. I confronted him that I was ordered to collect the Main rotor Transmission for my Friend in Austria. Rick claimed that he did not know anything about that and he took off with his Mustang.
The conclusion out of this experience: He has nothing but his personal Belongings, in an Building, he probably rents for bad Checks. He lives somewhere in the Town of Sedalia, MO waiting to get some down payments for doing nothing. I can not understand that the US Authorities do nothing to protect the People from this Thief!
Andreas pischinger
4060 Leonding
Austria
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