Tracey Curtis-Taylor (Merged threads)
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"Follow the money, Mabel!"
It will certainly be instructive to have a look, with an auditor's eye, at the books of certain consultants, companies, corporations and organisations.
No amount of creative accounting is going to cover the 'spoor', as it's called.
No matter how wily the animals being tracked, they have a habit of leaving their 'calling-cards' behind them.
.
It will certainly be instructive to have a look, with an auditor's eye, at the books of certain consultants, companies, corporations and organisations.
No amount of creative accounting is going to cover the 'spoor', as it's called.
No matter how wily the animals being tracked, they have a habit of leaving their 'calling-cards' behind them.
.
Last edited by Stanwell; 28th Sep 2016 at 06:50.
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"Follow the money, Mabel!"
I will certainly be instructive to have a look, with an auditor's eye, at the books of certain consultants, companies, corporations and organisations.
No amount of creative accounting is going to cover the 'spoor', as it's called.
No matter how wily the animals being tracked, they have a habit of leaving their 'calling-cards' behind them.
I will certainly be instructive to have a look, with an auditor's eye, at the books of certain consultants, companies, corporations and organisations.
No amount of creative accounting is going to cover the 'spoor', as it's called.
No matter how wily the animals being tracked, they have a habit of leaving their 'calling-cards' behind them.
http://www.oldfieldsschool.org/page.cfm?p=660&newsid=903
Or here
http://www.livewire.co.uk/news/MaryHeath.php
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii7MfyaspUg
http://www.inmarsat.com/news/pilot-completes-biplane-flight-celebrating-forgotten-aviator/
Last edited by piperboy84; 28th Sep 2016 at 04:38.
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JS, while I thoroughly support the general thrust of this argument I thought it worthwhile making a couple of observations:
You often comment on "(only) a 1500hr PPL". 1500hrs in anyone's book is a reasonable amount of hours. Equally, there are many PPLs out there who are exceptional pilots. Yes, I see the link you are trying to make with commercial activity but this is rather tenuous; in the UK, at least, a PPL can fly for charity work.
Back seat driver - the Stearman, like many early taildraggers, is primarily driven from the back seat. Sure, it's nice having highly qualified help up front but one would expect the aircraft commander to be sat in the back.
I'm not trying to undermine your argument, I'm just trying to identify the chinks in your armour.
You often comment on "(only) a 1500hr PPL". 1500hrs in anyone's book is a reasonable amount of hours. Equally, there are many PPLs out there who are exceptional pilots. Yes, I see the link you are trying to make with commercial activity but this is rather tenuous; in the UK, at least, a PPL can fly for charity work.
Back seat driver - the Stearman, like many early taildraggers, is primarily driven from the back seat. Sure, it's nice having highly qualified help up front but one would expect the aircraft commander to be sat in the back.
I'm not trying to undermine your argument, I'm just trying to identify the chinks in your armour.
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Re hire and reward,ppl flying for benefit of a charity etc, has anyone identified a direct benefit from TCT activities to any registered charity..... I suspect that any profits from appearances and documentary films will have been spirited away in an uncharitable manner, just saying. Perhaps someone with the relevant skill set could 'follow the money'
Thread Starter
I take your point Cows Getting Bigger and perhaps could have worded that post better.
However 1500 hours seems a very low number in contrast to her claims of a 30 year flying career.
Mary Heath Project sponsored by Livewire Digital Ltd
I can find no reference anywhere of TCT doing any "extreme" or long distance flying prior to the Africa trip.
That press release and others suggest her occupation as a pilot. Apart from some part time ground instruction at Ardmore,New Zealand over 16 years ago there is no evidence she has ever been employed as a commercial pilot.
However she owns Bird In a Biplane Ltd and obviously receives income from that company via her sponsors. Does that constitute hire and reward? accounts here https://companycheck.co.uk/company/0...ies-house-data
However 1500 hours seems a very low number in contrast to her claims of a 30 year flying career.
Not for the faint-hearted, flying in an open cockpit, exposed to the elements, represents a formidable physical and logistical challenge in a plane designed in the 1930s, with a top speed of 95 mph, an operating ceiling of 10,000 feet and a range of only 450 miles. But this sort of extreme flying is what Curtis-Taylor has been doing all her working life.
I can find no reference anywhere of TCT doing any "extreme" or long distance flying prior to the Africa trip.
That press release and others suggest her occupation as a pilot. Apart from some part time ground instruction at Ardmore,New Zealand over 16 years ago there is no evidence she has ever been employed as a commercial pilot.
However she owns Bird In a Biplane Ltd and obviously receives income from that company via her sponsors. Does that constitute hire and reward? accounts here https://companycheck.co.uk/company/0...ies-house-data
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 28th Sep 2016 at 07:40.
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Since the Stearman is N reg, does she not have an FAA licence?
And much said here about the BWPA, but what about the AWPA who made her an honorary member for her 'solo' flight, and which she accepted without any sign of correcting the error
And much said here about the BWPA, but what about the AWPA who made her an honorary member for her 'solo' flight, and which she accepted without any sign of correcting the error
Thread Starter
I understand she has a FAA private licence on the basis of her UK ppl.
Someone posted the details here some time ago.
Ewald got his on the same day.
I received this from the chair of the AWPA on September 5 but no news since.
Someone posted the details here some time ago.
Ewald got his on the same day.
I received this from the chair of the AWPA on September 5 but no news since.
I was unaware of these accusations and will investigate it further.
Thank you very much for bringing it to our attention.
Kind regards,
Carol Dehn
Thank you very much for bringing it to our attention.
Kind regards,
Carol Dehn
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Drawing a wage or income from flying a US registered aircraft on a 61.75 validation based on a UK issued EASA private licence ? , not sure what the FAA regs say about that particularly when she touts her occupation as pilot ................ Of course Ewalds presence in the cockpit (Being holder of a valid ATPL) appears to square matters- perhaps this is why he is always in the aircraft during flights related to documentary filming? Guessing she probably does not hold a current valid commercial licence from any country including New Zealand. 🤔
Thread Starter
That is my understanding Midlifec although she claims to be the "sole pilot" of the Spirit of Artemis.
She filed the accident report following the incident in Arizona and I seem to recall the event was listed as a private flight?
I am not sure if Ewald holds a US commercial licence.
She filed the accident report following the incident in Arizona and I seem to recall the event was listed as a private flight?
I am not sure if Ewald holds a US commercial licence.
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JS,
Re the rudely interrupted departure from Winslow AZ, the detail in the NTSB report categorised
the flight as "Private" and the purpose of it was stated as "Personal".
Re the rudely interrupted departure from Winslow AZ, the detail in the NTSB report categorised
the flight as "Private" and the purpose of it was stated as "Personal".
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JS
Whatever the merits of this thread/investigation, publishing the contents of a presumably private email, however short, with a name attached in a public forum is massively out of order and will win you no friends whatsoever - unless of course you have the express authority of the author.
I think it is time for this thread to evolve. There are all sorts of regulatory bodies and significant organisations which have been bought into disrepute (and possibly worse) - IF these allegation are true. Those that care enough should be bringing these matters to the attention of the people that have a duty of responsibility to act on them.
As far as just slagging off TCT further, that would seem to have been achieved and then some.
Whatever the merits of this thread/investigation, publishing the contents of a presumably private email, however short, with a name attached in a public forum is massively out of order and will win you no friends whatsoever - unless of course you have the express authority of the author.
I think it is time for this thread to evolve. There are all sorts of regulatory bodies and significant organisations which have been bought into disrepute (and possibly worse) - IF these allegation are true. Those that care enough should be bringing these matters to the attention of the people that have a duty of responsibility to act on them.
As far as just slagging off TCT further, that would seem to have been achieved and then some.
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No room for Ewald on this flight
If Tracey is looking for a new solo flight, here's one she might like to try. 
Sadly, there's no room for Ewald nor for a GNS 430......
Sadly, there's no room for Ewald nor for a GNS 430......
My personal thoughts on this are that digging into the financial and legal nuances of these flights is going to get lost in a quagmire of legislation and beyond the scope of this thread...at the moment.
The crux as far as I see it is that TCT has been given awards that, in hindsight, are not justified. If I were to write a citation for an act that warrants recognition based upon what I knew at the time, and it then comes to light that I had/have been misinformed, I would not go back an rewrite the citation to fit the truth but I would simply rescind the award. If the new facts then warrant reward then that is another issue I would have to resolve.
This is where I have difficulty in understanding what HCAP are doing. They propose an award based on some really great piece of aviation derring-do, and when it is brought to their attention that it was not such a fantastic feat after all they should not be re-writing the award to fit the situation. What they should be doing is seeing if the situation justifies an award.
Same with the LAA: They issued an award for the Cape to Goodwood flight, which I understand was accepted by TCT even though she knew the flight was not as "described". Only now do they, the LAA, realise this following the revelations about the London to Sydney flight. Their AGM will be an interesting event and I do hope that common sense prevails and the award is withdrawn; anything less just undermines the award in the future and sends a clear message that spinning a good yarn will get you a reward.
Has there been deliberate deception? I shall let others be the judge of that, but a quick look back at all the histories of the BiaB pages and others clearly shows that someone is actively trying to cover tracks.
As for personal attacks on TCT. She could at many stages of these affairs come clean and made it quite clear that it was not a SOLO flight, using weasily words like SOLE PILOT and failing to correct the many newspaper and event-promotion headlines which perpetuated the myth. She lacks moral fibre and is a fantasist that has been dragged along by the hype and glory. I cannot fault her enthusiasm but that alone does not justify the awards and honorary titles.
TCT is well aware of the discussions going on now, she can put a stop to it by coming clean. She could write to HCAP and simply say that her "journey" is not even close to the same league as Tim Peak and as such would wish to decline that award. Likewise with the LAA, rather than having them waste time discussing a trivial matter she could return the award, ask that her name is removed and apologise for not correcting things earlier.
HCAP and LAA are blameless in this as they, like us, have been hoodwinked.
I don't know how HCAP and LAA awards committees operate but I guess they draw up a short list. The important thing to remember is that there are potentially great people out there who just missed out on getting recognition for their activities because they were pipped-at-the-post by TCT.
Finally, the Honorary rank and degree. Are these justified? Awarded on what grounds? For flying SOLO half-way around the world or for being a very enchanting and inspirational speaker? Certainly enchanting to listen to if the facts are not known, but when you watch her videos knowing what is known now they certainly have far less impact and are perhaps more suited to Jackanory. Inspirational? No, unless you want people to aspire to misleading the world in believing fiction is fact.
SWB
ps, I forgot to mention the FAA brevet. When did that become part of the image and on whose authority is it worn?
The crux as far as I see it is that TCT has been given awards that, in hindsight, are not justified. If I were to write a citation for an act that warrants recognition based upon what I knew at the time, and it then comes to light that I had/have been misinformed, I would not go back an rewrite the citation to fit the truth but I would simply rescind the award. If the new facts then warrant reward then that is another issue I would have to resolve.
This is where I have difficulty in understanding what HCAP are doing. They propose an award based on some really great piece of aviation derring-do, and when it is brought to their attention that it was not such a fantastic feat after all they should not be re-writing the award to fit the situation. What they should be doing is seeing if the situation justifies an award.
Same with the LAA: They issued an award for the Cape to Goodwood flight, which I understand was accepted by TCT even though she knew the flight was not as "described". Only now do they, the LAA, realise this following the revelations about the London to Sydney flight. Their AGM will be an interesting event and I do hope that common sense prevails and the award is withdrawn; anything less just undermines the award in the future and sends a clear message that spinning a good yarn will get you a reward.
Has there been deliberate deception? I shall let others be the judge of that, but a quick look back at all the histories of the BiaB pages and others clearly shows that someone is actively trying to cover tracks.
As for personal attacks on TCT. She could at many stages of these affairs come clean and made it quite clear that it was not a SOLO flight, using weasily words like SOLE PILOT and failing to correct the many newspaper and event-promotion headlines which perpetuated the myth. She lacks moral fibre and is a fantasist that has been dragged along by the hype and glory. I cannot fault her enthusiasm but that alone does not justify the awards and honorary titles.
TCT is well aware of the discussions going on now, she can put a stop to it by coming clean. She could write to HCAP and simply say that her "journey" is not even close to the same league as Tim Peak and as such would wish to decline that award. Likewise with the LAA, rather than having them waste time discussing a trivial matter she could return the award, ask that her name is removed and apologise for not correcting things earlier.
HCAP and LAA are blameless in this as they, like us, have been hoodwinked.
I don't know how HCAP and LAA awards committees operate but I guess they draw up a short list. The important thing to remember is that there are potentially great people out there who just missed out on getting recognition for their activities because they were pipped-at-the-post by TCT.
Finally, the Honorary rank and degree. Are these justified? Awarded on what grounds? For flying SOLO half-way around the world or for being a very enchanting and inspirational speaker? Certainly enchanting to listen to if the facts are not known, but when you watch her videos knowing what is known now they certainly have far less impact and are perhaps more suited to Jackanory. Inspirational? No, unless you want people to aspire to misleading the world in believing fiction is fact.
SWB
ps, I forgot to mention the FAA brevet. When did that become part of the image and on whose authority is it worn?
Thread Starter
Excellent post SWB.
With regard to me posting the reply from the Australian Women Pilots Association it was no more than a polite reply saying they were not aware.
I quite agree Old Fat One.
Sadly some of those bodies would rather bury bad news than retract awards hence the need to use the press.
With regard to me posting the reply from the Australian Women Pilots Association it was no more than a polite reply saying they were not aware.
I think for this thread to to evolve. There are all sorts of regulatory bodies and significant organisations which have been bought into disrepute (and possibly worse) - IF these allegation are true. Those that care enough should be bringing these matters to the attention of the people that have a duty of responsibility to act on them.
Sadly some of those bodies would rather bury bad news than retract awards hence the need to use the press.
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I agree Satcos, but the reason I put the links to the support outfits such as Nylon, Livewire and Inmarsat are it shows her response to being challenged on the sole pilot issue is complete nonsense. Specifically, on her public speaking roadshow after the South African trip where she said she was solo, upon being challenged on this she segwayed over to implying that she basically showed up in South Africa with a plane and headsets but early on ( but after the project had started) realized that this exceptional feat was going to require so much more logistics and "collaboration" that rendered her initial solo plan unworkable, implying that circumstances beyond her control and not her piloting skills forced her to drop the solo idea.
The press releases from the support company's prior to her departure show that this is nonsense because all the logistics and collaboration was planned from the very start, so hanging her hat on that being the reason for not flying solo is bull****.
The press releases from the support company's prior to her departure show that this is nonsense because all the logistics and collaboration was planned from the very start, so hanging her hat on that being the reason for not flying solo is bull****.
Thread Starter
I have just had a reply from the president of the Australian Women Pilots Association.
I would appreciate contact details for committee members of the Hong Kong and Australian branches of HCAP.
We are meeting this weekend to discuss.
I will be making an announcement to the membership before I report anything to the general public.
So I'm afraid I will not be able to report anything to you until the end of November after our magazine is distributed.
I feel that what ever we decide should go to our membership first as it is their association that has been mentioned numerous times.
I will be making an announcement to the membership before I report anything to the general public.
So I'm afraid I will not be able to report anything to you until the end of November after our magazine is distributed.
I feel that what ever we decide should go to our membership first as it is their association that has been mentioned numerous times.
I agree Satcos, but the reason I put the links to the support outfits such as Nylon, Livewire and Inmarsat are it shows her response to being challenged on the sole pilot issue is complete nonsense. Specifically, on her public speaking roadshow after the South African trip where she said she was solo, upon being challenged on this she segwayed over to implying that she basically showed up in South Africa with a plane and headsets but early on ( but after the project had started) realized that this exceptional feat was going to require so much more logistics and "collaboration" that rendered her initial solo plan unworkable, implying that circumstances beyond her control and not her piloting skills forced her to drop the solo idea.
The press releases from the support company's prior to her departure show that this is nonsense because all the logistics and collaboration was planned from the very start, so hanging her hat on that being the reason for not flying solo is bull****.
The press releases from the support company's prior to her departure show that this is nonsense because all the logistics and collaboration was planned from the very start, so hanging her hat on that being the reason for not flying solo is bull****.
My opening comment was directed more to the detail of company accounts, insurance, licencing (FAA, PPL, CPL etc) and what can lawfully be conducted. This will all come out in the long term I am sure hence my "beyond the scope of this thread...at the moment." opening line.
Once you start to pull on a loose bit of wool, it isn't long before the shirt unravels completely. All we need to ensure is that the loose strand keeps getting pulled. :-)
Thread Starter
To that end perhaps now it might be an idea to come up with some sort of focussed approach.
I would like to think if this saga can be put to bed then there is a chance a much fairer 'emulation' of Amy Johnson's epic voyage can be flown by a British female pilot in a DeHavilland biplane some time in the future.
I do not want to appear to have some sort of private agenda against TCT who I stress once again I have never met or indeed exchanged any sort of correspondence.
Therefore it might be helpful if others on here write to the various organisations where she has picked up awards for her sham 'adventures .
I am more than happy to write in support.
I feel old fashioned letters go a long way more than emails.
Any thoughts?
I would like to think if this saga can be put to bed then there is a chance a much fairer 'emulation' of Amy Johnson's epic voyage can be flown by a British female pilot in a DeHavilland biplane some time in the future.
I do not want to appear to have some sort of private agenda against TCT who I stress once again I have never met or indeed exchanged any sort of correspondence.
Therefore it might be helpful if others on here write to the various organisations where she has picked up awards for her sham 'adventures .
I am more than happy to write in support.
I feel old fashioned letters go a long way more than emails.
Any thoughts?
I would like to think if this saga can be put to bed then there is a chance a much fairer 'emulation' of Amy Johnson's epic voyage can be flown by a British female pilot in a DeHavilland biplane some time in the future.
Having said that, I am beginning to wonder if the sponsors of TCT had put the mockers on any sponsorship for Amanda because they could see how it would show them up. Even if Amanda had failed to get all the way to Sydney, it would have still shown up TCT as a fraud at the time. There would be no awards, no phony wings, the matter would have died a long time ago.
Thread Starter
I think we all agree with you Pulse1,
In my opinion the Daily Mail is the way to go.
They were also with us on revealing the truth about TCT.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-legs-own.html
Lord Rothermere will not be happy having his family's sponsorship of aviation besmirched.
They paid the original prize to Amy Johnson
The myth of Tracey Curtis Taylor needs to be dismissed and maybe there is a genuine British woman pilot who can fly a Tiger Moth solo from London to Sydney.
I think what is needed now is a carefully drafted open letter to the Daily Mail and other newspapers. A similar letter needs to be drafted for Portsmouth University , the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Navy Reserve.
Any thoughts or offers of a draft letter?
In my opinion the Daily Mail is the way to go.
They were also with us on revealing the truth about TCT.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-legs-own.html
Lord Rothermere will not be happy having his family's sponsorship of aviation besmirched.
They paid the original prize to Amy Johnson
The myth of Tracey Curtis Taylor needs to be dismissed and maybe there is a genuine British woman pilot who can fly a Tiger Moth solo from London to Sydney.
I think what is needed now is a carefully drafted open letter to the Daily Mail and other newspapers. A similar letter needs to be drafted for Portsmouth University , the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Navy Reserve.
Any thoughts or offers of a draft letter?