As Captain Gritsch seems to be monitoring this thread or at least having it relayed to him I wonder if he could answer two questions?
1. Does he agree with Ms Curtis-Taylor’s assertion that the controls fitted to the front cockpit would not have allowed him to fly the aircraft?
2. If, as he states, the sponsors were never told this was to be a solo flight why did they (the sponsors) publicise it as such? As an add-on to this question, why did Ms Curtis-Taylor also repeatedly refer to her “solo” flight?