Stanwell
IMHO you have made some good points in this thread. I thought your renaming the Stearman the
'Spirit of Artifice' was very funny - and said so previously. Probably the funniest quip in the entire thread.
However, also IMHO, it's a pity you often detract from your good points by silly comments and unfounded allegations.
The writer of that piece is neither a "professional billsh1tter" nor a "promotional copy writer". He is a thoroughly decent man, an experienced and enthusiastic PPL. He has been a regular contributor to PPRuNe for at least 16 years.
He has no connection whatsoever with either TCT or her very effective
PR team whose exaggeration of her 'achievements' has been the subject of much justified criticism in this thread and elsewhere.
Then, to make matters worse, whoever compiles the reports for 'Air Pilot' has largely relied on a TCT press-release as the basis from which to disseminate such tripe amongst the professionals within the HCAP.
He has accurately, and very briefly, summarised the lecture given by TCT.
If you had read the article with an open mind, you would have noticed that he has not lauded her..
The writer has accurately recorded TCT's claim that she was inspired by Amy Johnson. He does not purport to vouch for the truth of that claim.
And, far from relying upon the nonsense in her press releases/on her website about her flight to Australia "recreating the essence of the period, basic period instruments", "reliving the story of her dramatic adventures and reckless bravery" etc, he wrote:
The choice of her 1942 Stearman itself created some distance from Amy's feat - a lot more substantial …..
Her journeys have been very much 21st century ones, embracing the GoPro era with copious cameras and photographers, and a chase aircraft bringing luggage and avgas, and also assisting in navigation, and very proactive
PR.
Moreover, for most flights on the 2015/6 expedition to Australia she was accompanied by the aircraft's owner, Ewald Gritsch, a 20,000 hour instructor.
TCT did not distance herself from Amy Johnson's feat. Far from it. Those are the writer's (accurate) comments.
Jay Sata
admitting in the Cobham lecture that owner Ewald was up front all along and the chase plane was helping with navigation.
She did not.
She didn't use the word solo but anyone attending the lecture (who didn't already know the truth) would have left thinking that she'd flown the Stearman solo to Australia - with a 'chase aircraft' following her simply to record the flight.
Is the article an 'expose' of TCT? No. It is a factual account, written for our in-house journal, of a lecture given by a guest.
In my view, the writer has struck the balance very well.
The article cannot reasonably be regarded as praising TCT - or of supporting her claims.