Originally Posted by
piperboy84
Terry, thanks for providing a counter point of view, the issue I have is you seem to be saying that in spite of the fibs TCT told in the Herne Bay vid and her passenger for most of the SA flights actually being an experienced FI/ A&P mechanic she should nonetheless be recognised for her supposed achievements in making those flights and the outreach. I see little achievement in the collaborative planning or performance of the endeavour as conducted (with the sole exception being the fund raising part) and in the absence of an underprivileged kid winning a scholarship, attaining a pilots license or other demonstrative advancement the outreach part seems a bit lacking also . I suppose the bottom line is HCAP's threshold for what merits recognition is a few rungs down the ladder from what most folks on here, myself included, deem impressive and I doubt that can be reconciled on this forum. But again thanks for taking the time to put your points across.
As you have stepped up and used your real name, I shall do the same and also give my qualifications for you to quantify if my opinions are valid.
My name is Duncan Robertson, ironically I have the same age (53), nationality (UK) , flying hours (1300), pilot certificates (CPL) as TCT and have likewise logged several trans-continental flights (USA & Europe ) in a slow tail dragger both solo and with an instructor, I've also crashed twice (once while taxiing the other on take-off) so my experience is pretty much on par with Tracey's and again I don't think her (or my) flying is any big deal and certainly doesn't merit an award nor can be described as an "achievement"
Just my 2 cents.
It is a huge shame that the flying achievements of so many pilots, such as yourself, go unnoticed in the public eye, and unrecognised by the many organisations including The Air League. This is perhaps why aviation in the UK is in such decline particularly amongst
the young. I flew solo in an Air Cadet glider in 1961, and I view the lack of flying opportunities (and lack of enthusiasm for flying) in the ATC as very sad. Like her or not, Tracey CT is trying to enthuse the young, and it's a shame that her achievements (not many have done such a trip) are being given such negative publicity by Mike Flynn, who started this thread, and by others. I attempted to speak up for her in an attempt to stop the unpleasantness, and have been shouted down by some very unpleasant and rude posts! You are an exception!
Originally Posted by
pulse1
Terry Holloway,
I personally would be happy to acknowledge her achievements if I knew what they were. Could you possibly give us a list of what you think that they are, supporting your view with some evidence.
I will help you out by admitting that it is self evident that she has been extremely successful at getting and maintaining some very influential support. After that I am struggling a bit.
Outreach and encouraging the young. She also flew an open cockpit aeroplane a long way!
Originally Posted by
SATCOS WHIPPING BOY
The questions by Jonzarno and I have been asked on many occasions. They have been posted on the BiaB facebook page and ignored, they have been posted on here (we know she has read this thread as she as made comment about it) and ignored. I cannot speak for others, but I see no point in contacting Tim Kelly as all I would receive, if anything at all, would be more
PR guff. Questions repeated below because I, like Jonzarno, don't wish them to get buried again.
1. What is the reconciliation between Ms Curtis-Taylor's well documented claim to have flown her african flight "solo" (Please see the video clip published earlier in this thread in which she personally makes that claim) and her subsequent public statement that the flight was not solo?
2. Given the above, what was she doing in the picture of her published earlier in this thread standing in front of a huge picture claiming she had been "Alone in an open cock-pit [sic] plane"?
3. By what authority, and with what qualification, does she wear RAF wings?
*******
In addition I would like answers to the following
- When exactly did the sponsorship requests begin?
- What did the investors THINK they were getting?
- When was it decided that these would not be a solo flights?
- Why was the solo aspect dropped?
- Were the sponsors informed of this material change?
- If so, when?
- Why was it felt necessary that the front seat would be occupied for the vast majority of the journey by Ewald?
- What steps did TCT take to correct the many SOLO headlines?
- Where is the evidence to show this even happened?
- Why, many months after the return to the UK, was TCT perpetuating the SOLO claim?
Why don't you ask her!