The Lady Who Flew Africa

[joy ride]

On BBC 4 last night, concerning Tracey Curtis-Taylor's re-tracing the epic flight from Capetown to Goodwood by Lady Mary Heath in 1928.
A fine looking Stearman, with interesting shots of it taxiing incongruously past modern jet airliners. Worth a look!

[Aubrey.]

Agreed. Fantastic programme, makes me want to go and do some bush flying! Some very sad scenes of rhino poaching though :(

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Truly brilliant programme and I take my hat off to the lady. Her Stearman visited Blackbushe last year and I was lucky enough to get a snap:

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a610/brendan_mccartney/Aircraft/N56200_1_zpsmkg0agan.jpg

[joy ride]

+1 on the poaching scene, made so very much worse by the fact that rhino horn is just matted hair and has no medical value at all.

[Mr Mac]

Totally agree with previous post. Although I thought they may have been able to make it into longer program given the size of Africa and the bits which were missed so to speak. Also it would have been interesting to see a little bit of the flight through Europe given winter conditions / traffic.


Regards
Mr Mac

[joy ride]

A phone call somewhat interrupted the last 20 minutes for me, but I agree that the subject could easily have made it at least a 2 part programme!

For anyone who missed it, look out for the repeat or perhaps check BBC iPlayer

[Exascot]

Drift thread, but the way forward is to inject cyanide into their horns. It does not affect the animal but it sure does the end user if the Rhino is poached and the horn used for 'medicinal' purposes. The word will soon get around China.

Bush flying :ok: Doing some on Friday. Short strips, diving at the threshold over the top of tall trees, dodging birds in the air and animals on the strip. All VFR hands on stuff.

I am exhausted just thinking about it. Guess I was better off with auto land and miles of tarmac. It is a young guy's game. The old man will just sit back in the RHS and enjoy.

[Herod]

Ref the cyanide in rhino horns, aren't they starting to paint something onto elephant's tusks that is poisonous if handled? I seem to recall reading about it a few months ago, and it seemed an excellent idea.

[vintage ATCO]

By coincidence, Tracey was speaking at the RAeS Oxford Branch last night. Great talk, catch it if you can. She had her 'mate' with her, Dame Diana Rigg!

She says they have hours and hours of film in the can. Hope more of it can be shown.

[joy ride]

^ True Entertainment (Freeview 61) is currently showing the Avengers at 8 pm on week days, but have now shown all the older ones including Diana Riggs' ones, and are now showing the Linda Thorson ones.

[vctenderness]

Fantastic programme! What occurred to me whilst watching was there must of been a chase plane doing the filming.

Any ideas what it would have been?

[Tony Mabelis]

It was a C208 Caravan.
You see the odd shot of Tracy inside it when the Stearman had the Mag drop, and also fleeting glimpses of it parked at various airfields.
Tony

[VictorGolf]

And it's shadow flying fairly close to the Stearman as they flew over the bush. Presumably that's how they got the "peeling off" shots.

[Herod]

It seems Mary Heath wrote a book about her journey. It's called "Women and Flying", but it's not readily available.

[Proof Reader]

I thought it a fascinating programme and agree with Mr Mac that I also would like to have seen more.


Re the landing shown at Goodwoood. Was that the actual homecoming? I ask because I would have thought there would have been more of a welcome/recognition but also on the film shown, I am sure there was another person in the front cockpit so perhaps this was filmed on another occasion.

[vintage ATCO]

At the Oxford talk, Tracey said he regularly gave flights to people in the front seat - sponsors, helpers, friendly people, etc. I don't think it was billed as solo all the way, was it?

[Sam Rutherford]

I thought it best to clarify a couple of the aspects of Tracey Curtis-Taylor's Spirit of Artemis flight from Cape Town to Goodwood.


She did 44 flights within Africa from Cape Town to Crete in Greece.

On 40 of these flights, she was accompanied by her instructor (20000+ hours, and the same man who (beautifully) rebuilt the aeroplane from scratch).

On two of the solo flights, she asked the C208 to fly slowly in front of her as she was worried she wouldn't find the destination airfield (despite having two moving map GPS in the cockpit).

She had three pilots doing all the flight planning and preparation, filing of flight plans etc. and a full support organisation for all the ground logistics.
In short, perhaps not the 'achievement' she seeks to portray - and certainly nothing compared to Mary Heath's story (or many others).


In 2015 she accepted the prestigious Light Aircraft Association's Bill Woodhams Trophy normally awarded for 'Feats of Navigation'.


I consider it unfortunate:
- That her flight was judged the winner for 2014.
- That she was prepared to accept it (as opposed to politely declining).
- That whoever was in 'second place' missed out on what should perhaps have been theirs?


Looking to set the story a little straighter before this goes into the history books...


Safe flights, Sam.

[India Four Two]

I've only just seen this thread. I thought it was going to be about Beryl Markham, flying in Kenya in the 20s. Her autobiography is "West with the Night". Wonderful book.

[Sam Rutherford]

Now, SHE was an aviator!

[liteswap]

Having just watched the repeat, I'm also disappointed in the filming itself. There was precious little detail about the plane, its restoration, about the massive mountain range she had to cross (how high? how cold?), how she navigated, and whole host of other details.

Now I read here that much of that stuff was taken care of for her.

While the in-flight shots were marvellous, there weren't enough of them. Sorry, but it just seemed like a wasted opportunity.

[TURIN]

Disappointing.

Great scenery, beautiful aircraft and an excellent way to revive a forgotten feat.

However,

Although, to anyway who knows anything about aviation, it was obvious that there must have been a huge logistical backup to get the whole thing filmed and on budget. I was convinced that all the flying was done solo and the program gave no indication otherwise.
In the words of Sgt Wilson "Do you think that's wise Sir?"

Just wait til the Daily Mail gets hold of this they'll have a field day. :rolleyes:

[Sam Rutherford]

Massive mountain range?

[treadigraph]

Massive mountain range?

I was wondering about that...

[joy ride]

I must admit that I enjoyed it, but it does now seem to have been somewhat Stage Managed!

[Genghis the Engineer]

I can't say that I was massively impressed with much but the filming either.

The lady presented well to camera, but to present as essentially her solo effort something where she was clearly leaving much of the difficult stuff to other people was rather disingenuous.

If there's a team, credit the team.

G

[liteswap]

Massive mountain range?
I was wondering about that...
There was a comment in the documentary about needing to fly over a mountain range to get to Entebbe, I think it was.

[gruntie]

I haven't seen the prog, but the nearest mountains (apart from ex-volcanoes) in central Africa are the Ruwenzori/Mountains of the Moon: nowhere near Entebbe. What there is though is a f***ing great lake.

[liteswap]

I've probably mis-remembered the destination - but there was a shot of a mountain range from a distance, take-off, then an instant cut to the landing on the other side. Point was, it didn't really address the challenges or how they were overcome.

[Argonautical]

It definately said Entebbe because I was watching it with great interest as the route took in several countries where I have lived including Entebbe itself. I was also surprised when they mentioned a large mountain range because there isn't one. near Entebbe. The nearest big mountain is probably Elgon which is a hundred or so miles to the east of it. After watching it, I thought it was really quite poor, how can they fit in a flight from Capetown to England in 60 minutes? I am even more disappointed now after reading the comments about how it was done.
Concerning Rhino horn, a lot of it is, or was, used to make ceremonial coming of age daggers for Arab fathers to give to their sons.

[Sam Rutherford]

I'll need to watch it again, but the mountain was probably Mt.Kenya (near to the Rhino reservation). So visited/seen but certainly not 'crossed'.


As far as credits are concerned, none of the support team are mentioned as they roll (I, personally, am happy as keen not be associated with it) but harsh on both C208 pilots (they obviously also helped hugely with all the pre-flight planning every day) and Ewald who actually flew nearly all of the flights with Tracey (and arguably without whom she'd have been unable to do it at all).

[The Flying Pram]

According to the Mail on Sunday (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3149712/Amy-flies-solo-global-flight-tragic-death-inspired-world-Amy-Johnson-s-amazing-journey-repeated-85-years-bold-aviatrix-MoS-backing-just-that.html), she's now intending to retrace Amy Johnson's flight from England to Australia.

[treadigraph]

Had a quick look. When the mountains are mentioned she is in Nairobi and there is a brief cut to a view across some tarmac towards a range of rugged hills. Certainly not Wilson with the Ngongs behind. I think the reference might be to crossing higher hills to the west of the Rift Valley - the commentary mentions her flying higher than she has before, given Nairobi is around 5000' ASL, it wouldn't take much for her to need to climb to 10000 or so.

[Genghis the Engineer]

FLYER Airportal - General Aviation News (http://www.flyer.co.uk/aviation-news/newsfeed.php?artnum=2325)

"Like Amy, I accept this. In this risk-adverse society, with all the mollycoddling, this is what makes my adventure exceptional. But I have 30 years of flying behind me and a great passion for vintage aeroplanes and supreme confidence in my Boeing Stearman."

And presumably also in her safety pilot and large support team?

G

[Sam Rutherford]

She has gall, certainly - continuing to associate herself with past great aviators!


At least she's no longer using the word 'solo'!

[Genghis the Engineer]

I suspect that this is probably a classix integrity /understanding issue. The TV people, not fully understanding the significance of the word, probably started referring to this as solo. Herself then through either naivety or conceit, probably just failed to make them change that.

G

[603DX]

The lady herself was probably much more involved in the actual "doing", rather than the arcane practices of filming, post-production editing, commentary dubbing and addition of rolling credits. So it is in my view entirely possible that she didn't have the chance to see the finished production before it was broadcast, nor any directorial powers. My own very limited experience of film production crews is that they can be a law unto themselves with regard to the end product.

Having said that, I read through this thread first before watching the film on iPlayer, and thoroughly enjoyed it, notwithstanding! Having worked or holidayed in several of those marvellous African locations, I was quite spellbound from start to finish. I have no carping criticisms to make, and have some respect for the lady's personability and chutzpah in what were clearly not easy circumstances at times.

[Genghis the Engineer]

That's entirely possible. Whilst I've learned to be pretty forceful about how I, and what I say, can be represented - in half a dozen documentaries and a lot of news programmes, I've yet to ever see the final edit before it goes out, and certainly my opinion is seldom sought on the topic by those in charge of production.

G

[Sam Rutherford]

Q & A with Tracey Curtis Taylor - Features - Pilot (http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/q_a_with_tracey_curtis_taylor_1_4051082)




If you hadn’t been flying solo, who would have been your ideal co-pilot?



Although this was primarily a solo flight, certainly at the outset, I often took members of the crew and sponsors with me in the Stearman for reasons of expediency or indeed just so that they could share the experience.




To confirm, 40 out of 44 flights were with her instructor...


Even on her own website she talks of her 'solo' flight.


In Kenya, both the sponsors and TV company had to formally ask her to stop using the word 'solo' - not the other way around.


Still, good to see she's calming the 'solo' rhetoric at least a little, finally.

[Planemike]

This will make an interesting comparison......


North Cape to Cape Town in a dH.60 Moth (http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/565647-north-cape-cape-town-dh-60-moth.html)

[India Four Two]

Apropos my earlier post about Beryl Markham, I received an email today about a novel that has just been published:

Circling the Sun: a novelist's vivid portrait of Beryl Markham | The Seattle Times (http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/circling-the-sun-a-novelists-vivid-portrait-of-beryl-markham/)

[Planemike]

This looks more like a biography than a novel. One has to wonder what ground will be covered that was not covered by Mary Lovell.

[Dave Clarke Fife]

According to the Mail on Sunday (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3149712/Amy-flies-solo-global-flight-tragic-death-inspired-world-Amy-Johnson-s-amazing-journey-repeated-85-years-bold-aviatrix-MoS-backing-just-that.html), she's now intending to retrace Amy Johnson's flight from England to Australia.


It looks like this flight may be on hold until a full inspection of the Stearman is carried out........

Pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor bidding to emulate Amy Johnson hits a parked helicopter | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3201498/Woman-pilot-bidding-emulate-Amy-Johnson-hits-parked-helicopter.html)

[The Flying Pram]

Until a full inspection of the Stearman is carried out........Oh, I'm sure that'll buff out! Which is more than can be said for the Robinson...

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Beryl Markham's book, Westward With The Night is available on Kindle. A wonderful read and a remarkable lady, although as I've said before, for sheer sex appeal Sheila Scott was THE lady. She had an incredible effect on me as a hormonal teenager!

SND

[Peter-RB]

Same Blonde Lady has almost decapitated a Stationary R44 at Goodwood, whilst taxiing, good job no one was doing a rotors running preflight, could have been very messy,
But the upside is R44 owner will ( or may) get a better Heli..!;)

[Sam Rutherford]

Will.

Engine and other components will find new homes though...

[Sam Rutherford]

This from her facebook page:

Theo Claassen

Saw this lovely lady arriving at Yeovilton at last year's pre-show photo day after she reportedly had lost her way a couple of time on route from Goodwood. Can happen to anyone. Lovely Stearman too.

15 September at 08:41

[Peter-RB]

LOST HER WAY FROM GOOD WOOD..!!!! :sad::eek:

well then, that don't sound healthy for a slightly longer trip to say.................err Africa..:eek: Or is this a build up to look at me sort of thingy, and then "WOW I have arrived in Africa".....smells like publicity or looking for a sponsor who see's a feckless Blonde Lass with a slight bent Boeing..?;)

Do you think her insurers will be aware of her latest Nav Skills or am I being a typical Bloke...:D

[Sam Rutherford]

How she describes the accident:

The last few weeks have been difficult for many reasons. Not only was the Stearman damaged last month in a taxying incident at Goodwood,...

Well, it's not untrue... :cool:

[Rossian]

.....said lady was on the Today prog R4. She is setting off round about now but had already decided that she was going to divert from Le Touquet "because of adverse winds". "Where to?" "Somewhere with a runway more into wind"

Sounds like a plan?

The Ancient Mariner

[Sam Rutherford]

Yes, she doesn't do crosswind landings. This was a recurring (planning) issue on the Africa flight...

[Chris Scott]

Quote from Rossian:
'.....said lady was on the Today prog R4. She is setting off round about now but had already decided that she was going to divert from Le Touquet "because of adverse winds". "Where to?" "Somewhere with a runway more into wind" '

Yes, I heard that interview on Thursday morning. Good at least to know ones limitations, I guess, not to mention the aeroplane's.

Didn't see the TAF she was working with, but now see from the METARS that the mean wind strengths at Le Touquet from midday local time to sunset were as high as 16 knots from 050T, which is straight across Rwy 14/32. AFAIK, there are no grass runways. The old Rwy 07/25 is closed, and seems to have been partially built on.

As one who grew up not far off the route she took across Africa, I was disappointed by the first documentary. It seems there are two types of TV adventurer: those that acknowledge their entourage of producer, camera-person and sound-person; and those who present themselves as if they are alone. The former are in a minority, but include good old Ray Mears. The latter includes Bear Grylls, whom I stopped watching after he failed to mention that the cameraman filming his descent of a waterfall may have had a far more dangerous task than his.

Now we have this latter-day "solo" aviatrix in a robust aeroplane with GPS, and an escort team flying nearby, claiming that in some aspects her task is more challenging than Amy Johnson's was...

[Peter-RB]

She would possibly get more interest,.. and conversely then more sponsorship if she was described as Aviatrix...Dominatrix , or am I being a typical Bloke!!:E

[brakedwell]

I just hope she doesn't bend her Boeing - again :rolleyes:

[Rossian]

.....if there is some way of following the flight other than the dreaded farcetome?
Only because I'm curious you understand.

The Ancient Mariner

[Peter-RB]

Possibly by checking for Taxi-ing incidents or aborted crosswind incident in Africa..on Google:ok:

[gruntie]

It sounds a bit like this guy SE-AMO (http://capetocape.net)
It doesn't say though if he took a hurdy-gurdy with him.

[Chris Scott]

Well, this guy left Stockholm on September 1st, had departed Arusha, Tanzania, by yesterday (October 6th), and is using the same type of aeroplane as his 1935 predecessor. From his excellent website (http://capetocape.net/about/):
"Andrée’s journey [in 1935] was an unprecedented feat – a lone aviator flying an open-cockpit plane over the vast deserts and jungles of the African continent, equipped with the most rudimentary of navigational instruments: a map and a compass. Johan Wiklund will repeat Andrée’s adventure... [...] He’ll also use the same navigational tools, [...] Johan Wiklund wants to prove that it is still possible. Using the same technology used by his compatriot Gösta André in 1935."

So, at risk of nit-picking, does he have routine access to the radar (position) feed advertised on his website as being available for fans to follow his progress? Presumably only when he has internet access?

The Boeing Stearman is a fine aircraft, but it's a pity it takes a Swede to fly an authentic, British type.

[Cazalet33]

I think the Swedish guy's GPS is a little SPOT gizmo which transmits his co-ords to a satellite relay without being a displayable navaid onboard.

I greatly admire what he's doing. In a couple of ways it's actually much more difficult than the original as the bureaucracy and international tensions in Africa just weren't there in the 1930s. It's also more difficult to get petrol at many airports than it was in the '30s.

Then there's the fact he hasn't got a support or "chase" plane unlike the heavily sponsored publicity seekers.

For these wimmin who claim to emulate Amy Johnson or Amelia Earhart, it's all a bit bogus with GPS and support planes.

[deefa]

I saw that program, good stuff. The pilot reminded me of an avgas tanker driver I once met in the 90s who was also a Bell 47 pilot. Is she the woman doing the Australia solo ?

[GuyStockley]

I believe that another lady flyer is going for the Australia attempt, and I believe it's solo.

[fly-4-ever]

Hi Guys,

Yes, Amanda Harrison, leaving soon if she can get the money! Google ‘Race2Darwin’.

[Danny42C]

Soloed 19.9.41. in a Stearman PT-17 at Carlstrom Field, Arcadia FLA.

Flew my first 60 hrs in them. To make it more interesting, they took the ASI out of the (stood's) back cockpit.

Didn't worry us - what you've never had, you never miss !

Great old aircraft. Glad to see this one's flying with the original 220hp Continental. Many have been beefed up with what looks like a Wasp Junior.

Danny42C.

(Arnold Scheme alumnus)

[Rhys Perraton]

Hello Danny42C, bit off context but I have a 1941 Stearman that was used for Army Air Corps training in Florida. Later in life it was a cropduster with a P&W 985 Wasp Junior but now has an original Continental W670, 220hp again. if you would like to send me some gen on your Stearman training experiences and aircraft numbers that would be great.
Thanks, Rhys Perraton [email protected]

[Sam Rutherford]

More about Race2Darwin here: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mike-Wigg

[Private jet]

Apart from making TV programmes could someone please enlighten me as to exactly what the point of these trips are? These "adventurer" types ran out of things to do years ago & now seem to be constantly "re-inventing the wheel". There may possibly be a charitable element, but does the amount raised actually significantly exceed the costs of the operation? Like walking to the poles etc. it all seems rather pointless in this day & age, and just looks like a "look at me" exercise for those involved.

[Planemike]

Meeting a personal challenge...........???

[mand26]

The whole point of this challenge is not only as a personal dream but also to honour Amy Johnson, who, when she started flying, built her confidence and expanded her horizons.

[Chris Scott]

Private jet makes a good point. But it's the lack of candour in the TV presentation that discredits many of these expeditions for me, rather than the backup itself. As I said in my post before last above, viewers shouldn't be treated as both ignorant and gullible.

If the spectacle in the documentary is to be enhanced with air-to-air and ground-to-air shots, as opposed to the simple expedient of head-mounted and airframe-mounted mini-cameras, that's fair enough. If the team on the camera aircraft, in addition to flying ahead to prepare for photography at the next destination, takes the opportunity to make other arrangements such as HOTAC, diplomatic clearances, fuel, etc., before the star arrives there - fine. As the a/c will inevitably need repairs, sooner or later, after an arrival, why not include a flying spanner in the team? In the absence of an essential part, why wait for days or weeks in the middle of nowhere if the camera a/c can fly the hundreds of miles to obtain it? If the pilot-star needs the assistance of a co-pilot/instructor on some of the legs, I can even live with that.

However, some credit for the team and its less mundane inputs - without boring the pants off the viewers - should not seriously undermine the credibility of the presenter and his/her achievement. And if it does, so be it.

Amy Johnson flew genuinely alone, and with primitive equipment, as did several of her contemporaries of both sexes. Much more recently, Ellen MacArthur accomplished something perhaps even more remarkable - even allowing for the benefits of sophisticated kit and communications - non-stop in a boat. Not sure we'll see quite their like again, but maybe Johan Wiklund and Amanda Harrison will be worthy successors.

Following in the footsteps of the great pioneers can be no less interesting as entertainment when it is done with honesty and humility. Attention should be focused on the original achievement, not the star of a synthetic re-enactment.

[Private jet]

Yes that's a very good point.
I disliked the Palin "globetrotting travelogues" because it was always portrayed that he was alone on these trips when he obviously was not.
In fact on one of them I believe he came back to the UK between filming because his wife was poorly and receiving medical treatment. Nothing wrong with that of course but the finished piece made it look like one long epic trip. Somewhat disingenuous.

[Danny42C]

Rhys (your #54),

Sorry for the delay in this answer, but I rarely stray far from my PPRuNe habitat in "Military Aviation>Gaining a RAF Pilot's Brevet in WWII". The Stearman comes in at p.117 #2331 on that Thread. There is a fair amount about my time on them at Carlstrom Field, Arcadia, FLA.

Sadly, I am no help in airframe numbers, as at Primary we only logged the dates of flights, and even in Basic and Advanced would only log the School-alloted numbers (eg "123") painted large to make the a/c easily identifiable.

Just had a hard look at the pic. We had a fixed-pitch metal prop on our Stearmans. Surely I can see a bob-weight on the hub here ? So it must be two-position (or even constant-speed ?). Is it even a 220 Continental ?

Cheers, Danny.

[mand26]

I also want to do it ‘the right way’! The only ‘sacrifice’ I’ve decided I have to accept (not without clear advantages as well of course) is bringing a simple aviation handheld GPS for the airspace. There are no VFR charts for 90% of the route, and I have no desire to cause ATC headaches as I fumble around blind.

Apart from that though, I want to do it in the truest way possible (including using local help for mechanicals, ground transport, accommodation etc. etc.). Not to mention carrying my luggage (current allowance on my last W&B is 5kgs, um, yeah!). Fuel or knickers, it’s an issue…

[76fan]

... fuel every time .... Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Good luck Amanda!

[TheiC]

...and it's not a simple issue either.

The less fuel, the more likely you are to have need of spare pairs of knickers, so I presume that a competent mathematician might be able to offer you a formula by which the optimum fuel/knickers ratio can be found..?

[mand26]

I am collecting the plane now, the journey begins........

[mand26]

Answers on a postcard please!! (That is the fuel v knickers debate....)

[treadigraph]

You could go without knickers, you certainly can't go without fuel! What you need is a lingerie sponsor to provide fresh skimpies at each tech stop.

If you manage to persuade Sutton to allow departure from the hallowed meadows of Croydon I'll come and see you off. Or wave if it has to be a fly past. I think you once marshalled a group of us on to a Rapide at Shoreham?

[mand26]

Now I have the plane, the journey begins in earnest...... Race2Darwin is on and I'm packing......

[mand26]

When you have been working towards a dream for so long, there is no way I was giving in. Having found some amazing sponsors, and an aeroplane I was half way there already. So never one to give in, it has now turned in a #Race2Darwin. Although I am doing the adventure solo flying and no support aircraft, flying the original route apart from Syria, even I lack the guts for that one, in a DE Havilland Moth, just like Amy Johnson, as I wish to pay true homage to my hero. 19 days is the target to bet.

[Chris Scott]

Hi Amanda,

Well, apparently the opposition has only got as far as Cyprus...

Take care, and - to use a suitably old-fashioned expression - God speed!

[mand26]

This SOLO stuff sucks sometimes! So much walking involved......

[mand26]

First official photo session for Race2Darwin for the Oxford Times/Mail..... Sun is shining and the Tiger is looking great.......goggles on and scarf flying....

See Race2Darwin Amanda Harrison blog and twitter and Facebook pages for pix

[mand26]

Great fun yesterday doing photoshoot with the Tiger, sun shone all day... Look out for article in Oxford Times and Mail.... Friends are so supportive and enthusiasm is high - https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mike-Wigg

[mand26]

Love airfields at Dawn all quiet. Practising for #Race2Darwin pic.twitter.com/mAR6pB732K

[mand26]

Amanda Harrison
@Mand26Amanda
17h
Always good to find your a pin up! #Race2Darwin pic.twitter.com/II1428kiCi

[mand26]

Amanda was on Radio Oxford this week, for the next 29 days will be on iPlayer.

BBC Radio Oxford - Kat Orman, Recreating Amy Johnson's flight + safety for cyclists (http://bbc.in/1Wh799m)

[brakedwell]

Suggest this thread be renamed The Amanda Harrison Show ;)

[Private jet]

I'll repeat what I posted before, what's the ultimate point of it all beyond a "look at me" exercise? If someone wants to do it for their own satisfaction why publicise it? Just go and do it, and please explain the fascination with taildraggers...as "birdbraininabiplane" demonstrated they have a very fundamental flaw, in fact 2.

[dragqueen120]

[QUOTE= please explain the fascination with taildraggers...as "birdbraininabiplane" demonstrated they have a very fundamental flaw, in fact 2.[/QUOTE]

There's plenty of things I'm facinated in that have fundamental flaws: Women, beer, capaitalism, high heels, the self check outs at the Asda, self cleaning glass. Tail wheel or tail dragger aircraft are fun to look at and to fly and are a good tool to improve general handling of an aircraft lest it be eroded by the advances of modern technology.

[brakedwell]

Tail wheel or tail dragger aircraft are fun to look at and to fly and are a good tool to improve general handling of an aircraft lest it be eroded by the advances of modern technology.

As someone who learned to fly in a Piston Provost I whole heartedly agree.

[ancientaviator62]

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m19/ancientaviator62/BILLINGCUBJ_zpsbbee344d.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/ancientaviator62/media/BILLINGCUBJ_zpsbbee344d.jpg.html)
Wish I still had this so I could teach my A320 pilot grandson how to use his feet !

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

"The Lady Who Flew Africa".

Bluudy 'ell! Still, I suppose it proves the old adage that you make anything fly if you put a big enough engine on it!

[mand26]

On BBC 1 now Tuesday 3 November 9.15am with the fab Joy Lofthouse. Honouring the ATA girls. Never to be forgotten. Amy Johnson was also in ATA. #Race2Darwin

[Wander00]

Mand - thanks - just caught the end where she flew in the Tiger Moth - nice to see WW too, where I flew in the early 60s

[mand26]

Do see here:
BBC iPlayer - The People Remember - Series 2: 2. The Battle of Britain (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06nsl91/the-people-remember-series-2-2-the-battle-of-britain)

[mand26]

And Oxford Mail today!
Female pilot to follow pioneer solo flight across globe to Oz (From Oxford Mail) (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13933333.Female_pilot_to_follow_pioneer_solo_flight_across_g lobe_to_Oz/)

[Rossian]

.......as I'm not on the book of faces or tw***ter I thought you'd already gone.

When is the actual departure day?

I wish you well on your journey anyway.

The Ancient Mariner

[mand26]

Thank you for your interest... Very soon we hope!

[mand26]

Race2Darwin
Thank you for your interest... Very soon we hope!

[mand26]

To cheer you up on a Saturday afternoon. The answer to the 2nd most asked question for #Race2Darwin pic.twitter.com/ZOdm337ix8

[WG99]

1937: Lores Bonney flew from Brisbane, Australia to Cape Town via Cairo becoming the first ever PILOT to make this record flight.
This was after she flew long distance from Brisbane to Wangaratta, Victoria setting a long distance record, then Around Australia "first woman", then Brisbane to England then ...
"...Lores Bonney's VH-UVE, 'My Little Ship II' variously described as a KL31, a KL32V or an Eagle, was registered in Dec. 1935. Lores Bonney flew VH-UVE from Australia to South Africa in this aircraft. It was destroyed in a hangar fire at Archerfield, Queensland, in June 1939".
Quite a remarkable aviation record.

[mand26]

The Race2Darwin is on......starting very soon from Duxford, the dream is about to begin!

Amanda's dream is to retrace the route that Amy Johnson flew solo in 1930. It was the first time a female pilot flew from London to Sydney solo, and it hasn’t been done since.

She also wants to do it ‘the right way’! She says: The only ‘sacrifice’ I’ve decided I have to accept (not without clear advantages as well of course) is bringing a simple aviation handheld GPS for the airspace. There are no VFR charts for 90% of the route, and I have no desire to cause ATC headaches as I fumble around blind. The aircraft is a De Havilland Tiger Moth (sadly the Gipsy was too expensive!). The dream is to complete the route in the same 19 days as Amy did.

Apart from that though, I want to do it in the truest way possible (including using local help for mechanicals, ground transport, accommodation etc. etc.). Not to mention carrying my luggage (current allowance on my last W&B is 5kgs, um, yeah!). Fuel or knickers, it’s an issue…

See the route here:

Captain Amanda J Harrison | Race2Darwin| Tigermoth (http://amandajharrison.com/route-for-race2darwin/)

[mand26]

Amanda hopes to be setting off for Darwin on 11 December....... The Tiger Moth is almost ready to go.....

[Rossian]

.....does anyone know if she has departed yet?

The Ancient Mariner

[mand26]

Will now take off next year, due to problem with the Tiger..... Watch this space!

[Checklist Charlie]

It seems we have a recent arrival in Darwin.

Adventurer Tracey Curtis-Taylor's England-to-Australia solo flight a homage to aviation pioneer Amy Johnson - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-02/female-solo-flight-a-homage-to-aviation-pioneer-amy-johnson/7064324)

Pity the video shows 2 heads in the aircraft on a "solo" flight

I also suspect she wasn't "where Amy Johnson touched down in 1930" unless she was in Parap, now a Darwin suburb and not at the current Darwin Airport.

Anyway, made it safely it would seem.

CC

[Chris Scott]

Quote:
"Pity the video shows 2 heads in the aircraft on a "solo" flight"

Is Ms Curtis-Taylor now claiming to have flown the whole journey to Darwin solo, as per her stated mission - still included on her website (http://www.birdinabiplane.com/): "...following in the slipstream of aviator Amy Johnson to recreate her pioneering solo flight from Great Britain to Australia" ?

Or is she merely allowing the media to assume that she did?

[Sam Rutherford]

"allowing the media to assume" is the technique. :\

[Sam Rutherford]

Could also perhaps be described as lying by omission?

[Sam Rutherford]

There's a fuller thread about the latest developments on the Flyer forum for anyone interested...

[brakedwell]

Will now take off next year, due to problem with the Tiger..... Watch this space!

Is there any point now?

[Chris Scott]

Surely yes, if she is proposing to fly it solo! But no doubt it is at the whim of her sponsors, who will naturally be influenced by the projected TV documentary on Ms Curtis-Taylor's journey.

[Sam Rutherford]

Amanda Harrison.

Absolutely yes, she's doing it solo - but certainly a lot of her achievement will be overshadowed by Tracey's as it is seen to be solo whilst it is not.

[brakedwell]

Air to air overage on Southern BBC news last night showed Tracey's Stearman passing over several en-route landmarks with two people on board.

[76fan]

Of course Amanda should continue ..... she isn't doing it for self publicity!

[Chris Scott]

Quote from brakedwell:
"Air to air overage on Southern BBC news last night showed Tracey's Stearman passing over several en-route landmarks with two people on board."

Likewise on the early-evening and late-evening ITV national news (UK, Thursday). The TV report (now available in what seems to be a shorterned version (?) on the ITV website (http://www.itv.com/news/2016-01-07/british-pilot-tracey-curtis-taylor-days-away-from-completing-13-000-mile-solo-flight/)) by its top reporter-newscaster, Mark Austin, shows him having a ride in the Stearman with Ms Curtis-Taylor before her departure from the UK. (So that at least was an unassisted flight.) There is mention of delays due to re-routings, and implication of further incidents en-route to Darwin. The a/c had arrived in Australia, the report said, "just-about intact."

All the en-route footage of the Stearman in flight clearly shows two heads on board. Interviewed at Ayers Rock (?), the photogenic aviatrix plays down her achievement in comparison with that of Amy Johnson: "I haven't got close to reproducing that."

The report does not claim specifically that her flight has been solo, but there is no mention of any assistance from a second pilot. Most viewers, I think, would infer that she has flown the Stearman solo, as one might from a visit to the report on the ITV website, which includes the following:
"She herself had a small support crew following her flight - which Johnson did not - which recorded her adventure for a documentary series retelling the story of early aviation."

As I write, the website report is entitled:
"British pilot Tracey Curtis Taylor days away from completing 13,000 mile solo flight"

[Chris Scott]

Tracey Curtis-Taylor finishes UK to Australia biplane flight - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35271182)

"A British adventurer has completed an epic 14,600-nautical mile flight from the UK to Australia in a vintage open cockpit bi-plane."

"Some early reports suggested it was a solo flight - Ms Curtis-Taylor was the only pilot to fly the vintage bi-plane, but she had a support team of engineers travelling with her in a separate aircraft, as well as a camera crew, who would sometimes sit in with her."

[Stanwell]

Oh dear, dear, Chris - you are so cynical.
You see, the problem really lies with her over-enthusiastic publicity manager - you know what those people can be like.
Seems she can't really do anything with him .. (or without him, for that matter). :E

[brakedwell]

In spite of it all, the Stearman was brilliant :ok:

[Chris Scott]

Yes, the Stearman has been brilliant! It's so much more robust and comfortable than a Gipsy Moth, or even a Tiger...

Must admit that I've absolutely no inside information on how this operation has been conducted: am merely an observer of the media reports and - occasionally - her website. Never having been involved in anything remotely comparable myself, I recognise the journey as an admirable achievement, and I shall no doubt watch and enjoy the forthcoming TV documentary.

I very much hope, however, that it will present her remarkable trek with a degree of candour that will not provoke aviation anoraks like us to shout at our televisions, or grossly deceive the general public into thinking that she has replicated Amy Johnson's flight as well as anyone could in the constraints of the present day.

The problem for the team now is that the advantages of encouraging - or at least allowing - the media to report this as a solo flight might be more than outweighed by the negative effects of any admission to the contrary. And the solo description lingers on. Following this morning's interview with Nick Robinson for BBC Radio 4's flagship news and current-affairs programme, Today, this is what the programme's website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03f061t) is currently reporting:

"British aviation adventurer, Tracey Curtis-Taylor has completed a 13,000 mile solo flight from Britain to Australia in a vintage open cockpit biplane. The 53 year-old set off from Hampshire in October. She has emulated the pioneering British aviator, Amy Johnson, who became the first woman to fly solo between the two countries in 1930."

[Union Jack]

"A British adventurer has completed an epic 14,600-nautical mile flight from the UK to Australia in a vintage open cockpit bi-plane." - BBC via Chris Scott

"Some early reports suggested it was a solo flight - Ms Curtis-Taylor was the only pilot to fly the vintage bi-plane, but she had a support team of engineers travelling with her in a separate aircraft, as well as a camera crew, who would sometimes sit in with her." - BBC via Chris Scott

In which case Lieutenant Commander (Hon) Tracey Curtis-Taylor Royal Naval Reserve should surely be recommended for an OBE....but only as in "Other Buggers' Efforts"!:ooh:

For fun, I have had a look at her Faecesbook page to see if there is any mention of the word "solo", which I believe has only one clear definition as far as aviators are concerned. It's there all right, together rather surprisingly with a copy of a telegram from Louis Bleriot.....:confused:

Jack

[Sam Rutherford]

If anyone would like to correct the BBC on the reality of her 'achievement' the link is here:

Online output - Style, accuracy or grammar error - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/contact-us/editorial)

And more background information on it here:

FLYER Forums ? View topic - Tracey Curtis arrives in Oz (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=98342)


Perhaps (high) time the truth came out?

[Warmtoast]

My wife watched the clips on TV showing her in the open cockpit and asked how she kept warm. Hot air blower in the cockpit, electrically heated flying suit or whatever - any ideas please?

[Wageslave]

Self generated hot air?

[Phone Wind]

I'm much more impressed with Eve Jackson's genuinely unassisted flight from Biggin Hill to Sydney in a CFM Shadow microlight in 1984.
Eve Jackson unassisted flight to Australia in a Microlight (http://www.davidcookaviator.com/david-cook/eve.html).
Eve is an interesting lady who doesn't crow about her achievement and is presently working in Tanzania :ok:

[Checklist Charlie]

There have been many genuine solo flights between Australia and the UK and in both directions.

The late Clive Canning did the Australia - UK - Australia return trip in his Thorpe T-18, VH-CMC in 1976. His story is to be found in his book "Charlie Mike Charlie" and it is really worth the read.

CC

[Tankertrashnav]

God what a lot of miserable buggers. Assuming that the flight is eventually going to be shown as a TV programme in the same way as the Cape Town - Goodwood one was, how does anyone think that filming took place without a support aircraft? Did they think that Tracey was filming herself using a very long selfie stick? As for having a camera operator in the second seat - seems pretty obvious if you want some close up shots from inside the aircraft.

I've read the report of the interview she gave to the Independent after arrival and she made it clear that she wasnt solo on all legs, and that she had a back up aircraft. I still think its a pretty impressive effort and well worth an "honorary" rank. One question - how did the navy get in before the RAF? Maybe she'd like to be an honorary group captain as well, like Carol Vorderman!

[Sam Rutherford]

1. The dropping of the word 'solo' was only after the BBC and others asked for specific clarification - until then, it was being publicised as being solo.

2. The other person in the cockpit for pretty much every single flight (40 out of 44 on CT-Goodwood for example) was Ewald Gritsch, her instructor!

Her (deliberate) public profile is at best disingenuous, and at worst... :=

More information on the Flyer Forum for those interested...

[brakedwell]

Any sign of an ETD yet?

[Sam Rutherford]

Amanda is hoping to leave in the next couple of months - but is desperately short of funds... Help!

[aviator_38]

Sorry,cant post the article " The Aviatrix" ,but link (page 24) is here:

SilverKris February 2016 - Download SilverKris tablet edition on the App Store / Google Play Store now! (http://www.silverkris.com/ebook/feb2016/#24/z)

[Sam Rutherford]

"The second woman to fly solo to Australia" - another example of Curtis Taylor spin!

[Chris Scott]

Can't see any mention of "solo" in that SIA article, nor in this post-arrival (Jan 28) newsletter from the lady herself:

Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker (http://www.birdinabiplane.com/news/newsletters/2801/)

[Checklist Charlie]

Can't see any mention of "solo" in that SIA article,

The heading para claims she was the 2nd woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia.

I think both claims are false.

CC

[Sam Rutherford]

An excerpt from her last newsletter (my underline):

Ewald Gritsch, whose company 3G Classic Aviation not only restored the Stearman, but who has worked tirelessly to provide full technical support of the flight. It wouldn't have been possible without him.

At least this is accurate, given that he also (apologies for repetition):

• Owns the aircraft
• Is an instructor with 20,000+ hours
• Was in the front seat nearly every flight.

So, here's to Ewald! :D

[aviator_38]

Here's the article:

http://www.silverkris.com/stories/interview-woman-who-flew-solo-uk-australia-open-cockpit-1942-biplane

If the flight was not a solo one , someone who "knows more about this" should inform the magazine editor , as SIA is one of the SPONSER. It is necessary to correct the wrong impression that this article gives. A reasonable reader would have assumed that Tracey's folks would have seen the article when it was in draft-form and would have agreed to the thrust and contents before it went into print.

Cheers

[Sam Rutherford]

It is clear from the hundreds of articles talking about this flight as solo, and the earlier Cape Town to Goodwood, that everyone involved in the project prefers that the word 'solo' be used as much as possible. That it's not actually the case is only a concern for those of us who value the truth.

"Why let the truth get in the way of a good story"...

[brakedwell]

Is the Tiger Moth trip still on?

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

The TV programme was a missed opportunity. Superficial... there was so much I wanted to know that it just didn't cover... High mountains? How high? How did she cope? Ignition problems just before the Med crossing? What was the fault? She didn't seem interested, just left it 'to others' to fix, and as long as mag check went OK that seemed to be the limit of the pilot's interest!

Was it really like that? If I was facing a long sea crossing after an ignition failure I'd want to know what the problem was and how it was fixed! I'd also do some extensive test flying before setting off across the oggin!

It seems a lot was going on with this epic flight that the TV programme wasn't going to tell us about.

[Sam Rutherford]

I think her lack of interest is probably an accurate reflection, Ewald (the guy in the front seat) repaired it.

That was what he was there for, as well as helping to fly, navigate, flight-plan etc. etc. He's also the guy who owns the plane and was the one who rebuilt it.

Safe flights, Sam.

[brakedwell]

Female pilot to follow pioneer solo flight across globe to Oz.

After all the hype has this been scrubbed?

[Chris Scott]

Quote from Shaggy Sheep Driver:
"The TV programme was a missed opportunity."

I missed it. Can someone tell us what TV channel it was on, and perhaps - even better - provide a link, please?

Re the Tiger Moth plan, I think it's a bit unkind to talk about "all the hype." How should one try to raise the not-inconsiderable amount of money involved? Particularly if you may not be as well-connected as Miss Curtis-Taylor seems to be...

[Sam Rutherford]

Agreed - you need the hype to attract the sponsors. It is better, though, if the hype is honest (ie solo is solo, not dual!).

[Sam Rutherford]

It seems that Ms Curtis Taylor may have been proposed for an honour. Those who feel that this might be inappropriate could explain why to:

David Spooner
Honours and Appointments Secretariat
[email protected]

[Checklist Charlie]

I believe Ms Curtis - Taylor is the subject of some discussion in the UK and some of that discussion is being shut down.

CC

[Planemike]

I believe Ms Curtis - Taylor is the subject of some discussion in the UK and some of that discussion is being shut down.

CC


May one ask in what way is it "being shut down" ?

[Checklist Charlie]

Planemike, a Jay Sata posted Looks like she is up for an OBE but the UK main flying magazine forum has locked discussion on her gong and suggestions she cheated. on http://www.pprune.org/pacific-general-aviation-questions/572590-england-australia-flight-arrives-darwin-4.html.

I was wondering what those geographically closer to the mentioned publication have to say.

CC

[G-KEST]

Should the Honours committee think fit to recommend an OBE then truly the definition "Other Buggers Efforts" applies. The lady must be congratulated on her success in gaining lucrative sponsorship, but that is all.

[NearlyStol]

Well worth a read !

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/577548-uk-australia-solo-flight.html

[Sam Rutherford]

Posts on both Pprune and Flyer about this award have been deleted by moderators in the last 48 hours. For info...

[Chris Scott]

According to a three-paragraph item in today's paper edition of The Daily Telegraph (my emphasis):
A British adventurer on a round-the-world journey has escaped without serious injury after her 1940s bi-plane crashed in the Arizona desert.
Tracey Curtis-Taylor suffered only bruises to her thigh after the vintage Boeing Stearman aircraft turned upside down after hitting a bush during takeoff at Winslow, where it had stopped for re-fuelling.
Ewald Gritsch (http://www.rarebird.eu/rbcontact.html), Ms Curtis-Taylor’s Austrian passenger, also escaped unharmed.

However, the same story is continued as follows in the on-line edition (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/16/female-british-aviator-survives-desert-plane-crash/) (again, my emphasis):
The plane, built in 1942 and known as the Spirit of Artemis, had been bound for Phoenix when the accident happened.
Writing on Facebook, Ms Curtis-Taylor, 53, said the crash had been caused by a combination of high density altitude and a partial lost of power at a height of about 50 feet shortly after takeoff.
“The Spirit of Artemis then started to sink which was not a great scenario with power lines directly ahead but thankfully there was open desert to the south,” she wrote.
“I did a gentle left turn and then levelled off. It hit the ground and rolled forward about twenty feet but then the right wheel struck a dense sage root mound which tore off the right landing gear and threw the plane onto its left wing. It then cartwheeled tail over the nose in a cloud of sand and dust.”
The crash left the aircraft with extensive damage, meaning Ms Curtis-Taylor will be unable to complete her trip across the United States this year, which started when she took off from Seattle last month. She has refused Boeing’s offer of a replacement plane because of her “deep attachment” to the Spirit of Artemis.

Sky News on-line edition (http://news.sky.com/story/1697013/pilot-tracey-curtis-taylor-crashes-in-desert) states:
"The aircraft, which was part way through a journey from Seattle to Boston in a recreation of the pioneering US postal flights, suffered extensive damage."
It also carries a clear image of the stricken aircraft.

Further photos and background information are available in a slightly longer report here:
The 'Bird in a biplane' Tracey Curtis Taylor survives plane crash in Arizona | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3592412/Round-world-flier-calls-Bird-biplane-survives-plane-crashes-Arizona.html)
"Miss Curtis-Taylor was travelling with Ewald Gritsch, her Austrian passenger for that leg of the journey, when the plane came down."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3592412/Round-world-flier-calls-Bird-biplane-survives-plane-crashes-Arizona.html#ixzz48u6PndUj
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

An interview with Ewald Gritsch about the project, and his restoration of the Stearman, is here:
The Stearman « The Aviatrix (http://www.theaviatrixfilm.com/the-stearman/)

One wonders what might have been the total payload, i.e., the combined weight of pilot, "passenger" and any baggage. Presumably this was a daytime take-off, making a low-level inversion less likely?

[EDIT] Just noticed that Jay Sata beat me to it (this news) by over 24 hours with a new thread on the Private Flying (http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracy-curtis-taylor-ewald-gritsch-crash-land.html#post9377391) forum. Posters have speculated that the selected mixture (fuel/air) ratio might have been too rich for the high density-altitude (hot-high). This aircraft may not have the standard Continental R-670 engine, later versions of which replaced a carburetor with fuel injection. Perhaps someone can tell us whether the pilot controls the mixture or if it is automatic?

[WG99]

The first woman pilot was Amy Johnson CBE (UK pilot) who flew solo England to Australia in 1930, 19days 11hrs to Darwin, then proceeded to Melbourne with a safety pilot, due to exhaustion. Australian woman pilot, Freda Thompson OBE flew solo England to Australia in 1934. Australian pilot, Lores Bonney 1933 flew solo Brisbane to London in 157hrs 15mins, 20,000km. Later, in 1937 Lores flew Australia to Capetown (first pilot to do so). All included in my aviation history book "First Females Above Australia - first 100 years of Australian Women Pilot Firsts 1909-2009."

[Heliport]

Checklist CharlieI believe Ms Curtis - Taylor is the subject of some discussion in the UK

True.
She and her excellent PR team have generated a great deal of press coverage.
In aviation circles, her claims to be flying solo have generated much criticism - because she is not flying solo.

and some of that discussion is being shut down.Only in Jay Sata's mind.
It's not true.

[Sam Rutherford]

Actually it is. I was made invisible on this forum - indeed perhaps still am invisible if you can't see this.

No explanation given, despite asking...

[Genghis the Engineer]

Only in Jay Sata's mind.
It's not true.

Well, partially true - quite a few people have told Mr Sata and one or two others to stop being an boring obsessive fixating on something that doesn't matter all that much. If that's being shut-down, which it might be, it's a very democratic form of it as I don't believe that any forum moderators have done more than say "okay, you've made your point, please stop re-making it, it's boring".

G

[10 DME ARC]

Boring!! Too true why is this lady making headlines flying distances that were covered by females 80+ years ago?? 80 years ago it was an achievement!!?? Do people forget this has already been done all these years ago with the most basic of navigational aids!
The best quote was that she has refused the offer from Boeing for a replacement aircraft to complete her route as she like the old one so much??!!

[Checklist Charlie]

Some more

After Arizona desert crash, critics of British pilot say they want the truth behind famous flights | National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/after-arizona-desert-crash-critics-of-british-pilot-say-they-want-the-truth-behind-famous-flights)

CC

[Chris Scott]

As a regular listener to BBC Radio 4, often including Libby Purves's Midweek chat-show on Wednesdays (okay, maybe I'm a sad git...), I heard this morning's interview with Tracey Curtis-Taylor.

She demonstrated her well-known and sponsor-attracting ability verbally to promote herself and her claimed exploits in a pleasant, articulate, pseudo-modest delivery. She persuaded her audience that in various respects her flight to Australia was beset with more challenges than were faced by the pioneering predecessor she claims so much to admire. The highlight of her tale, of course, centred around the take-off (WAT-related) accident at Wilmslow, Arizona, the way she had handled it as PF, the resulting damage to the (male) Stearman, and her plans for the repairs in Hungary.

As I see has already been mentioned on our sister thread in the Private Flying forum, however, Ms Curtis-Taylor appeared momentarily and unintentionally to acknowledge the reality of the flight-crew complement at the time of the accident, quickly correcting herself and moving on. The whole programme is, as I write, available on BBC I-player Radio:

BBC Radio 4 - Midweek, Adam Henson, Tracey Curtis-Taylor, Paul Spike, Joe Langdon. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07fg1x4#play)

The interview-proper starts at 02:23. Her momentary lapse comes at 12:22.

Bearing in mind that the I-player recording may only be available for a few weeks, and for the benefit of future readers, here is a rough transcript, starting at 12:18:

Curtis-Taylor: "...the only part that is really intact is.. is the fuselage..."
Purves; "And the pilot!"
Curtis-Taylor: "...and the two p... - you know; the pilot, and my.. and my crew, so it was.. it was ter..."

[deefer dog]

My dog flew a Tiger Moth across the english channel thirty years ago - retracing the route taken by Bleriot.

(Sure, I was in the back seat, and admittedly have a few more hours than him, but why let that get in the way of a good story?)

[Airclues]

Is it a 'solo' flight if you have 'crew' on board, even if they are not a pilot?

'Solo' flying poster girl is brought down by claims that she had co-pilot | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3670873/Amy-Johnson-ain-t-Solo-flying-poster-girl-brought-earth-claims-pilot-flew-just-four-36-round-world-legs-own.html)

[Warmtoast]

A couple of days ago she unveiled the Cody First Flight Marker, in Farnborough Road, Farnborough where the first manned and powered flight in Britain took off from. See here:Watch: Historic spot of Britain's first flight commemorated in Farnborough - Get Hampshire (http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/watch-historic-spot-britains-first-11549634)

[clunckdriver]

How on earth can the Boeing PR department allow their name to be in any way connected to this sad affair? {apart from having built the aircraft many years ago} As my youngest daughter said {a B737 pilot by the way} "I hope these guys don't have anything to do with writing the manuals for Boeing , as this whole affair is total fiction!" Tracy Curtis is a total "Walt", or whatever a female "Walt" is!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Waltrud perhaps ?

It's definitely an unusual way to promote the achievements of someone reenacting the amazing adventures of yesteryear. Did the lady not realise that in this day and age of internet her less that honest interpretation of the trips would come to light ?

[Mike Flynn]

Now I read here that much of that stuff was taken care of for her.


Very nearly all is a better description. She had the airline pilot owner of the biplane, Ewald Gritsch in the front seat for nearly the entire trip.

[Stanwell]

Oh, and don't forget that she did admit that she had "a small support team" accompany her.
Only seven people, including that inconveniently-noticed 'passenger', Ewald Gritsch.

Further, she was disparaging of Amy Johnson's feat in attempting to better Bert Hinkler's record, saying that Amy 'just crashed her way through the trip", .. whereas
I was more organised.
On top of that, she said, Amy Johnson didn't have to be bothered with radio communications or airspace restrictions.
Yes, sweetie.

Of course, it was terrible. After each two or three hour leg, she needed the next day or two to recover.
Most of Amy Johnson's legs were in the region of ten hours or even more.

Ah yes, let's all raise a glass to that modern-day icon, the Boadica of women in aviation .. and her sky-borne chariot - "The Spirit of Artifice". :D
.

[Stuart Sutcliffe]

The Mods have already merged threads about this lady's exploits, so the conversation is probably best continued here (http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracey-curtis-taylor-merged-threads-32.html)?

[Stanwell]

Stuart,
Can it be asked just why you feel that?
Last time I looked, this was AH&N and the subject of this thread does indeed have relevance here.

The two threads that were merged were both on the Private Flying sub-forum.

[Allan Lupton]

This thread seems to be less and less about History and/or Nostalgia as reality has been acknowledged.
For most of the past year it has mainly been claim/counter-claim about the "solo" aspect so perhaps it should be locked or moved (or both!).

[Stanwell]

I'm afraid I can't fully agree with your proposition there, Allan.
This thread has largely been about a latter-day character who had claimed to be emulating the feats of two truly remarkable aviatrices - first, Lady Mary Heath and then, Amy Johnson.

The fact that it has turned out that this person is neither an emulator nor anything like a remarkable aviator is of interest to many of us who frequent this sub-forum.
Further, her rudely interrupted commemoration of the pioneering US mailplane flyers' feats is, I understand, planned to continue in the near future.
We'll be watching that with bated breath.

As with any thread here on PPRuNe, (or anywhere else, for that matter), if you are finding that the content is not providing you with the satisfaction you seek, then you are under no obligation to read it.
There's plenty of material available elsewhere that may more adequately fulfil your needs.

[Heliport]

perhaps it should be locked or moved (or both!).

Since TCT was flying (at least some of the time, I assume) a 1942 Stearman and claimed to be emulating :rolleyes: historic flights I think it's reasonable for the topic to be discussed in this forum as well as in Private Flying.

If you don't find this thread interesting don't read it.

[Chris Scott]

Quote from Allan Lupton:
"This thread seems to be less and less about History and/or Nostalgia as reality has been acknowledged.
For most of the past year it has mainly been claim/counter-claim about the "solo" aspect so perhaps it should be locked or moved (or both!)."

Ironic that someone should be questioning the legitimacy of a thread about a feat the authenticity of which it is currently discussing.

This was indeed a private flight in that the aircraft was presumably not operating with a public-transport C of A but, in view of the considerable revenue that the operation must be earning by virtue of the documentary filming, and the wages paid to the support team, it could hardly claim to be an amateur operation.

The nominated pilot claims to be emulating at least two historic flights: the raisons d'être of her journeys. Historic flights are meat and drink to regulars of AH&N.

It can be tiresome, admittedly, having parallel threads on different parts of PPRuNe but, looking at the merged threads on the Private Flying forum (http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracey-curtis-taylor-merged-threads.html#post9343637), I notice that the first post is dated April 2016. So this thread on AH&N predates it by a year or so.

[chevvron]

A couple of days ago she unveiled the Cody First Flight Marker, in Farnborough Road, Farnborough where the first manned and powered flight in Britain took off from. See here:Watch: Historic spot of Britain's first flight commemorated in Farnborough - Get Hampshire (http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/watch-historic-spot-britains-first-11549634)
The start point of the first fight was on the rise just west of the present airfield; in those days it was open space called Cove Common. Now in the middle of the Aviator car park, it was originally in front of the RFC/RAF Officers Mess main building and was marked by a bronze Spitfire replica about 2 ft span on a plinth. When the Officers Mess closed mid/late 90s, it was left there and someone asshole nicked it one night about a year later. Don't know it it's ever been found.

[chevvron]

Is it a 'solo' flight if you have 'crew' on board, even if they are not a pilot?


Some years ago there was a problem with Air Cadet 'Vigilant' (aka Grob 109b) motor gliders with the engine cutting out. Cadets had to do one solo circuit to get their wings so in order to maintain a throughput of cadets qualifying, they did a 'ghost solo' flight with an instructor in the right hand seat.

[Haraka]

" it was originally in front of the RFC/RAF Officers Mess main building and was marked by a bronze Spitfire replica about 2 ft span on a plinth."
By memory the Spitfire was only put on the plinth for special occasions. A good wind up line was always " Do tell me, how did he manage to clear the mess garden fence ?"

[clunckdriver]

I just cant believe how bloody gullible and ill informed some folks are, one of my offspring has been a supporter of one of the largest women's aviation organisations, we just received a copy of the June edition of their magazine, and there she is, Curtis Drain Valve spouting of the same bull again, how can an editor be so bloody uninformed and gullible? What makes it worse is that the magazine contains obituaries and articles on some of our great female WW2 ferry pilots, they are and were deserving of praise, not this phoney!

[Stanwell]

Clunckdriver,
Most women aviators that I know are quite aware of the TCT scam and are not impressed.
The editor of that rag must be going for the 'Grand Goose of the Year' award.

In other news, I understand that the forthcoming edition of the 'Grong-Grong Poultry Farmers Gazette' is to feature
a double-page spread on Tracey's exploits.
Unfortunately, TCT herself was not available to be interviewed, so they'll just have to run with the material provided in
her somewhat dog-eared press release.
Pathetic.

[Reverserbucket]

I just cant believe how bloody gullible and ill informed some folks are Speaking to someone very close to the HCAP the other day I was perturbed to discover precisely the same thing; it was clear that the individual knew (or feigned to know) nothing of the truth behind any of this sorry story and was of the opinion that The Spirit of Artifice was infact owned by the lady in question. Is she that convincing that people who should know better don't even check facts?

[clunckdriver]

I think President Reagan got it right, "Trust, but verify", clearly this is not being done by editors and others who should know better, after all, there have been many cases of "Walts" in this industry which should act as a heads up in this case.

[clunckdriver]

Has Curtis Drain Valve given up her Walter Mitty life or has the press/media caught on and is simply ignoring her? Kind of miss her and her fantasy world!

[Stanwell]

Apparently, she was on the Glasgow Beeb radio the other day.
Her accounts of her adventures are just becoming sillier and more fanciful each time she relates them.
The interviewer was lapping it up, though.

[Sam Rutherford]

I assume you're aware of the thread on Private Flying? Also referenced on this thread just a few posts higher...

[76fan]

To my horror I have just read this on the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association website:


The FAAOA has kindly been offered 10 tickets to the BRNC Taranto Night Dinner on Thursday 17th November 2016. The event is open to all serving and retired FAA Pilots, Observers, ATC, AEO and AV Officers.

The Taranto Dinner provides the perfect opportunity for the Officer Cadets at the college to be introduced to the Fleet Air Arm tribe and to experience the camaraderie and spirit of those they one day aspire to join. Guest of Honour this year is Tracey Curtis-Taylor.

[brakedwell]

She will be invited to Cranwell next :ugh:

[Sam Rutherford]

The machine keeps turning!

[Stanwell]

76fan,
Your opening three words... "To my horror.."
My thoughts exactly.

"Guest of Honour" .. Do they know what the word 'Honour' means? .. Gawd save us.
No doubt, Artemis Investments and Boeing have already secured prime tables at this glittering event.
I also hope they've thought to invite amenable media hacks and the "Rent-a-Kents" along for a free feed as well.

Seems there are considerably more gullible people (even in positions of responsibility) out there than I could have imagined.
Ten tickets only, eh?
Better get in quick - you don't want to be trampled in the rush!

What's the Door Prize? A discounted Family Pass to Tracey's Fantasyworld for the rest of the year? .. :yuk:
.

[Saab Dastard]

Thread locked as it's now just more of this: www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracey-curtis-taylor-merged-threads.html