Bird in a Biplane

[outnabout]

The 'bird in a biplane' takes off for Australia: Pilot starts 14,000 mile route across 23 countries to follow in footsteps of her heroine Amy Johnson



Tracey Curtis-Taylor set off in 1942 Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis
She will fly across 23 countries, making 50 refuelling stops in 14 weeks
53-year-old British aviatrix aiming to arrive in Sydney in January 2016
Johnson became first woman to fly solo from UK to Australia in 1930



Read more: Tracey Curtis-Taylor takes off for Australia following in Amy Johnson's footsteps | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3257203/The-bird-biplane-takes-Australia-Pilot-starts-14-000-mile-route-23-countries-follow-footsteps-heroine-Amy-Johnson.html#ixzz3nOeN3zno)



And if you are interested in following her on her website:


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


Attagirl!

[spinex]

Quite an adventure - probably best not to park your Robinson in her way though...
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)

[Al E. Vator]

Yes good on her
Hell of a long way in a Stearman and some pretty hostile places along the way too. Good luck to her.

[Stanwell]

I'll make a donation for every extra Robbie she cleans up.
(Without casualties, of course).

[Checklist Charlie]

Might pay to check out this thread about Ms Curtis-Taylor and her "solo" flights

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/558368-lady-who-flew-africa.html

CC

[cowl flaps]

This posted elsewhere by a Sam Rutherford :-

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?I'm thinking the lady is a pommy 'silvertail' with more money than ability.

[dhavillandpilot]

I've done this flight twice.

First in a DH114 Heron in 1993 and then in 2013 in a Rockwell 685.

Yes I had help, thanks to Mike Gray from White Rose, and the pilots who accompanied me. But at the end of the day I was responsible for the results and command decisions as well as my costs.

Not withstanding if she is flying this solo then my hat goes off to her. No auto pilot and a speed around 110kts makes for a long trip.

Her passage thru the Middle East and the sub continent will be a challenge, as a woman (no I'm not being sexist, just realistic)

I wish her fair skies and a tail wind

[Andy_RR]

There aren't many "great and celebrated people" to go down in history that aren't to a large degree products of their own ego mixed with a lot of self-promotion. Tis a fact of life.

[27/09]

I seem to remember a bird with the same name and similar face gracing Wabird haunts here in NZ a few years ago. Wonder if it's the same person, thought she was married then to a guy named Steve.

[cowl flaps]

I seem to remember a bird with the same name and similar face gracing Wabird haunts here in NZ a few years ago. Wonder if it's the same person.Yes 27/09, it seems "Tracey migrated to New Zealand and began flying in earnest. She
gained her private pilot’s licence, commercial licence and an instructor rating and, unusual
for a woman, was trained by military pilots to fly World War II aeroplanes with the New Zealand Warbird Association."

And yet:
"Yes, she doesn't do crosswind landings. This was a recurring (planning) issue on the Africa flight...."And:
"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 times on route from Goodwood. Can happen to anyone. Lovely Stearman too."

[c100driver]

Yes it is the one and the same TCT ex Ardmore.

[Al E. Vator]

Was wondering how long it would take for some cynical, tall-poppy knocking, armchair expert to denigrate the effort. It's a standard on Prune and cowl flaps delivers on this practice yet again.

I for one wouldn't want to be anywhere near Chittagong in a Stearman. It's an Al Queida haven and the Australian Cricket team have just bailed as it's judged by those guys as too dangerous.

So instead of bitching on Prune cowl flaps why don't you get up and have a go yourself?

Wow dhavillandpilot, that's an awesome achievement in a Heron, would love to do the same one day but there are too many nutcase areas on the way that it just doesn't seem safe.

[Checklist Charlie]

Al E. Vator, please read fully the link I placed on post #5.

That thread contains more information on this persons "achievements" from the other side of the world.

Perhaps then your fit of pique may just seem a bit over the top.

CC

[The name is Porter]

Was wondering how long it would take for some cynical, tall-poppy knocking, armchair expert to denigrate the effort. It's a standard on Prune and cowl flaps delivers on this practice yet again.

So none of its true then? So we should all have the wool pulled over our eyes, stick our heads up our arses and ignore the facts?

[Al E. Vator]

Checklist Charlie - I did have a look and other than a whiner called Sam Rutherford there's nothing much to see there that's not here.

Just finished reading the bio of Charles Kingsford Smith - truly amazing. Primitive navigation, no radar and no internet. There is no doubt that this trip 100 years later is not a fraction of the difficulty that it was then but it is still a damn fine achievement if accomplished in any piston engined aircraft, especially a slow and cold Stearman.

The thing is, as is so often the case, it's very easy for whiney little people who achieve very little to find some way of knocking those who do, or try to. That is what is so offensive about the likes of Sam Rutherford and cowl flap. Rather than wasting energy tapping into a keyboard finding ways to slag off at others why not get off your arse and actually do something significant?

PS: Don't know this pilot lady from a bar of soap but good on her.

[tinpis]

Just finished reading the bio of Charles Kingsford Smith - truly amazing. Primitive navigation, no radar and no internet.

Good Lord..thats a fact PNG 45 years ago....got a barfridge now tho, was this the young lady got a start with the royal kiwi airforce?

[currawong]

Why the big deal?

Similar trips were done every year in Tiger Moths/ Austers/ Cubs etc for the regions spray season.

[dhavillandpilot]

Al E Vator

Could agree any more, the number of people around airports who "know it all" but have never put their balls on the line is amazing.

Usually they are "experts"

In my whole life the one thing I can say that gives me the proudest feelings is when I see pilots who I gave a start to achieve their career goal.

This couldn't be more so than when I flew to Perth a couple of years ago. The captain of the Virgin flight was an ex First Officer on a Heron, and the Virgin First Officer use to be one of my chief pilots.

All I can say is get off your arses and live your dreams, even if you fail, at least you tried.

[27/09]

tinpis: was this the young lady got a start with the royal kiwi airforceI somehow think not.

Al E. Vator
Yes, good on her for having go, BUT, I think you'll find Sam isn't usually a whiner as you term him if you read his other posts. I suspect there's at least a modicum of truth in his comments.

[aroa]

Years ago all sorts of diverse aircraft were delivered down the UK to Oz route.
Austers to India, Singapore and beyond. Folk flew Tigers, Lang Kidby did an Avian and it was quite common in earlier times in many other types.

While it is a great adventure as I can attest in an Auster "learning" experience.....each day is but a cross country exercise, all be it in terrain you've never seen before, but the sum of all the parts builds into the total journey. Hopefully. There's pluck ..and there's luck.. as I found out. :ok:
Map and pencil, clock and compass does work ok...even today. No big deal there.

Not an auspicious start for 'Artemis' and Ms Tracy, but that will pass.
More S turns during taxiing a must ...and once she's on her way , the far horizon beckons. Good on her for having a go.:ok::ok:

While Ms Johnston's trip was notable and a female first, my take is that the MOST fantastic flight ever was the London to Cape Town and return by Alex Henshaw in his Mew Gull racer. Solo, all day and night, no aids, for four days of supreme mental and physical effort.
Read "Flight of The Mew Gull " and be gobsmacked.
By comparison, daily hops down the Kangaroo Route is a doddle.

Which jolts me to plan some adventure before dementia.

Go Tracy, and may all you other stops not be by the courtesy of Franks fragile products :{

[Stanwell]

I also say good on her - but...
While there will be many challenges to be addressed, a latter-day Amy Johnson, she's not.

Admittedly though, Ms Johnson didn't have to cope with Robbies carelessly parked all over the airfields.
.

[cowl flaps]

Al E Vator,- you certainly seem a bitter type of person.
I have always readily given credit where credit is due. But I, and many I know don't like to be conned. This woman proved on the Africa trip that she is quite capable of deceit, by the way she repeatedly mentioned her 'solo' efforts, never acknowledging her highly experienced 'instructor' as a passenger, or getting the C208 to stooge along in front of her on several occasions so she could be sure of not getting lost. All the time having two moving map GPS's in the aircraft.
In comparison, Amy Johnson set off with no more than a handful of charts and enough quid notes (or greenbacks) to buy fuel along the way. No lights, no radio and no fuel gauge ! That was pure courage !
Now this lady has a backup aircraft complete with other pilots to do her flight planning, WX research, ground logistics, clearances & maintainance. And do you seriously think her route was not so carefully calculated as to be virtually risk free ??
Oh, and being born with a silver spoon in one's mouth certainly helps one to 'have a go' !

[Al E. Vator]

...you obviously haven't been to Chittagong then???

[Sam Rutherford]

@ Al E. Vator,

"The thing is, as is so often the case, it's very easy for whiney little people who achieve very little to find some way of knocking those who do, or try to. That is what is so offensive about the likes of Sam Rutherford and cowl flap. Rather than wasting energy tapping into a keyboard finding ways to slag off at others why not get off your arse and actually do something significant? "

Sorry, but only seen this now (randomly).

Just to respond that I'm not a whiner, and I have actually achieved a few significant things in my life - please do a Google and inform yourself before casting dispersions.

Thanks! Sam.

[josephfeatherweight]

That's one hell of a delayed response!

[Sam Rutherford]

I said I wasn't a whiner, not that I was quick! :)

[compressor stall]

It's funny, before all this blew up, when TCT landed in Darwin, I remember watching the news and when the reporter went on about the solo bit and I wondered why there was another head in the aeroplane. I didn't give it another thought until it the apparent subterfuge was revealed.

[aroa]

Where is she at now. last I heard the busted Stearman went back to Europe for a re-build after the US bingle.

[triadic]

If you have the time, then have a look at the over 4000 posts at:

https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracey-curtis-taylor-merged-threads.html

[Checklist Charlie]

Unfortunately those seeking to stifle discussion and to close the above thread have found a willing accomplice.
The thread still makes interesting reading and is a warning to those blinded by the subjects words.
No doubt the subject will pop up again however the warning remains for all to see.

CC

[cowl flaps]

It's funny, before all this blew up, when TCT landed in Darwin, I remember watching the news and when the reporter went on about the solo bit and I wondered why there was another head in the aeroplane. I didn't give it another thought until it the apparent subterfuge was revealed.
It appears that in her doco she had the footage showing the instructor / co-pilot chopped out.
At least the trophy was rescinded.

The 2016 Article (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-bird-biplane-stripped-flying-9110682)

[27/09]

Unfortunately those seeking to stifle discussion and to close the above thread have found a willing accomplice.
The thread still makes interesting reading and is a warning to those blinded by the subjects words.
No doubt the subject will pop up again however the warning remains for all to see.

CC
When she does no doubt a new thread will pop up too.

[Checklist Charlie]

It would seem as though I was correct about madam 'popping up'.

There is a thread https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/613447-light-aircraft-association-agm.html running that suggests she is about to pop up again.

There is also a link https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tracey-curtis-taylor-who-brought-down-the-bird-in-a-biplane-l2663fjs2?shareToken=f17b837505ef962869647ab8be2149d7 to an interestingly written article in which she suggests the whole thing is about those horrible men picking on her because she is a women.

When all else fails, trot out the sexist card.

CC

[Clare Prop]

Trust me there were plenty of female aviators fed up with her attitude as well, that she was some kind of trailblazer when she was just a cheat. Wearing RAF wings, pretending she had done it all solo, some stuff called "outreach" (whatever TF that is) etc. Most of us women have just been getting on with the job of flying aeroplanes, for the last 90 years or so without wanting or getting special treatment. The barrier to entry is money, if she wanted to help she could have set up some scholarships like the one I got that enabled me to make a career that I otherwise would never have been able to afford.

This was nothing other than a failed publicity stunt by a "walt". Comparing herself to Amy Johnson, someone who was entitled to the uniform and who died serving her country, is an insult to Amy, her ATA colleagues and the many fliers both men and women who achieved "firsts" in the early days of aviation and those who still are.

"Bird" is pretty derogatory, unless your first name is Nancy.

[Sam Rutherford]

The Times article is not even hiding the real reason behind the story. So much for independent journalism!

The very last line: Watch the trailer for the feature-length documentary Bird (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br3RbVw40m8&feature=youtu.be)

So much for independent journalism!

[Andy_RR]

"Bird" is pretty derogatory, unless your first name is Nancy.

Bi In A Plane might be a more modern way to do it in today's ABCDXYZ world...

[Sam Rutherford]

The thread in 'Private Flying' has been reopened...

[outnabout]

Well said, Clare Prop....

But on a brighter note - Bi in A Plane might also attract some very interesting sponsorship offers... :p