The Lady Who Flew Africa
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.
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.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Massive mountain range?
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
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
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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According to the Mail on Sunday, she's now intending to retrace Amy Johnson's flight from England to Australia.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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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.
FLYER Airportal - General Aviation News
And presumably also in her safety pilot and large support team?
G
"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."
G
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
G
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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.
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.
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
G
Q & A with Tracey Curtis Taylor - Features - Pilot
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.
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.
Last edited by Sam Rutherford; 27th Jul 2015 at 08:11.
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
Circling the Sun: a novelist's vivid portrait of Beryl Markham | The Seattle Times
Last edited by India Four Two; 5th Aug 2015 at 03:53.
