Bird in a Biplane
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Bird in a Biplane
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
Read more: Tracey Curtis-Taylor takes off for Australia following in Amy Johnson's footsteps | Daily Mail Online
And if you are interested in following her on her website:
Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker
Attagirl!
- 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
And if you are interested in following her on her website:
Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker
Attagirl!
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
Pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor bidding to emulate Amy Johnson hits a parked helicopter | Daily Mail Online
This posted elsewhere by a Sam Rutherford :-
I'm thinking the lady is a pommy 'silvertail' with more money than ability.
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?
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'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
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
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.
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.
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.
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...."
"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."
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.
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.
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
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
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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.
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.
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.
Silly Old Git
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?
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?
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.
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.
tinpis: was this the young lady got a start with the royal kiwi airforce
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.
In ages past
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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