Flying VFR means remaining in VMC or at least that is what I was taught.

I also found it to be a sound practice in the real world as well.

So I say again, flying VFR means remaining in VMC and therefore you don't need an AH.


CC

Hey Bob, when you say 'winging' pilots, you mean fixed wing right? Not rotary?

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.I guess advertising money counts more. Good job this site is here.

Frankly in my opinion Tracy Curtis Taylor has taken womens flying achievments to the same level as athletes taking steroids.

Having a flight instructor on board is OK for a reality tv show but she led the UK and global press to belive it was a solo flight.

According to the History and Nostalgia thread in this case the OBE stands for Other Buggers Efforts.

CC

It hasn't changed in sixty years. An old 'Goon Show' joke: The 'Danger of Work' bell goes off in a Labour Exchange:

Willium Mate (Sellers): 'I've got to be careful. I'm abaht to celebrate fifty years wivart work'.

Exchange manager (Secombe): 'Fifty years unemployed? Good heavens! Fill in this form for your OBE!'

I can understand why she chose a Stearman for her carefully choreographed fraud.
There's simply not enough space for advertising on a broomstick and pointy hat.

Seems she has decked it, without serious injury although the Stearman looks a little sad. Fortunately the publicity seems to have backed away from the "solo" claims, bit embarrassing to explain the 2 p.o.b otherwise.:hmm:

"I am stricken to announce that my flight across the USA has been cut short following a crash in the Arizona Desert. Firstly, I am fine and unharmed, as is Ewald Gritsch who was with me. I would like to thank everyone for their best wishes and support.
The accident happened a couple of days ago as we were flying to Phoenix in Arizona after refuelling and taking off from Winslow. The cause seems to be a combination of high density altitude (Winslow has an elevation of 5000ft above sea level) and a partial loss of power at a height of about 50ft after take off. 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. 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 damage is extensive but the impact was absorbed by the wings and the airframe and the cockpit remained intact. The Stearman is a famously strong aeroplane but my admiration for it is now absolutely boundless when I consider the wider implications of what could have happened.
I am devastated by all of this and profoundly sorry that I won't be able to finish the flight, at least not this year. I have been overwhelmed by messages of support from Boeing Company and indeed the whole general aviation community here in the US. Amazingly, I have even been offered another Stearman to complete the flight but I have such a deep attachment to the Spirit of Artemis and we have come such a long way together that I cannot contemplate doing it in anything else.
The immediate plan of action is to ship the fuselage back to 3G Classic Aviation in Hungary where it was originally restored and start the rebuild immediately. We had a spare engine on standby in case there was a problem and there is already a set of new wings. At a very long shot the Stearman might even be ready for the Farnborough Air Show in July which would be fantastic as this is where it will be based in future.
The bigger plan is to bring it back to Winslow early next year and pick up the journey where we left off but with more time to do major aviation events like Oshkosh in addition to the wider outreach programme. On the day of the accident I had experienced some of the best flying I have ever known over some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery I have ever seen - the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and the Valley of the Gods. It all has an epic grandeur which is almost out of this world.
My only desire now is to get the Spirit of Artemis flying again and to bring it back to America. My thanks as ever to Boeing, Artemis Investment Management and my other partners for their unwavering support.
The journey continues..."

Looks a mess, but I guess it'll buff out ...

High density altitude and a loaded plane will get you. Her website at Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker says it was the final leg of a circumnavigation but havent heard much of the flight from Oz to USA. My guess is in first class?

ChrisJ800, Please.. Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story.

At other times, most sane people would just walk away from the wreckage in the desert. But not Tracey! Backed by those financial wizards at Artemis, she might possibly get it flying again by July for Farnborough?

I suggest that she drill out the identification plate and transfer it to the next 'Spirit Of Artemis'.

(P.S. I wonder when Ewald Gritsch called out: "Taking over". Or is he just there as her hairdresser?) :E

And world circumnavigation? How did it get across Lake Pacific? Can puddle jumpers do that?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/741...x2-700x467.jpg

Megan,

As Tracey's clearly so full of it, perhaps there's also space there for lots of Avgas? :ok:

Hot, High & Heavy

Hot, high and heavy and...

... the mixture wasn't leaned enough for a take off at that density altitude (would be my wild guess).

I had an interesting experience departing Pooncarrie at Easter. It was quite hot and it was awfully bumpy so I climbed through the inversion to 7500' ...the AUSTER has an 0-320...full rich.

I had switched to the belly tank when the engine started to lose power so I turned on the electric pump but got no real improvement. Went back to the main and the power loss got worse. The engine sounded like my old FJ with the choke right out.

I started through the rest of FCMOST and leaned the mixture...instant return to normal. Never had it do that on climb before so learned something new.

Kaz

Kaz,

Why not talk to the people at APS regarding how Lycoming air cooled piston engines really work? That knowledge certainly wasn't available when you and I were learning to fly!

Jabawocky can help here. :)

oooh, another LOP mention? Where's yr right when you need him?

Watch out for burnt clys!

Actually, leaning for 'optimal' take-off power at high density altitudes still ends up at a mixture rich of peak.

As the APS people say: It's not about how hard you run your engine. It's about how you run your engine hard. :ok:

So can the rest of the contingent along for this escapade also claim to have flown solo? OBE's?

Well, I'd hope so - because they only occupied one seat each.

You see, I'm 'flying solo' right now - sitting in my seat at the controls of a temperamental computer.
It could crash at any moment.

The missus has gone to have her hair done.
Son is off chasing that Welsh tart.
Daughter is .. god knows where.

I expect no awards - just wish me luck.