Re. crossing the Pacific: from the ABC "The biplane will now be shipped to America and prepped to fly across the United States as part of Boeing's centenary celebrations".

There is absolutely no comparison between this publicity seeking woman and her backup crew and Amy Johnson or others like Beryl Markham and Amelia Earhart. She is not pioneering or risking anything or pushing any boundaries.

The constant mention of the sponsors reminds me of cat food ads (Whiskas! Whiskas!) and makes me wonder if this crash was a publicity stunt.

http://cdn.avweb.com/media/newspics/...armancrash.jpg

British Pilot Crashes During U.S. Transcontinental Flight - AVweb flash Article

Well that didn't end well... no mention of injuries so I assume she / they got out ok.

It appears people are starting to take a more critical look at the claims being made.

After Arizona desert crash, critics of British pilot say they want the truth behind famous flights | National Post

CC

Oh!....now she is a stunt woman? :eek:

Well I guess you are alone in the cockpit in a dual cockpit biplane. My only Tigermoth flight I was alone in the front cockpit and did half the flying. The guy behind who owned the plane did the take off and landing though!

Thanks for the link, Checklist Charlie.


From Tiger Moth pilot, Amanda Harrison:

"Let's say that some people develop a particularly close network of high net worth men who seem happy to fund her adventures."

Ouch!

Mew Mods.
 

[QUOTE=International Trader;9226833] POST 27.
Does this compare with people like Alex Henshaw in the 30s?
'...... in a single seat Mew Gull, an oversized extra oil tank fitted between his legs to beat the oil consumption problem and a truck inner tube filled with water.
Realized after take off that the oil tank between his legs gets extremely hot....'

No idea where you got this information from....????
The capacity of 'XF's oil system was increased by the addition of a specially-made saddle-tank that fitted over the front of the engine, and in place of a section of the front upper cowling. It was also intended to cool the oil. A further two pannier tanks were fitted right behind this, both joined to a single, high-level filler for the whole dry-sump system. The original oil-tank remained behind the lower firewall.
The tank that fitted over and around the pilots lower legs was an extra fuel tank, added as a last-ditch mod' to achieve the required longer route legs. So no, it wouldn't have been heated by the engine.
Drinks were stored in Thermos flasks - the a/c is so tiny there would be no room for a 'truck inner-tube'.
All these modifications for the Cape flight were carried-out by Jack Cross.

I still don't see what the achievement is?

I don't have tall poppy syndrome talking here, but ferry pilots make trips like this in clapped out aircraft without any support. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

No idea where the information came from?
Try Alex Henshaw being quoted in Aeroplane Monthly from quite some years back.
My reference material is now all packed in boxes in a container, so I'm sorry I can't be more specific.

GQ2,

I did not intend to present myself as an expert on the aircraft, nor diminish the achievements of the lady flier ( whatever they may be) .

Just wanted to express my respect ( awe) for an aviator/ adventurer that I admire and a better man than I.

My recollections , as I mentioned, were from a book that I read 30 years ago.

It is remarkable that I still remember anything about the book .

Recall nothing of "Handling The Big Jets" or "Aerodynamics For Naval Aviators" ( poor storyline obviously).

My wife often points out that I have trouble remembering the day of the week (and often what she has just said).


I would have gladly pulled out my copy of the book and cross checked my facts but, I loaned it to someone and he liked so much that he never returned it (:{:mad::{).


Now, if you have a copy or a book on the Gull aircraft, I'd be glad to borrow them to check my facts .

No bearing on the man's achievements ( nor diminishes my respect) even if I my recollections are completely wrong.

Also remember being pretty impressed by the aircraft but, I had better not go trying to remember why, lest I be wrong again.

I can confirm,
Oil capacity and cooling increased by special cowling saddle tank
The main fuselage fuel tank was enlarged and extended into the cockpit
Emergency fuel tank was constructed over the pilots legs
Two soup thermos flasks were installed behind the cockpit