Tracey Curtis-Taylor (Merged threads)
Guest
Posts: n/a
SATCO'S WHIPPING BOY (#3345),
Thank you for the thumbnails - No.5 of the first group gives a good look at the prop. It is clear that is in the (correct) "Fine" pitch position. (Google <Two-speed propellers> "Diagram of controllable two-speed pitch mechanism").
Many Pages ago I have Posted my doubts (based on less clear pics) on this point. I now fully recant !
(I was in ATC at Linton Sept/'62 - Summer/'64 - you do not give your age.......?????)
Danny42C.
Thank you for the thumbnails - No.5 of the first group gives a good look at the prop. It is clear that is in the (correct) "Fine" pitch position. (Google <Two-speed propellers> "Diagram of controllable two-speed pitch mechanism").
Many Pages ago I have Posted my doubts (based on less clear pics) on this point. I now fully recant !
(I was in ATC at Linton Sept/'62 - Summer/'64 - you do not give your age.......?????)
Danny42C.
She called it a Crash in her post on F-book.
"Ewald Gritsch and his team of Hungarian engineers at 3G Classic Aviation have done the most stupendous job of rebuilding my Boeing Stearman after it was very badly damaged by a crash landing in Arizona in early May.
With the rapid and brilliant support of my global insurance partner, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), we were able to expedite the airlift of the Stearman back to Europe where the engineers have been working eighteen hour days to get it serviceable again."
I can't imagine it taking 18 hour days to swap a Mod-Plate from one of Ewalds Aircraft to another though.
Also, I wonder if General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) had any stipulations or conditions in place regarding who could be Pilot and who could be passenger?
"Ewald Gritsch and his team of Hungarian engineers at 3G Classic Aviation have done the most stupendous job of rebuilding my Boeing Stearman after it was very badly damaged by a crash landing in Arizona in early May.
With the rapid and brilliant support of my global insurance partner, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), we were able to expedite the airlift of the Stearman back to Europe where the engineers have been working eighteen hour days to get it serviceable again."
I can't imagine it taking 18 hour days to swap a Mod-Plate from one of Ewalds Aircraft to another though.
Also, I wonder if General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) had any stipulations or conditions in place regarding who could be Pilot and who could be passenger?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How could he not just land it when the engine failed? I can see her screwing it into the ground, but what was he thinking?
Yes, I view TCT as still at the "student" to be closely watched skill level - particularly because of what she has written, and how she has flown!
It's just you, Gonzo! 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had to post this because I hate to see someone bad-mouthed unnecessarily.
To make it clear, I feel great disappointment at the way in which Tracey and her team have chosen to represent their travels, and agree that many of her awards have been made based on false statements.
However having flown with Tracey as a passenger and watched her practice display from various perspectives, I am quite happy to fly with her and I am confident in her ability to handle tailwheel aeroplanes. I would have no issue with flying with her. There is no real evidence to suggest that her flying abilities are anything other than acceptable. There may be some evidence to suggest that her navigational skills have room for improvement. But unless you have specific evidence to question her ability to fly the aeroplane, please don't be unkind.
Note: before you raise the arizona incident, I know of a many tens of thousands of hours highly experienced pilot who managed to ground loop a Stearman. Nobody is questioning their ability. Similarly there are umpteen very experienced people who have had unfortunate incidents, particularly in vintage types. It doesn't mean that they're rubbish pilots, necessarily. It just means that on that day, in that situation, they might have made a mistake. Old aeroplanes are less forgiving of that than modern types.
In summary: I agree with the unmasking relating to false claims. I disagree with this unkind, unfounded judgement about her flying abilities.
To make it clear, I feel great disappointment at the way in which Tracey and her team have chosen to represent their travels, and agree that many of her awards have been made based on false statements.
However having flown with Tracey as a passenger and watched her practice display from various perspectives, I am quite happy to fly with her and I am confident in her ability to handle tailwheel aeroplanes. I would have no issue with flying with her. There is no real evidence to suggest that her flying abilities are anything other than acceptable. There may be some evidence to suggest that her navigational skills have room for improvement. But unless you have specific evidence to question her ability to fly the aeroplane, please don't be unkind.
Note: before you raise the arizona incident, I know of a many tens of thousands of hours highly experienced pilot who managed to ground loop a Stearman. Nobody is questioning their ability. Similarly there are umpteen very experienced people who have had unfortunate incidents, particularly in vintage types. It doesn't mean that they're rubbish pilots, necessarily. It just means that on that day, in that situation, they might have made a mistake. Old aeroplanes are less forgiving of that than modern types.
In summary: I agree with the unmasking relating to false claims. I disagree with this unkind, unfounded judgement about her flying abilities.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having heard her own descriptions of low flying, being "...within half a wingspan of the cliff..." and complete disregard for rules and regulations I would most definitely question her ability and judgement.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I disagree with this unkind, unfounded judgement about her flying abilities.
Curtis-Taylor calls herself a "bit of a maverick".
"I have an ipad with my airspace because that's often a very difficult thing when you fly a vintage aeroplane through so many countries, crossing international borders, through military zones, restricted airspace, into international airports, it's very difficult to do with an aeroplane like this."
"This is an aerobatic aeroplane, so I can be turning steeply around things. I had a lot of training, ironically with some military pilots, and I did a little bit of display flying, and formation flying and aerobatic training, so all of that really came together for these expeditions for the sort of flying that we're doing."
"Sometimes I'm only half a wingspan away from rock faces, or flying the dead sea at about 15 feet in formation with another Stearman."
the first thing she said was "I need a drink!"
“I ignored procedure,” she admits, eyes twinkling. “The place was deserted, so I just flew through the gorge. I was hauled over the coals by air traffic control for two hours.
There was another time in Uganda, when I flew into a prohibited zone. The controller gave me the wrong directions, so I ended up over the president’s house. By the time I landed, there was a summons to the tower and they tried to impound the plane. I said, 'That’s ridiculous. Arrest me instead.’”
“I’ve had some rough experiences. I’ve been made to fly at the same altitudes as commercial jets. That’s just dangerous.
"Over the sea, I was flying at 10 feet or below over breeding whales"
"I have an ipad with my airspace because that's often a very difficult thing when you fly a vintage aeroplane through so many countries, crossing international borders, through military zones, restricted airspace, into international airports, it's very difficult to do with an aeroplane like this."
"This is an aerobatic aeroplane, so I can be turning steeply around things. I had a lot of training, ironically with some military pilots, and I did a little bit of display flying, and formation flying and aerobatic training, so all of that really came together for these expeditions for the sort of flying that we're doing."
"Sometimes I'm only half a wingspan away from rock faces, or flying the dead sea at about 15 feet in formation with another Stearman."
the first thing she said was "I need a drink!"
“I ignored procedure,” she admits, eyes twinkling. “The place was deserted, so I just flew through the gorge. I was hauled over the coals by air traffic control for two hours.
There was another time in Uganda, when I flew into a prohibited zone. The controller gave me the wrong directions, so I ended up over the president’s house. By the time I landed, there was a summons to the tower and they tried to impound the plane. I said, 'That’s ridiculous. Arrest me instead.’”
“I’ve had some rough experiences. I’ve been made to fly at the same altitudes as commercial jets. That’s just dangerous.
"Over the sea, I was flying at 10 feet or below over breeding whales"
I wrote:
Yes, I view TCT as still at the "student" to be closely watched skill level - particularly because of what she has written, and how she has flown!
Th situation is far worse than that Step Turn.
Not only have all of the above been boasted about by her, she has received encouragement from what should be reputable sources. If a pilot can do all of that and still be rewarded by the Air League or HCAP and do it all with a very experienced airline pilot (with in excess of 20,000 hours) sat up front, what kind of message does that send to the recipient.
This is one of the main reasons that anyone like TCT should NEVER be held up as a role-model.
Not only have all of the above been boasted about by her, she has received encouragement from what should be reputable sources. If a pilot can do all of that and still be rewarded by the Air League or HCAP and do it all with a very experienced airline pilot (with in excess of 20,000 hours) sat up front, what kind of message does that send to the recipient.
This is one of the main reasons that anyone like TCT should NEVER be held up as a role-model.
Professional Student
Role model or not, false representations or not, you can't deny there are a few posters on this thread that are UTTERLY obsessed with TCT. It has gotten rather ugly at times.
Having said that, don't stop chaps...it makes for the kind of fascinating yet slightly grotesque reading you just can't stop following.
Although try as I might, I can't really see TCT suddenly turning around and saying "gosh, I AM sorry, assembled PPrune Posters. Here is a full apology..."
Having said that, don't stop chaps...it makes for the kind of fascinating yet slightly grotesque reading you just can't stop following.
Although try as I might, I can't really see TCT suddenly turning around and saying "gosh, I AM sorry, assembled PPrune Posters. Here is a full apology..."
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although try as I might, I can't really see TCT suddenly turning around and saying "gosh, I AM sorry, assembled PPRuNe Posters. Here is a full apology..."
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Speaking of facts and evidence, from Step Turn's post above.
TCT. "There was another time in Uganda, when I flew into a prohibited zone. The controller gave me the wrong directions, so I ended up over the president’s house. By the time I landed, there was a summons to the tower and they tried to impound the plane. I said, 'That’s ridiculous. Arrest me instead."
When I was unfortunate enough to hear this drivel from her we got a slightly different version:
TCT "....and once again we didn't have the charts and I orbit left which took us over sort of part of the city and there below is a fabulous paladial (sic) mansion so did some sightseeing..."
TCT. "There was another time in Uganda, when I flew into a prohibited zone. The controller gave me the wrong directions, so I ended up over the president’s house. By the time I landed, there was a summons to the tower and they tried to impound the plane. I said, 'That’s ridiculous. Arrest me instead."
When I was unfortunate enough to hear this drivel from her we got a slightly different version:
TCT "....and once again we didn't have the charts and I orbit left which took us over sort of part of the city and there below is a fabulous paladial (sic) mansion so did some sightseeing..."
Well, I'm a-standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bent Boeing
Slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me
We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again
So open up Ewalds climbin' in, so take it easy
With apologies to Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey .
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bent Boeing
Slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me
We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again
So open up Ewalds climbin' in, so take it easy
With apologies to Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey .
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RHT - I believe you are being very generous to TCT. It took about two minutes to get this. Yet this operation had years to plan, a full support crew, satellite links and still failed to get charts of the places they were going to fly to. And as a last ditch measure, what stopped them from calling the airfield prior to departure? Not being briefed in this case is criminal. You also have to wonder about the the quality of the other pilots around her. Unless of course the information was obtained but she didn't know what is was and/or couldn't be bothered to use it. It also makes you question her basic training, after all, she had been trained by military pilots and she has been an instructor... so she says. The picture of her kneeboard several pages back was probably her entire flight plan from the UK to Australia.
A totally dreadful role model on so many different levels.
PM
A totally dreadful role model on so many different levels.
PM