Tracey Curtis-Taylor (Merged threads)
Thread Starter
Words in print often come back to haunt you.
LAA chief executive Steve Slater wrote in his March 2016 Pilot magazine Open Cockpit column.
"... I think the news in January that Tracey Curtis-Taylor had successfully completed her flight from England to Australia in her Boeing Stearman marked a great start to the year, both in terms of her achievement and in positive PR for flying.
"Not that you'd think it, looking at some of the postings by grumpy old men of all ages on some of the aviation forums ..."
Nothing grumpy about me Steve...just telling the truth
Perhaps time to change your mind in the next edition of Pilot?
Incidently despite Philip Whiteman promising to remove TCT from the online Top Ten Women in Aviation it is still there.
http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/10...tory_1_4006901
Any chance of replacing her with Lady Mary Heath who really did fly solo?
LAA chief executive Steve Slater wrote in his March 2016 Pilot magazine Open Cockpit column.
"... I think the news in January that Tracey Curtis-Taylor had successfully completed her flight from England to Australia in her Boeing Stearman marked a great start to the year, both in terms of her achievement and in positive PR for flying.
"Not that you'd think it, looking at some of the postings by grumpy old men of all ages on some of the aviation forums ..."
Perhaps time to change your mind in the next edition of Pilot?
Incidently despite Philip Whiteman promising to remove TCT from the online Top Ten Women in Aviation it is still there.
http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/10...tory_1_4006901
Any chance of replacing her with Lady Mary Heath who really did fly solo?
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 23rd Sep 2016 at 09:54.
Whirls/pulse1.
I think you're both right.
Maybe the solution is as you say she returns/declines the awards..the aviation community then leave her alone and she can carry on with her after dinner speaking career, albeit restricted to non-aviation savy audiences...
I have to say (even as an ex- "crab") that given the allegations I personally find the pictures of her wearing a Lt Cdrs uniform in bad taste and even bordering on the offensive...is it just me?
I think you're both right.
Maybe the solution is as you say she returns/declines the awards..the aviation community then leave her alone and she can carry on with her after dinner speaking career, albeit restricted to non-aviation savy audiences...
I have to say (even as an ex- "crab") that given the allegations I personally find the pictures of her wearing a Lt Cdrs uniform in bad taste and even bordering on the offensive...is it just me?
As a retired RN / RAF Officer I find it offensive too. We worked bloody hard to earn our ranks and the right to wear the uniform with pride. In my mind she is just another Walt.
I am also extremely offended that she wears RN Pilot wings; from personal experience I know the effort that goes in to earning them and she undermines that at every turn.
It is an utter disgrace.
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She can say she originally wanted it to be solo, but realised fairly early on that she couldn't do it - she wasn't a good enough pilot, found it too hard, whatever.
Tracey, you could still recover a little honour with a comprehensive admission of how things went differently than planned, and with sponsor pressure and everything, it was hard to back pedal the original promotions of the event. But that good step would have to begin with stopping the public speaking falsely describing events, and declining/returning un due awards.
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Tipping Point | Definition of Tipping Point by Merriam-Webster
Definition of tipping point. : the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.
I suspect TCT has now reached that particular waypoint. As has been suggested it may be time for her to fess up, turn down the gongs, explain how she felt obligated to continue the charade after getting caught up in something that snowballed out of her control then return to enjoying her flying as an anonymous bog standard VFR bimbler like the rest of us.
Definition of tipping point. : the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.
I suspect TCT has now reached that particular waypoint. As has been suggested it may be time for her to fess up, turn down the gongs, explain how she felt obligated to continue the charade after getting caught up in something that snowballed out of her control then return to enjoying her flying as an anonymous bog standard VFR bimbler like the rest of us.
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Not sure her new role as an 'inspirational speaker' and the money that comes with it would allow her to stand back.
That and the joy of mixing with minor royals.
That and the joy of mixing with minor royals.
I am also extremely offended that she wears RN Pilot wings; from personal experience I know the effort that goes in to earning them and she undermines that at every turn.
Carol Vorderman, a true ambassador for the Air Cadet organisation, is a pilot - but she does NOT wear the RAF Flying Badge with her honorary Group Captain's uniform.
Incidentally the Honourable Company of Air Pilots' next AGM isn't until 27th Mar 2017.
Is that true? Does she really have the gall to wear the Fleet Air Arm brevet? That would be totally fraudulent; RN pilots have to complete OCU training before they may wear the FAA brevet.
Carol Vorderman, a true ambassador for the Air Cadet organisation, is a pilot - but she does NOT wear the RAF Flying Badge with her honorary Group Captain's uniform.
Incidentally the Honourable Company of Air Pilots' next AGM isn't until 27th Mar 2017.
Carol Vorderman, a true ambassador for the Air Cadet organisation, is a pilot - but she does NOT wear the RAF Flying Badge with her honorary Group Captain's uniform.
Incidentally the Honourable Company of Air Pilots' next AGM isn't until 27th Mar 2017.
In the image the certificate clearly states ...
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP...
Tracey Curtis-Taylor
...
HER SOLO FLIGHT FROM THE UK TO SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
I believe issued very recently.
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Wiggy.
Having spent 10 yrs saluting that uniform I find it extremely offensive to hang it on such an imposter.
If a RN junior rating walked past her and didn't salute, would he get pulled up and reprimanded?
Having spent 10 yrs saluting that uniform I find it extremely offensive to hang it on such an imposter.
If a RN junior rating walked past her and didn't salute, would he get pulled up and reprimanded?
Is this yet more spin and misinformation:
"I am deeply disappointed at the comments coming from a particular source making false assertions that my flight expeditions should have been executed as solo flights"
Correct me if I am wrong, but the gist of the comments from the "particular source" are that in order to warrant the accolades and awards that have been given or are pending, then the flight should have been SOLO; flying as a pax or even piloting with someone else in the aircraft and the entourage alongside is not SOLO and as such is not worthy of any award. The main comments from the "particular source" is that TCT should not have continued the charade that they were, very effectively misleading those that were in a position to issue such awards.
"I am deeply disappointed at the comments coming from a particular source making false assertions that my flight expeditions should have been executed as solo flights"
Correct me if I am wrong, but the gist of the comments from the "particular source" are that in order to warrant the accolades and awards that have been given or are pending, then the flight should have been SOLO; flying as a pax or even piloting with someone else in the aircraft and the entourage alongside is not SOLO and as such is not worthy of any award. The main comments from the "particular source" is that TCT should not have continued the charade that they were, very effectively misleading those that were in a position to issue such awards.
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The fact there are 400,000+ Google search results for 'Tracey Curtis Taylor solo' is telling - have the creators of each of those results seriously all been duped by this 'single source' as she'd like us to believe? I think not, somehow.
I've just dug out an airshow programme from when TCT launched the venture back in 2013 - it uses the word "recreate/recreating" to describe Lady Heath's "solo (flight) from SA to London".
So, let's get this straight. We were all meant to have known this would be a team effort, with two people on board, despite their regular use of the word "solo" and "recreation" used throughout this whole charade? Right... Surprising how TCT appears so keen to self-promote herself yet when the slightest hint of controversy comes her way it is purely the fault of others.
I've just dug out an airshow programme from when TCT launched the venture back in 2013 - it uses the word "recreate/recreating" to describe Lady Heath's "solo (flight) from SA to London".
recreate: create again; reproduce; re-enact
Thread Starter
She likes to attach herself to the Amy Johnson cause even though Amy never flew a Stearman.
In my opinion Tracey Curtis Taylor is nothing more than a narcissistic self publicist.
Perhaps the HCAP could include that on her citation.
Listed by Pilot magazine as the "10 Most Outstanding Women From Aviation History"
http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/10...tory_1_4006901
In my opinion Tracey Curtis Taylor is nothing more than a narcissistic self publicist.
Perhaps the HCAP could include that on her citation.
Listed by Pilot magazine as the "10 Most Outstanding Women From Aviation History"
http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/10...tory_1_4006901
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 23rd Sep 2016 at 11:04.
Thread Starter
Australian Women Pilots Association
Th AWPA have yet to come back to me on the outcome.
It appears organisations are happy to give these awards without
fact checking but reluctant to retract them.
It appears organisations are happy to give these awards without
fact checking but reluctant to retract them.
Thread Starter
TCT actually has a lot of style.
I feel her Achilles heel is a lack of a past.
Google her and there is nothing before 2013.
So she emerges from nowhere to suddenly become "The Aviatrix".
On the basis of a few deceptive press releases from Boeing she is transformed from a 1400 hour holder of a UK ppl to a replica of Amy Johnson.
Which would be OK if she actually was a half decent pilot.
However there the plot fails.
Her personal aviation exploits leave a lot of unanswered questions not least the fact it appears she cannot fly solo outside of her comfort zone and the local area.
Is she a model for women in aviation?
Barry Tempest has already suggested that if she accepts the Masters Medal from HCAP she will set the role of women in aviation back four decades.
I feel her Achilles heel is a lack of a past.
Google her and there is nothing before 2013.
So she emerges from nowhere to suddenly become "The Aviatrix".
On the basis of a few deceptive press releases from Boeing she is transformed from a 1400 hour holder of a UK ppl to a replica of Amy Johnson.
Which would be OK if she actually was a half decent pilot.
However there the plot fails.
Her personal aviation exploits leave a lot of unanswered questions not least the fact it appears she cannot fly solo outside of her comfort zone and the local area.
Is she a model for women in aviation?
Barry Tempest has already suggested that if she accepts the Masters Medal from HCAP she will set the role of women in aviation back four decades.
Barry Tempest has already suggested that if she accepts the Masters Medal from HCAP she will set the role of women in aviation back four decades.
Nevertheless, his motion tabled for the La-la AGM deserves every support!
Thread Starter
In terms of causing true offence and exploiting serving and past members of the armed forces this post from Satco's Whipping Boy carries weight.
So the question is what did she do to get the Hon.Lt Commander rank in the RN reserve?
I was speaking to the PR guy at the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity yesterday and they were totally unaware of her dubious past. It appears they took her on face value with the status of the Boeing
press release.
They genuinely thought Tracey Curtis Taylor was on a solo flight to Australia and flying a very similar aircraft to that of Amy Johnson solo.
They are now 'opening an investigation' on their involvment with TCT.
Meanwhile here she is wearing the Fleet Air Arm wings while accepting an honoury award as a member of the Australian Women Pilots Association.
Looking at that picture can I remind the AWPA of her statement to the Portsmouth News yesterday.
So Tracey what planet are you on? Looking at that picture did you say "no this is wrong...this was a collaborative team effort".
Claiming to be a solo period 'Aviatrix' and continuing to try and convince everyone you were emulating or other fancy words to piggyback on long dead female pilots heroic exploits.
Spending many months in high end hotels,suggesting you had it harder than Lady Mary Heath?
Here is the challenge...agree to post on here or indeed meet Jay Sata on the Eddie Mair Radio 4 PM programme where we can discuss your inspirational exploits.
The UK Press Gazette are now looking at the trick on how Boeing fooled the worlds media with those
'solo pilot' claims.
As a retired RN / RAF Officer I find it offensive too. We worked bloody hard to earn our ranks and the right to wear the uniform with pride. In my mind she is just another Walt.
I am also extremely offended that she wears RN Pilot wings; from personal experience I know the effort that goes in to earning them and she undermines that at every turn.
It is an utter disgrace.
I am also extremely offended that she wears RN Pilot wings; from personal experience I know the effort that goes in to earning them and she undermines that at every turn.
It is an utter disgrace.
So the question is what did she do to get the Hon.Lt Commander rank in the RN reserve?
I was speaking to the PR guy at the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity yesterday and they were totally unaware of her dubious past. It appears they took her on face value with the status of the Boeing
press release.
They genuinely thought Tracey Curtis Taylor was on a solo flight to Australia and flying a very similar aircraft to that of Amy Johnson solo.
They are now 'opening an investigation' on their involvment with TCT.
Meanwhile here she is wearing the Fleet Air Arm wings while accepting an honoury award as a member of the Australian Women Pilots Association.
Looking at that picture can I remind the AWPA of her statement to the Portsmouth News yesterday.
I am deeply disappointed at the comments coming from a particular source making false assertions that my flight expeditions should have been executed as solo flights .
They were not. They are all about a collaborative team effort and celebrating the brilliant achievements of women like Amy Johnson and Lady Heath who made history when aviation was in its infancy.’
Read more at: Calls for famed pilot to be stripped of her titles in Portsmouth amid claims she lied about solo flight - The News
They were not. They are all about a collaborative team effort and celebrating the brilliant achievements of women like Amy Johnson and Lady Heath who made history when aviation was in its infancy.’
Read more at: Calls for famed pilot to be stripped of her titles in Portsmouth amid claims she lied about solo flight - The News
Claiming to be a solo period 'Aviatrix' and continuing to try and convince everyone you were emulating or other fancy words to piggyback on long dead female pilots heroic exploits.
Spending many months in high end hotels,suggesting you had it harder than Lady Mary Heath?
Here is the challenge...agree to post on here or indeed meet Jay Sata on the Eddie Mair Radio 4 PM programme where we can discuss your inspirational exploits.
The UK Press Gazette are now looking at the trick on how Boeing fooled the worlds media with those
'solo pilot' claims.
Last edited by Mike Flynn; 23rd Sep 2016 at 21:18.
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A few more links I've come across:-
- An article relating to her recent school visit. Scholarship Group - Dr Amarjit Lahel & Tracey Curtis-Taylor
Of particular note:
No mention here of the support team or the fact Ewald appears to have been chief route planner on the flight - so much for the team exercise she's suddenly so readily promoting. Also, I'm no expert in fashion, but those look remarkably like the trousers worn by early aviators... It's as if that was deliberately planned.
- This from Avaunt Magazine is well worth a read - I'm frankly too amazed by its contradictions and sickly discourse to go through it with a fine tooth comb for now! https://avauntmagazine.com/tracey-curtis-taylor
- An article relating to her recent school visit. Scholarship Group - Dr Amarjit Lahel & Tracey Curtis-Taylor
Of particular note:
Political instability in the Middle East forced Tracey to change her route
- This from Avaunt Magazine is well worth a read - I'm frankly too amazed by its contradictions and sickly discourse to go through it with a fine tooth comb for now! https://avauntmagazine.com/tracey-curtis-taylor
Thread Starter
It is worth reading this if you have never heard of Walter Mitty
Now Tracey mixes Mitty with Machiavelli
Thanks to Battery Master I can add this from his post...
Tracey writes in Avaunt Magazine....
Mitty is a meek, mild man with a vivid fantasy life. In a few dozen paragraphs he imagines himself a wartime pilot, an emergency-room surgeon, and a devil-may-care killer. Although the story has humorous elements, there is a darker and more significant message underlying the text, leading to a more tragic interpretation of the Mitty character. Even in his heroic daydreams, Mitty does not triumph, several fantasies being interrupted before the final one sees Mitty dying bravely in front of a firing squad. In the brief snatches of reality that punctuate Mitty's fantasies the audience meets well-meaning but insensitive strangers who inadvertently rob Mitty of some of his remaining dignity.
Machiavellianism is "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct". The word comes from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe (The Prince), among other works.
Tracey writes in Avaunt Magazine....
For me adventure is a complete escape into the wilderness, away from the relentless demands of people, media and everything else at ground level. I can’t bear technology – I know that it’s amazing to live in this world of instant communications, and obviously I couldn’t fly without some concession to modernity like GPS, but I like the freedom and sense of detachment that I get when I’m in the sky.
Compared to the Spirit of Artemis, the Boeing Stearman biplane designed in the 1930s that I fly, modern aircraft are completely different, it’s chalk and cheese. There are people flying modern light aircraft around the world every day of the week but it’s all autopilot, supported systems, flying the airwaves and not that interesting. This is the complete opposite of all that. This is open cockpit, stick and rudder, it's low level visceral flying.
My approach to flying is a romantic one. My background wasn’t at all technical, it was in literature, film, history and art. So that’s adventure for me – the old romantic idea of freedom and escape to the wilderness in a lovely old flying machine.
People want to connect with the natural world. I find I get withdrawal symptoms if I’m away from it for too long. But then in this modern world everyone is risk averse, a bit soft and they don’t take the kind of risks they did. These things are dangerous, make no mistake about that, but adventure is not living dangerously. Adventure is living, and when you're flying around the world in the open cockpit of a vintage aeroplane you really get a heightened, exalted sense of life.
Compared to the Spirit of Artemis, the Boeing Stearman biplane designed in the 1930s that I fly, modern aircraft are completely different, it’s chalk and cheese. There are people flying modern light aircraft around the world every day of the week but it’s all autopilot, supported systems, flying the airwaves and not that interesting. This is the complete opposite of all that. This is open cockpit, stick and rudder, it's low level visceral flying.
My approach to flying is a romantic one. My background wasn’t at all technical, it was in literature, film, history and art. So that’s adventure for me – the old romantic idea of freedom and escape to the wilderness in a lovely old flying machine.
People want to connect with the natural world. I find I get withdrawal symptoms if I’m away from it for too long. But then in this modern world everyone is risk averse, a bit soft and they don’t take the kind of risks they did. These things are dangerous, make no mistake about that, but adventure is not living dangerously. Adventure is living, and when you're flying around the world in the open cockpit of a vintage aeroplane you really get a heightened, exalted sense of life.