Interestingly I note that TCT's Wiki page has been sanitised again. The account of the Wilmslow crash states that the cause was never identified amd omits TCT's (unproven) contention that it was due to fuel contamination.

Similarly all mention of the Bill Woodhams Award, both the giving and rescinding, has gone.

And have a big strong man close by to hold your hand, lots of corporate sponsors and some minor royals.

I am a former Amy Johnson Memorial Scholarship recipient and I find this whole issue disgraceful and insulting to the many aviation pioneers, male and female, who started and continue to push the boundaries for all of us, and to those of us that plod along every day getting on with the job of flying aeroplanes without wanting any special treatment. I was grateful for that scholarship or my career would have ground to a halt as I was down to the last can of baked beans. That is how you help people into aviation, if that is what you are really doing.

She is welcome to call me a old male misogynist and an internet troll to my face anytime.

Hi again Happy Pruners

This is my last post because I’ve far more trivial things to do with my time

Just a few quickies before I leave

SATCOS WHIPPING BOY ( #4200)
Q. Nick Adams, when are we going to see your great admission of guilt up on the BiaB site? Perhaps doing so may convey two things; a genuine desire to take the blame for this small piece of the whole charade, and confirmation that you are indeed who you say you are.
A. Confirmation of who I am is here on the website (type /nick/ after the .com) and unlike many of the people here I am using my own name and not hiding behind a pseudonym (which seems a little cowardly to me)

Null Orifice (#4192)
Q. Friends in high place
A. and in my case; friends in low places : )

Cazalet33 (#4171)
Q. the adverse consequences of stating the truth but I won't be losing any sleep over it. The adverse consequences are a result of her not telling the truth, Nick.
A. I’m sure that you haven’t deliberately misunderstood but just to clarify, I was referring to adverse consequences to me of me stating the truth

etc etc (ad infinitum)

Anyway, much as I have enjoyed our little interactions this is the last post from me.

Many people on this forum seem very angry, my advice is to relax and enjoy life a bit more.

Sorry I didn’t enter fully into the spirit of things of this hysterical witch hunt but I like to think that civilisation has evolved a little from the days of the ducking stool . . . . . . or maybe I'm wrong?

The TCDS says that the aircraft may be soloed from either seat should the empty CoG be within a certain range, outside the stipulated range solo from rear seat only.

The cynic in me says that Mr. Adams has come forward at this late stage claiming to be the inventor of the word "solo" as applied to TCT, he being a contractor to complete a task I would have thought that the customer, TCT or one of her covey, would give their imprimatur and approval of the work done. If we accept Mr. Adams statement obviously this was not done, a claim which I find dubious, and frankly, impossible to believe. It was made a corner stone of all publicity, even by Boeing, a sponsor.

Mr. Adams work seems from his web site to be UK orientated, so I assume he has been leant upon by TCT, or party, to make his "solo" claim immediately prior to the AGM to take the heat off her. A decision made no doubt out of his own commercial interests in the UK, and furtherance of those interests in the upper echelons of society in which TCT dabbles. All reinstated. What games they play. Edited today 24th Sep.

Let's see how long that lasts!

Looks like this slipped through the net as well:

https://www.pensaevents.co.uk/tracey-curtis-taylor/

All these pesky people all getting it wrong all the time...

OMG, does one have to bow/curtsey when entering the audience chamber?

I’m looking forward to the appearance on here of the film editor claiming responsibility for cutting out all shots of Ewald from the film, or of the director admitting that it was down to him/her that all footage of TCT taking off or landing showed only one person on board even though we know that there were two for 40 of the 44 legs. I am trying to guess who will appear to take the blame for insisting that TCT pose for photos clutching that Australian “solo” award.

Like everyone in this charade you have dodged the main point and focused on trivia.
I know you will read this so....

Nick Adams, when are we going to see your great admission of guilt up on the BiaB site? Perhaps doing so may convey two things; a genuine desire to take the blame for this small piece of the whole charade, and confirmation that you are indeed who you say you are.

The important point of my query was when the website will be updated to reflect this tremendous admission of guilt. Yet, like many before you, you focus on an internet pseudonym which I have had for many years prior to joining Pprune ( I actually picked it up as a nickname whilst serving in the military) and dodge the embarrassing question aimed at you. As someone who works in the IT industry I trust you are familiar with internet forums and appreciate that 99% of users operate under such pseudonyms, so no great surprise to find that I do too. Those that need to know who I am know who I am, they know my real background (not a made up CV of derring-do) and they know how to contact me.

"Overview: A private audience with Tracey Curtis Taylor, Britain's most-celebrated female aviator and adventurer, who'll be telling the truly incredible story her most epic adventure to date – a solo flight from England to Australia in a vintage biplane following the exact route of the early pioneer aviator Amy Johnson who made the same journey in 1930"

There's that word again. The advert then goes on to say that Libya had to be avoided so it's not quite the exact route. What's a little obfuscation when there are gongs at stake ?

One word of that is true.

She truly lacks credibility.

You have to wonder why now? This had all died a death and mostly been forgotten. Boeing, the hedgefunders and the rent-a-royals had all moved on, this forum had been locked down tight, the PR guy Kelly was onto new projects and Tracey was back at her local airshow circuit fly-in gigs. Then out of the blue there's rumblings of action stirring on the matter at the LAA concurrent with some IT guy falling on his sword by throwing out a mea culpa we are all familiar with from the BIAP back office and associated sycophants. Whats up?

Promoting the new lucrative film, that's what's up. Self promotion, which is nothing new from them.

Sounds like PR team have suggested that it is all too quiet prior to the big announcement and may have suggested the challenge to LAA as away of generating publicity. I am sure they believed that the LAA old-duffers' society would just roll over and reinstate the award. This would have been a massive coup for BiaB and the press releases (probably already drafted) would have hit the headlines.

Only problem with their plan was that we all remember the lies that led to this action being taken and that if other organisations had had the spine they too would have pulled awards/rewards back in 2016. Seems to me the plan is backfiring massively, yes it is getting some media attention, but not the best kind by any means.

A quote by TCT which appeared in the Times article: "I don't think for one second that I would have received the treatment I have had from the LAA if I had been a male."

And the LAA Board are really considering giving TCT her award back? They should instead spend the time at the AGM considering taking action against TCT for libel. At a time when promotion of aviation careers for women has never been so active, comments such as TCT's make my teeth itch.

Perhaps she subscribes to the Tallulah Bankhead line: "I don’t care what they say as long as they talk about me."
Now if 'Celebrity' wasn't so darn lucrative we'd probably never have heard of her.

She's got a frikkin cheek!

"Two blokes in a biplane" doesn't have anything like the cachet of "The Aviatrix" flying solo in the manner of Lady Heath and Amy Johnson. "Quality Bird" or "Bird in a Biplane" is so much more marketable, dontcha think?

"Bloke in his biplane wiv a bird in the back" doesn't quite cut the mustard either.

She's milked the gender card for all it's worth. It's what marketing wonks (Sorry, Nick) call a USP.

Funny how she doesn't call HCAP an old man's club, innit. Wonder why that might be.

A characteristically snakey thing for her to say.

When she's dun slitherin', the fact remains that the owner's suite in the front office had stick and rudder and throttle controls.

Most importantly of all, it had an intercomm, through which the five-figure-hour experienced ATPL/QFI could talk to her_in_back and walk her through the more complicated bits of following the magenta line of her (and his) GPS-equipped iPads. Y'know, stuff like turn left or turn right or level the wings or tread on the ball, that sort of stuff.

Not quite comparable to Amy Johnson or Mary Heath or the Honourable Mrs Victor Mildred Wossername.

Extract, dated 26 October 2016, taken from BiaB website (courtesy waybackmachine.com) : https://web.archive.org/web/20161026...24%20Oct%2016/

Ms Curtis-Taylor is very clear. She is not threatening legal proceedings in her statement, she is saying the actions of the named individual are the subject of legal proceedings and have been reported to the police. So, nearly two years on, should Mr Rutherford have the time or inclination, perhaps he might update us on what must have been an extremely stressful experience for him?

Has anyone called Chris at 'Pensaevents' to update him of the truth regarding this alleged 'Solo' flight ?

To discuss a bespoke event please contact: [email protected] // +44 (0)7813 618838

Isn't 'wasting Police time' a criminal offence in England?

A review of the PENSA website revealed this statement: (my underline)

I assume someone has contacted them to inform them that they have made a mistake in their write up?

I wouldn't be overly worried about the PENSA text, it comes as no surprise to anyone who can see through the sham. TCT has always had a great desire to over-egg her own abilities and achievements. She has left a trail of destruction behind her due to her ability to wind people up. I seem to recall some of her earlier promo material she described herself as "the first female pilot to be based at Shuttleworth" When she was asked to remove that claim because it implied she was one of the Shuttleworth Collection pilots rather than someone who just happened to keep their plane there, or even just to clarify the point, she refused. It wasn't long after that that her tenancy was withdrawn and she was asked to remove her plane.

Can anyone confirm this was the case? This pre-dates the Africa trip and my memory is not as good as it used to be and I have no intention of digging through all of the TCT generated rubbish and self-aggrandising clap-trap.
ta
SWB

@clareprop

I read earlier in the thread that I should only become horrified at approximately the three year mark, and not after just 24 months.

I can confirm that absolutely nothing came of the various letters/threats - I suspect it is because everything I have said and written is true. This is probably something of an impediment to any legal action.

I've also not heard anything from the police, who undoubtedly have better things to be doing.

Going after people 'wasting police time' would seem to be just one option!

Ewald Gritsch And Tracey Curtis Taylor
 

Guys - questions. What is the objective with this and to what end?

It doesn't strike me as all that likely that rubbishing one persons efforts (however tainted one might feel about them) is helpful to the efforts of someone you all might feel more deserving. She made a flight, it wasn't solo, but it was an interesting flight never the less, she shouts about it and seems to reach out to people that are unlikely to engage otherwise in aviation. Why do some care so much? Artemis seemed a title sponsor, do they care?

...or confirm them.

As for the note by Ewald. So far as I can see, and many others on here, SR has only ever put forward one story about all of this, his account has not changed since day 1. The same cannot be said for anything that has come out of the TCT spin-machine.

For starters, the numbers do not stack up, on which specific legs did a SPONSOR sit up front rather than what I now read as Ewald Da Gamma . TCT's navigation skills have been brought into question on more than one occasion. An ATCO pal of mine who has had the pleasure of controlling her said "she couldn't find her arse with both hands" (His words not mine). The mention above about having difficulty getting from Goodwood to Yeovilton seems a more accurate description of ability, and the description which I have no reason to doubt about the chase-plane pathfinding when she was on her own.

This is the gift that keeps on giving. Legal action? well if the LAA want my files they are more than welcome and they detail and question far far more than I have ever published.

@pittsextra, Artemis no longer fund/funded the latter flights. I understand that to be a natural withdrawal from the programme; I am sure they would have wanted to renew the support if it was as well received as Ewald suggests.

OH dear, another own goal!
From Cape Town on Tracey and her team had to improvise the navigation and flight planning for the entire trip along Africa.
Just like those intrepid aviation pioneers she is attempting to "emulate". So why is this a problem? Isn't it one of the responsibilities of the Pilot In Command and not a member of a back up team?
Up until now I admired EG for doing a great job of rebuilding the aircraft, flying it on long flights and (literally) keeping his head down.

It's a pity this is overshadowing the memorial for Mary Ellis RIP, a real aviation heroine https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-45602283

OyYou, the sign in your cockpit is in accordance with the TCDS, which I copy here. Your empty CoG obviously falls between -4.4 and +0.5

Empty Weight C.G. Range
(-1.5) to (+0.5) solo from either seat
(-4.4) to (+0.5) placard in front cockpit: "Solo from rear seat only."When empty weight C.G. falls within this range, computation of critical fore and aft C.G. positions is unnecessary. Ranges are not valid for non-standard arrangement or for crop duster or sprayer installations.

Up to now, these responses from Curtis-Taylor's supporters have been just as much puff as the press releases. Rule number one, attack and belittle the messengers but whatever you do, don't respond to the allegations that Curtis-Taylor allowed it to be understood she flew solo and is on video claiming the same.
Mr Adams, a contractor, tells us that it was his fault 'solo flying' claims were made. Apparently, we are to believe that the managing director of the company that he was contracted to (Bird-in-a-Biplane Ltd) had no input to and didn't even read her own website - for three years! However, despite making what people might consider to be a mistake of horrendous proportions given the furore that has followed and Curtis-Taylor's 'pretty horrified' reaction, Mr Adam's continues to run the BiaB website.

With the quote shown from Jay Sata, it would appear that Mr Gritsch has now decided, allegedly, to drop in for a bit of character assassination. Unfortunately for him, he has broken rule number one:

In a post above Curtis-Taylor is clearly accepting an award of Honorary Membership based on a 'solo' achievement. https://www.pprune.org/10254197-post4099.html

He then goes on to attack Sam Rutherford by suggesting:

Really? The aircraft built itself did it? Nothing to do with 3G Classic Aviation owned by E. Gritsch then. While I'm sure Sam runs his business well, I'd be surprised if the cost of providing 'navigational assistance' is higher than that of restoring and rebuilding (twice after accidents) a Stearman aircraft.

Quite possibly, the most bizarre claim of all. If 'TC' is such a good pilot and navigator, why did she hire someone to do it for her and then complain when an award for navigation was removed from her?

We have never seen ANY evidence of a this 'successful outreach' program. Flying in to tell some kids in Africa they should become pilots without then actually providing the means for them to do so is hardly difficult. Here is an example of a proper outreach program showing all the qualifications of the person running it, their history, their real achievements and their commitment to being totally involved in it :
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business...nd-aspirations

It's high time Ewald posted here himself! Not via, via...

Indeed, it's high time that Tracey posted here herself, not via, via...


A lot of pilots can tell you that TC is simply a good pilot (and navigator).

Good for them, others will disagree I guess - but that's not the point of this thread.

But the navigational problems TC had in Africa were caused by the lack of proper aviation maps, charts and information.

What navigational problems? Lack of...? Please explain more.

Her logistics manager S.R. was hired and well paid for providing the complete flight planning and navigational support for this trip. But in the end he failed to deliver a proper planning and documentation!

Hm, so the fact that we maintained the schedule throughout (except for Egypt because of security issues), including fuel being pre-positioned along the entire route, was not 'properly done'. We did have a major fuel issue in South Sudan (which we miraculously were able to solve) of which Ewald is extremely aware given that he caused it through his (not Tracey's) incompetence. Otherwise all the paperwork, permits, planning, accom, food, ground transport, press and media, comms, tracking.... etc. etc. etc.

So again, let us have some details. Here, in public.

From Cape Town on Tracey and her team had to improvise the navigation and flight planning for the entire trip along Africa. As the expedition had already started she did this with whatever information she could gather along the route, e.g. from locals pilots. Yes, this lack of proper maps and information caused some tricky situations. But there were more organizational problems to come which caused a lot more difficult situations….caused by the logistics manager.

Go on, let's have the details...

“Financial situation” of the expeditions, “Money making machine”:

Budget?

Overall a part of the expedition costs was covered by the sponsors, a good part of it privately by Tracey.

Great, let's see the budget.

Ironically the person who was earning by far the most money was S.R.!

I'm unable to comment as I had/have no overview of the global financials (I do know that we delivered our services within budget). Equally, Ewald had/has no overview of our financials. Another statement of 'fact' from a position of ignorance!

On a sidenote all the sponsors are still happy with the success of TC and all of them knew from the early days on that it would not be a solo flight but a team effort. More than a dozen of these sponsors joined her on flights over various continents. Also no award was given on basis of the solo word, but on the fact that she had successfully organised and piloted these expeditions, as well as on the success of her outreach program “women in aviation”.

Please advise more precisely on this paragraph so we can dissect it properly.

So as a conclusion these two major topics are 100% backfiring on Sam R.

It seems to me that I'm taking a beating in little private side meetings and conversations - but not on anything in the public domain. My experience is that people with something to hide avoid public forums. I'll let our dear readers decide who is hiding in the shadows and who is in plain view - and thus whose story has the greater credibility.

Hey Ewald, that's an interesting point raised.

Purchase, then TWO rebuilds covered by insurance. I imagine that was helpful to the 3G bottom line!

It is of course possible that you sold the plane at the price it cost you, and that you only asked the insurance companies to cover the costs on the rebuilds (no margin).

Possible, but unlikely, I would suggest. However, until I know what you were paid and what it cost you - I'm unable to judge.