I see the much altered TCT wiki page has an entry for the Daily Mail story.Muriel Mary is a New Zealand based wiki contributer who deletes any none postive entries which she calls vandalism.

The above from the talks section of wiki.

There is no mention of her Goodwood or the Arizona accidents despite the latter destroying the aircraft.

TCT was planning to be at Farnborough with Spirit of Artemis. Is there any update on those plans?

Interesting, JS.
It rang a bell with me a while back that our mysterious 'MurielMary' hails from New Zealand.
From that extract of Canopener's earlier post, I was reminded that it seems TCT's twin sister is also in NZ.
Just co-incidence? Hmm?

Re Farnborough, it was mentioned on here recently that TCT has been reported in the press as doing some high-profile loitering around Farnborough Road.
What's that indicate, I wonder?
As for "The Spirit of Artifice", I'm sure Ewald will be able to have it ready for the show. If not, then a reasonable facsimile of it.
(There's money riding on this, you know).
.

On the topic of preplanning the route, including assuring a welcome and required services at each destination, it is apparent to me that TCT (and her team) did this right, and JJ did not. For that, I recognize the collective TCT effort as something which deserves a "well done", by comparison to the JJ effort. I do not accept that a pilot should arrive unexpectedly/without permission at a remote destination, and expect any services. The cost to accommodate a person by the day in Antarctica is high - did JJ offer to pay those costs?

Our society has, to some degree, accepted that we must bear the cost of rescuing adventurers, but I feel that the adventurers must bear some cost of the rescue, or at least mitigating it. If insurance is required, buy the insurance. As recently as yesterday, a marine distress call was made to the Canadian Armed Forces Rescue Coordination Center for a boat aground and in distress in our waters (the fire department I serve). I expect that a Hercules and Cormorant helicopter were being readied for departure, while the provincial police boat was being dispatched (a half hour one way trip to the area). We were dispatched, so I flew my plane, two fire trucks dispatched with ten firefighters, with four to our boat, and it left for the distress area (5 minute water trip). During which time, I found the boat gently aground on the beach. The errant mariners were walking the boat back to deeper water, as I directed our boat to them.

When our boat arrived, the vessel in distress denied making a distress call at all. So, we redirected our search efforts outwards into the lake. After 30 minutes, the CAF RCC contacted back saying that the vessel was no longer in distress, we were called off. That cost real money. The errant mariners could have mitigated that whole event with the correct use of a chart, and at least admitting that it was them when our boat arrived!

I have the same lack of patience for adventurers who carelessly, or worse deliberately, cause use of public resources and cost, as I do for people who lie about their achievements. At least TCT put her plane safely in a box for the dangerous parts of circumnavigation!

Having looked at murielmary's biography, it would seem her interest in TCT is on the basis that each one of the hundred or so entries she edits are women, about women or women's interest articles. She is also a member of the Wikipedia Gender Gap Force.

Which suggests that, whilst what she's doing is rather less than admirable, it's an independent bit of subterfuge and does not originate with TCT and her team?

G

Well in spite of what I had initially thought was a witch-hunt, it looks like TCT’s porky pies and embellishments have been well and truly rumbled, both here and in the national press and deservedly so. All credit to Jay and Sam for highlighting the deceit.

Those who care now know the facts, and folks like the ones who comment on her Facebook page that this is all just a nasty tall poppy campaign in spite of the facts don’t want to accept the obvious and never will.


Time to let the old gal get on with her life

Ghengis, you have phrased it better than I could.

I know very little about Wikipedia (other than quoting it ad nauseam when it suits me) but it strikes me strange that MM has been able to lock the edit function simply because she wishes it. Looking at the recent history, there have been some very clumsy edits by people who obviously are trying to prove a point but I was surprised to see what I thought was the 'smoking gun' deleted. Someone (possibly a professional pilot from the comments) had followed up on the 'waybackwhen' page which showed TCT's website as it appeared in Feb 2015 where it stated quite clearly that she had flown solo across Africa and compared it to the current version in which she states she flew 'sole'.
Seems to me that an experienced wikipedia (possibly female) editor is needed to get the truth up there.

This page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Tracey_Curtis-Taylor

shows some of the background to the Wiki page editing and is more interesting than the page itself.

No, they actually ran into some problems regarding planing and permissions aswell. Maybe the whole story will surface sometime.

And right there lies some hard evidence, which massages the entire matter quite considerably IMHO.

The submission could quite easily be between Dec 13 - to on or about 3rd July, dishonestly and intending to make a gain for herself or another, or expose another to risk of loss by way of false representation, which she knew might not be true and/or misleading, namely that she flew 'solo' and 'alone' in breach of section 1/2 of the Fraud Act 2006.


Was it all worth it? Well, she found two, if not more, affluent males to finance her jolly when all she needed to say from the outset was that the aircraft owner/instructor was riding shotgun with her to promote GA Aviation, if she really had to do it. An award/s? I don't think so.

If she can get some very simple facts like this wrong, one wonders what her logbook looks like? Lets not go there. The phrase 'can of worms' springs to mind. I would suggest that the entries should be P1/S

Thanks, I42.
Isn't that an interesting and informative read?
As clareprop suggests, it's probably going to take a senior female editor to sort out 'Guffydrawers' and 'MurielMary'.
Wikipedia's reputation for objectivity and editorial integrity is now wide open to question (if it wasn't before).

p.s. I can't help saying it again, but..
"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first, ..."
.

In reply to Tractorpuller
Sam Rutherford was in charge of logistics so he has the answer.

Whatever there was no requirement for an airline pilot to sit in the front seat. My understanding is her problem throughout these trips is her inability to navigate cross country outside of her comfort zone. Hence Ewald being in the front seat. That of course explains why he was on board on arrival in Sydney.

It will be interesting to see if the rebuilt Spirit of Artemis makes an appearance on the Boeing stand at Farnborough.

Or will the sponsors now feel that there in no future in her exploits?

I cannot see any promotional benefits for Boeing or Artemis in shipping the Stearman back to Arizona and resuming the trans America trip. Given she never flys on these trips without Ewald will he want to be the focus of attention?

The HCAP's have been quite and they still face having to give her the Masters Medal at a formal event later this year. This will be another opportunity for the press to have a go.

There is plenty of history on Tracey that the lower tabloids can have a field day with. The HCAP's defence has been she is promoting women in aviation but the Daily Mail expose last Saturday does the reverse.

There is a wonderful quote from TCT to a member of the support crew on the Africa trip. The person concerned was busy organising certain issues when she confronted him and said "What could be more important than getting my bags to the hotel?:D

If you live near Hull you might want to go along and ask a few questions here in a few weeks time.
http://amyjohnsonfestival.co.uk/wp-c...F-Whats-On.pdf

It's a shame I'm too far from Hull, but feel free to co-opt the question I would like to ask:

Great bit from Carol V on the one show, very obviously emphasising "SOLO - which means all by yourself!"

.... but if Ms V ever feels the need of a helping hand, my number is 0759............. :)

JaySata

Given the apparent lack of skills shown by TCT, I think you are wrong there.

I like that Foxmoth.

Reminds me of another saying much used by a friend...

"It all depends on how you do your measuring"

Sole pilot when there is an airline captain up front is a new one on me.

It may be that TCT is saying she is the only one that actually did any flying, that may or may not be true, but he would still have been there as a backup, a bit like saying you flew transatlantic single engine when in a Seneca because you had the second one shut down!

I rather got the feeling that Carols emphasis was due to TCTs claims and what has been on these threads!

Yes I chuckled at Carol's emphasis, but also wondered if the significance was lost on Matt and Alex?

I really don't know what all the fuss is about.
I did my first solo in a C152, with my flying instructor sat right next to me.
I expect you all did your first solo flights in exactly the same way.
You lot really need to get over yourselves.

Next week I am flying a 747 solo to America. (OK, I'll be doing it from seat D37, but that still counts)

Wgat you should really do to cause a stir is nominate me for all the awards that TCT got.
Pah.. I'm doing it non stop. My achievements are much greater, yet completely unrecognised.

You put it better than I Stan. Once had him stay as an overnight guest, and you know what he complained about at some length? People wanting him to do stuff for free. This was prompted by a scout group phoning wanting him to give a speech. Given his connivance in conducting his flights I thought it all a bit rich.

kghjfg, you've just made me realise that all my flying has been solo. Planning a solo venture from Oz to Europe next year, spouse is doing the same. I'll get her a log book for Xmas.

I have just watched Carol V on the One show and it was interesting to hear the amount of emphasis being placed on the word solo. I suspect there was some pre-broadcast chat about the TCT Saturday Dail Mail item.

Given her maths qualifications I can't see Carol having any problems with the navigation. She is also used to the pressure of broadcasting and tackling several things at once.

She speaks from the heart without churning out the same old script. It is apparent to me she is not trying to say look at me I am a woman pilot.

I was speaking yesterday to Dave Jarvis who wrote the Mail story. He was describing TCT's shock when he doorstepped her in London. His impression was that she has no passion for flying but rather thinks of it as a means to an end. " I also got the message that she is used to having her own way" he said.

Good luck to Carol V...it promises to be an interesting series.

She's also doing it in a DA42 which is somewhat more capable. To me, it is absolutely clear that Carol V is doing the trip primarily as a personal challenge.

Amelia Earhart's reaction to the adulation she received after her first Transatlantic trip.


Since most of the flight was on "instruments" and Earhart had no training for this type of flying, she did not pilot the aircraft. When interviewed after landing, she said, "Stultz did all the flying—had to. I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes." She added, "...maybe someday I'll try it alone."

As I said some time ago: "Solo is solo is solo, and everybody in aviation knows what it means".

A third class honours degree in general engineering!

Quite good enough for pilot nav, but not that impressive.

G

However, the rest of Carol V is quite impressive. Have to take an holistic view on these things y'know.

That is a very fair point Clare.

G

Is CV still planning on flying with Red 8 back up?

I may be wrong but I think they have split up.

Oh good.
That gives me a chance then, does it?
I might just have time to fit her in to my busy schedule.

Back on track..
The TCT publicity machine seems to have been a little bit quiet, just of late.
Marshalling the dribbling old fools and the compliant media hacks, perhaps?

I would imagine, though, that one small thing she's going to have to overcome is the reluctance of the Royal Family to have, henceforth,
too much to do with her.
Bummer!

flybymike - yeah, that's why I was asking....

(Thread drift)

Come on chaps...upto speed.

Carol Vorderman back together with ex-boyfriend Graham Duff

Happier and, I assume, uncontroversial news ~


Jetblu Dream on.

Step Turn I accept that the Honourable Company of Air Pilots is not widely known amongst Canadian light aircraft pilots but that should not lead you to underestimate its standing in Canada.

Our affiliated bodies include 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron RCAF, 19 Wing RCAF Comox, the Snowbirds and Harbour Air Seaplanes - the world's largest all seaplane airline. As well as being an affiliate, Harbour Air was awarded our Cumberbatch Trophy in 2012 for its outstanding contribution to aviation safety. The trophy was proudly displayed at their Vancouver Harbour terminal when I visited in 2013.

My North America schedule, which began at the Boeing factory in Seattle and ended in Washington DC two weeks later, included discussions in Ottawa with the Director-General Civil Aviation Transport Canada and then with the Canadian Transportation Safety Board (3 Board members, Chief Operating Officer, Director of the Air Investigations Branch and 12 senior air accident investigators.)
And, in Montreal, with the Secretary-General of ICAO (accompanied by the Director of Safety Standardisation and the Chief of the Flight Operations Section),
before flying to Washington DC for discussions with the FAA's Administrator for Policy & International Affairs and with the Chairman of the NTSB accompanied by two heads of aviation departments.
NB: None of the above meetings was in a personal capacity. All took place because I was representing the Air Pilots.

You will, I hope, be pleased to learn that Canadian aviators feature regularly in our awards.

In addition to the Cumberbatch Trophy mentioned above, I had the privilege during my year as Master of presenting the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award to the crew of ‘Rescue 912’ from 103 Sqn SAR RCAF who successfully rescued three hunters from a Newfoundland ice flow in blizzard conditions with winds so strong that the helicopter was flown the final two miles to the rescue point backwards - the pilot positioning the nose into the storm to achieve a more stable flying platform.
The crew came to London to receive their award - as do recipients from all over the world, every year.
http://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/5365...ml#post8395071

I had the privilege of presenting two Master's Medals:

That's pretty impressive stuff FL, both the meetings and the awards.

FL,

Like Step Turn, I was also confused when I first saw the acronym HCAP. After some head-scratching and some research, I discovered that HCAP was just a re-badged GAPAN, which I had known about for many years.

While it's clear that HCAP does very good work in promoting aviation and recognizing outstanding achievements (with the notable exception of one recent award), I find it anachronistic that a professional aviation organization models itself on a medieval guild - a cartel/secret society set up to protect the interests of its members and establish a monopoly in its particular trade. It is no wonder that some people think HCAP is linked to Masonry.

Viewed from the outside, GAPAN/HCAP comes across as an "establishment" club, which view is reinforced by the headquarters address and the dinners in fancy dress.

I've never been a GAPAN/HCAP member, but may as well point out that it really is one of these "ancient" guilds (more properly called Livery Companies).

There's a list of all 110 of them on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livery_company

On the whole, whilst I tend to think that the criticism of the Masters medal is fair, and yes it is an Establishment Club - it's one that is open to anybody to join and isn't at-all secretive.

I've never joined for the simple reason that you can only belong to so many organisations, and I consider it less useful to me than for example the Society of Flight Test Engineers. But in general terms, the basic fact and existence of HCAP / GAPAN is entirely reasonable and above board. I've been invited professionally to a few of their specialist meetings, and the quality of what they were doing was excellent.

Two other "establishment" clubs I belong to: the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the Royal Aeronautical Society are both very happy to also dress up for dinner - and the first of those is American with a headquarters in California (and boasts the aforementioned Tim Peake and Jim Lovell as members). We're human, we love our ceremony and tradition - it's no reason to criticise anybody. It would be a far poorer world without a bit of pomp and dress-up.

G

Excellent news that the HCAP Masters Medal for 2016 goes to Tim Peake.

Can I take it TCT will not be receiving an HCAP award?

Worthy recipients, FL and some interesting background on the Guild which I hadn't known before. Thanks.