I have had nothing back yet but this afternoon I e-mailed them a polite reminder with this:

Is it perhaps not time to let this thread go cool/cold unless there is actually any new information?

Just a thought...

Cheers, Sam.

Have they not now perhaps shut up shop for xmas...

Well said Sam!

They acknowledged the FOI request with this:

They are fully aware of the 22 Dec end-date and it would be rather embarrassing for them if such a simple request resulted in a breach of the FOI Act. Not a lot can be done if they do run late but deliberately withholding material information or changing information that is held is a criminal offence.

After only a light skim of the quote in airpolice's post.

I think at times it was the other way round.


I don't think she holds a UK CPL or Instructor Rating. They were from New Zealand.



My understanding, and I'm willing to be corrected, is that she 'only' had an aircraft based there. Rented hangarage if you will. Surely a female pilot must have done so there before the the end of the 20th century?

Much as I completely agree with Sam and Terry on this matter.
My instinctive reaction to elements of the post by Air Police was utter astonishment - it read
"But her real passion was for vintage aircraft and warbirds. In 1997 she helped organise Duxford’s Flying Legends air shows and later became the first female pilot to be based at the historic Shuttleworth Collection, at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire".

I understand from high level sources at both Duxford and Old Warden that her efforts at those aerodromes did not meet the required standard and she was invited to leave which is shorthand for being chucked out. She rented hangar space at Old Warden but was never a 'Shuttleworth' pilot; I believe Clare Tector is the only female pilot ever to have been one.

"Today she lives in Cambridge, UK, working predominantly with historic aviation and air show organisation."

I know not and care not where she lives. But I am not aware that she has any involvement in UK historic aviation or airshow organisation here in the UK.

It is these multiple and important misrepresentations, and the seeming zero effort to be accountable for correction/retraction which leave me feeling that the topic should not just fade away. I have believe that TCT is well aware of the concerns raised in these pages, and yet nothing in terms of correcting all of the wrongs.

Though I do not see this as a "legal" matter, I do see it as an offense against aviation peers. As a member of the aviation community in the larger sense, I don't feel that it's right, or fair to we peers that TCT could simply remain silent, accept accolades and speaking engagements as though nothing is wrong, and just let it all blow over by ignoring it.

If TCT were a quiet private citizen, and something were "off" about her aviation exploits, that would be one thing, but TCT has eagerly stepped into the public spot light many times, and represented us. In doing so, she has to be held to a high standard. The public simply does not know any better, but we, her peers do. In my opinion, it is our responsibility to the less familiar public to take action to maintain truth and honour in aviation, rather than just let wrongs fade into the shadows because the accused will not answer the multiple expressions of concern.

That ia a very clever way to slither out of the mess as it implies she was alone in the Stearman when she wasn't. I don't think she will ever admit to her deceit.

I'm a bit bored with all this mess now.
She told a few mis-truths, insinuated lots and got well and truly rumbled soon afterwards.
Her name is now mud and will forever be so.
My life is hugely too short to get carried away on a witch hunt.

She is a Walt par excellence, undoubtably.
Can we just leave it at that now please?


Oh, and we all know very well that she isn't part of Shuttleworth, or indeed anything at all in the big wheels of the UK airshow industry.....

An end now please, or have you lot not finished stirring?

I disagree, for two reasons:

Firstly, we should continue to push for clear answers to the questions that Ms Curtis-Taylor continues to refuse to answer.

Secondly, and just as important, we should continue to shine a bright light on the institutions such as HCAP, Portsmouth University and others that continue to try to defend their actions in honouring somebody who seems unwilling to answer those questions thus indicating that the awards that they have given her may have been based on false premises.

With respect: if you are bored with this, can I suggest that you just stop reading the thread?

I can highly recommend this, I did.

Hang on a minute... Dammit.

Right Hand Thread:
As of early November 2016,the opening line of TC-T's Wikipedia page used to include this statement:
As others on this thread have pointed out, ever since this controversy began, that Wikipedia page has been constantly and regularly edited by people very sympathetic to TC-T. The quote above has now disappeared entirely - why? Probably because it is not entirely truthful.

Contrarily, in this interview with JetGala magazine TC-T boldly states:
I'd be surprised that anyone who has gained the qualifications necessary to earn a living from flying, would then deny ever having been a professional flyer? I suppose there is an outside chance that she perhaps did the exams necessary for the issue of a CPL, maybe even passed the appropriate flying tests for a CPL, but was never hired by any commercial outfit. However, given TC-T's apparent track record on claims about her flights, I think there is plenty of doubt about her supposed commercial qualifications. We only have her say-so on it, but if anyone can prove otherwise, this forum would be grateful to see the evidence. But I don't think anyone is holding their breath. After all, all TC-T's biographical details, be they on gushingly-worded award certificates or scattered around the internet, seem to have been cut and pasted from the same, single source - TC-T herself.

terry holloway:
Sadly, despite your years in the RAF and affinity for aviation, I don't think that you really "get" anything about this sad saga, be it the deceit or anything else.

terry holloway:
Well, your position to stand on shaky ground almost certainly accounts for your frustration, but it is self-inflicted. You might like to think that the majority here will also give up, but I very much doubt they will, because the facts are clear and plentiful. Perhaps you prefer to take comfort in the immortal words uttered by Steven Fry's character, General Melchett, in the final Blackadder TV series:
Good luck with that, Melchie! :ok:

So far as I'm aware there is no doubt about her having held a New Zealand CPL and Instructor Rating. I think you'll find evidence of her having held these qualifications in early posts on this thread.

One person who has posted on this thread does know.

I am pretty sure she did work at an Ardmore based flight training establishment for a short period of time. How long for and how much work she did is another question. There may be info on this in early posts in the thread, I don't remember and cannot be bothered looking.

I agree, and find this assertion very difficult to fathom.

I'll admit to not having seen the early pages of this thread for several weeks, so apologies if I have that wrong.

But ...... why then excise it from your record? Or is the constant Wikipedia biographical editing evidence of a 'PR team' frantically attempting a damage-limitation exercise, with correct detail also falling victim to a very broad axe swung in panic? :suspect:

Don't know about that, I've got a CPL and never ever considered flying for reward. In FAA land the CPL is not a big deal, its really just a glorified PPL check ride with a few chandels and lazy 8's thrown in. The Instrument and Instructor tickets on the other hand require a bit effort.

The only time I trumpet the Commercial Pilot thingy is in the pub and usually around birds who are thinking Boeing while I know all along its C172.:)

I see her current wiki entry omits all mention of the LAA.

For those who have followed this saga from the start, what follows will be of no surprise.

You may recall that I e-mailed Portsmouth Uni regarding the honorary award to TCT. Their response was one of denial that it was for aviation exploits and a polite FO and stop bothering us reply.

I have now had a response to my FOI request. The University have failed to meet the requirements of the request but have been open in what they responded with. The most damning piece is the letter from the Vice Chancellor. See attached document "190 Annex B Invitation Letter pdf".

Dated 16 Feb 2016, and signed by the Vice Chancellor para 2 states:

"The Committee would be delighted if you would agree to attend and receive an honorary degree in recognition of your recent inspirational 13,000 mile solo flight from Farnborough to Sydney. There is much admiration for your outstanding achievements, both in your recent flight and your 2013 flight between Cape Town and Goodwood."

So, there you have it, in their own words, signed-off by the VC, an award for SOLO flights. No mention at all of any outreach, role model, STEM encouragement. I conclude that the award, like the Bill Woodham Trophy, was issued on a lie and should therefore be removed.

Have a read of the attached and you can see that the information supplied to Portsmouth has come from Tim Kelly / TCT.

Thoughts please Ladies and Gentlemen.

Many thanks for your efforts Satco which has revealed the part Tim Kelly has played in this saga. An award for a solo flight that never happened and from the Engineering School.

This from the Vice Chancellor
Below is the letter awarding her the honourary degree. Why was Tim Kelly copied in?
https://s28.postimg.org/g8tg8w1cd/image.png

Thoughts please Ladies and Gentlemen - That damn word solo keeps appearing and she has had ample time to correct it, but didn't. To add insult to injury Portsmouth University has let itself down and the Vice Chancellor should be ashamed of himself.