|
Deefer...those links you kindly posted don't work.
Stanwell.. I agree with your comments. Jetblu.. I don't believe they ever considered anyone would challenge the claims. One key point they overlooked is the lack of control on people posting pictures on the internet showing both of them on board. Another here from Egypt. https://photos.flightaware.com/photo...916857b8cdbed2 N56200 Submitted about a year ago Boeing Stearman from the 'Cape Town to Goodwood' flight, December 2013. Pilot Tracey Curtis Taylor prepares to depart October Airport - HEOC, Cairo Egypt for Mersa Matruh, HEMM. Taken outside the General Aviation Support Egypt - G.A.S.E. hangar where the aircraft was housed. |
Some of you might find this interesting.The latest HCAP Air Pilot magazine carries this report.
The 2016 Cobham Lecture Possibly suffering from intellectual exhaustion (see the Lunch Club report), Company members repaired to the Royal Aeronautical Society for the Company's first formal lecture of the year. The audience was most definitely more esteemed and eclectic than usual: headed by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, graced by Camilla Cobham ( Sir Alan's grand-daughter), and Dame Diana Rigg, 38 masters of other companies joined the Air Pilots for a full house.The speaker was Tracey Curtis-Taylor, better known by her self-given moniker of 'Bird in a Biplane'. Relatively recently returned from a flight in a Stearman to Australia, and shortly to embark on a TransAmerican journey in the same craft. Her journeys have benefited enormously from substantial (and appropriate) sponsorship - in her case from the foresight of John Dodd, chief executive of Artemis, the fund management firm. Her inspiration, through most of her aviation career, has been Amy Johnson. The Master in his introduction pointed out that Amy had been introduced to her main sponsor, Lord Wakefield (chairman of Castrol), through Sir Sefton Brancker - a seminal figure in the early years of the Company. Tracey only arrived at aviation after a peripatetic series of jobs, eventually being inspired by warbird flying whilst in New Zealand.A trip to the Cape was her first major international flight in the Stearman, but the inspiration of Amy meant that she had to aim for an Australian trip at some stage. The choice of her 1942 Stearman itself created some distance from Amy's feat - a lot more substantial, and a lot more thirsty (40- 50lph). Her journeys have been very much 21st century ones, embracing the GoPro era with copious cameras and photographers, and a chase aircraft bringing luggage and avgas, and also assisting in navigation, and very proactive PR. Moreover, for most flights on the 2015/6 expedition to Australia she was accompanied by the aircraft's owner, Ewald Gritsch, a 20,000 hour instructor. The trip was used as a platform to promote women in aviation and also education in STEM subjects. So there were frequent stops to spread the word - two weeks at the Dubai Airshow, for example. By the time she had reached India, she was a victim of her own PR success - the media had gone 'beserk', and in consequence she was mobbed by 2,000 schoolgirls in Karachi. The low point was possibly Indonesia where her chase aircraft was detained for a month for flying through a restricted area. After her return to the UK later this year from her transcontinental US flight, a film will be released. (STOP PRESS: Tracey and Ewald crashed after take-off on one of their first flights on theTrans US trip.The Stearman is now being rebuilt.) |
Oh, don't you just love it?
It now seems that she's got her hands on a professional billsh1tter .. (I mean promotional copy writer). The previous one was a bit amateurish wasn't she? (I'm only kidding, it's still the same one - only trying a bit harder.) Then, to make matters worse, whoever compiles the reports for 'Air Pilot' has largely relied on a TCT press-release as the basis from which to disseminate such tripe amongst the professionals within the HCAP. I've seen better written and more objective reports in a local church newsletter. 4/10. Could do better. . |
This is like peeling an onion.
She constantly refers to "her" aircraft in media interviews while admitting in the Cobham lecture that owner Ewald was up front all along and the chase plane was helping with navigation. Her journeys have been very much 21st century ones, embracing the GoPro era with copious cameras and photographers, and a chase aircraft bringing luggage and avgas, and also assisting in navigation, and very proactive PR. Moreover, for most flights on the 2015/6 expedition to Australia she was accompanied by the aircraft's owner, Ewald Gritsch, a 20,000 hour instructor. |
Re Licencing N reg flying in Europe:
I guess I screwed up the links, but if you copy and paste you will find two letters from the FAA confirming the exact situation regards to flying N reg aircraft in Europe if the pilot does NOT hold an FAA license. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...rpretation.pdf http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...rpretation.pdf |
Well that may be so, JS.
Her plane .. ? You see, she's using a careful linguistic licence there - as she'd done from the outset (with Ewald's compliance, of course). It's much like somebody, late at night, proclaiming .. "This is MY taxi!" She then hops in and says to the driver .. "Of course, I'll pay you when we get to our destination." . |
As pointed out by Stanwell...and from the HCAP website with my bold;
The Master's Medal Awarded to any person in aviation, at any time, for an act or other achievement in aviation considered worthy of the Medal, as soon as the facts of the event are clear. This is intended to be an immediate award, made at the discretion of the Master and on the advice of the Trophies and Awards Committee. The Award for Aviation Journalism Awarded to an individual journalist, publication or organisation for an outstanding contribution to the promotion or public awareness of aviation in general or of any important aspect of aviation activity I wonder which journalist will NOT be getting the award for publishing the facts of the event! |
I just realised that today is a significant and relevant anniversary in aviation by women.
Today In Aviation History: Thérèse Peltier, 1st Female Passenger | JDA Journal G |
Stanwell
IMHO you have made some good points in this thread. I thought your renaming the Stearman the 'Spirit of Artifice' was very funny - and said so previously. Probably the funniest quip in the entire thread. However, also IMHO, it's a pity you often detract from your good points by silly comments and unfounded allegations. The writer of that piece is neither a "professional billsh1tter" nor a "promotional copy writer". He is a thoroughly decent man, an experienced and enthusiastic PPL. He has been a regular contributor to PPRuNe for at least 16 years. He has no connection whatsoever with either TCT or her very effective PR team whose exaggeration of her 'achievements' has been the subject of much justified criticism in this thread and elsewhere. Then, to make matters worse, whoever compiles the reports for 'Air Pilot' has largely relied on a TCT press-release as the basis from which to disseminate such tripe amongst the professionals within the HCAP. If you had read the article with an open mind, you would have noticed that he has not lauded her.. The writer has accurately recorded TCT's claim that she was inspired by Amy Johnson. He does not purport to vouch for the truth of that claim. And, far from relying upon the nonsense in her press releases/on her website about her flight to Australia "recreating the essence of the period, basic period instruments", "reliving the story of her dramatic adventures and reckless bravery" etc, he wrote: The choice of her 1942 Stearman itself created some distance from Amy's feat - a lot more substantial ….. Her journeys have been very much 21st century ones, embracing the GoPro era with copious cameras and photographers, and a chase aircraft bringing luggage and avgas, and also assisting in navigation, and very proactive PR. Moreover, for most flights on the 2015/6 expedition to Australia she was accompanied by the aircraft's owner, Ewald Gritsch, a 20,000 hour instructor. Jay Sata admitting in the Cobham lecture that owner Ewald was up front all along and the chase plane was helping with navigation. She didn't use the word solo but anyone attending the lecture (who didn't already know the truth) would have left thinking that she'd flown the Stearman solo to Australia - with a 'chase aircraft' following her simply to record the flight. Is the article an 'expose' of TCT? No. It is a factual account, written for our in-house journal, of a lecture given by a guest. In my view, the writer has struck the balance very well. The article cannot reasonably be regarded as praising TCT - or of supporting her claims. |
Flying Lawyer
I can see what you did there. ;) ....but I don't think it will work on this one. I will see if anyone else spots the obvious :) |
Jetblu
Tell me what you think you can see and I'll tell you whether or not you are correct. |
Hmm, fair comment, FL.
Perhaps I was not as open-minded and charitable as I could have been. Normally, when I read an article, I first 'scan' the page, column or whatever - to get the overall gist of it and see how it would appear to the average reader. Having done that, I'll then go into the detail in a more professional sense. You were there (I wasn't) and if you feel that's an accurate and objective report of the occasion, then that's good enough for me. Thanks for letting us know. p.s. I should point out that in the first paragraph of the post you referred to, I was referring to the TCT publicity machine rather than the author of the 'Air Pilot' report. |
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
(Post 9434074)
Jetblu
Tell me what you think you can see and I'll tell you whether or not you are correct. "I'll tell you wether or not I think you are correct" Or are you the pope and thus blessed with infallibility? |
Stanwell
It is an accurate report, and commendably objective. I was very pleased that the writer included some background facts - which clearly did not come from TCT's PR team. ;) Point taken re the first para. blueandwhite No, I did not mean that. If I had I would have said so. No, not even a Roman Catholic, but I am in the unique position of knowing what is in my own mind and, accordingly, being able to say whether Jetblu's theory is correct or incorrect. I have no idea what it is and am curious. |
What puzzles me is that despite the widespread publicity regarding TCT ,and what we all must agree was a well funded PR con trick, there is the desire to indulge her especially in the higher eschelons of society.
The Cobham lecture must really have been a farce if the assembled members were happy to listen to her without question. There were certainly many I would have asked had I been there. My impression is all her so called voyages were well funded high society publicity tricks. The elite end of the flying community, who have often in the past seen these sort of headline generating trips as a passage of rite,have closed ranks now to defend her charade. Never mind moving the goal posts...if HCAP give her a Masters Medal they have moved the entire playing field. As an aside her publicity machine takes on an almost Monty Python dimension when you read this.. The Cobham Lecture - Worshipful Company of Air Pilots Tuesday 26th April 2016 The annual Cobham lecture hosted by the Worshipful Company of Air Pilots was held this year at the Royal Aeronautical Society. The speaker was Tracy Curtis-Taylor who flew her bi-plane, the Spirit of Artemis in the footsteps of Amy Johnson from England to Australia. It was a fascinating evening. Tracey had already flown the length of Africa and was about to set off for America to fly the famous mail routes. She braved everything that weather can throw at a pilot, hard landings, flip-overs and local bureaucracy as she navigated over 10,000 miles flying for hours each day often at no more than 500 feet. An incredible story illustrated by stunning images of her plane over the desert, the jungle and flying past the dramatic shape of Uluru in Australia which we grew up to call Ayers Rock. A great occasion and rounded off with a chance to meet the other guests and the speaker at a drinks reception. The above from the Worshipful Company Of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders.:ok: I could not believe we have such an anachronism in the 21st century dedicated to giving us lung cancer. The Cobham Lecture - Worshipful Company of Air Pilots | Chris Allen 2015 | Masters Blog | The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders |
The latest news from our intrepid aviator and the Spirit of Artifice.
I am thrilled to announce that the Spirit of Artemis is back in the air. 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. We are now about to depart Hungary on the return journey across Europe - a thousand miles with 3-4 fuel stops - to try and make the Farnborough Air Show, which starts on Monday July 11. It is very tight but we should be able to do it pending no mechanical issues and favourable weather. The current conditions look good across Europe but rather less so in England... Recent events have underscored the importance of having world class service and support behind what is a difficult and sometimes dangerous enterprise. This is, after all, not just a flight but a global outreach programme in parallel with which we are also making a documentary film. I would like to express my profound gratitude to my principal sponsors - GIC Re, Boeing and Artemis Investments for their loyal support and rousing encouragement at what has been a very anxious and pressured time. I would also like to thank everyone at KM Dastur (my insurance brokers), McLaren Assessors and the FAA of America for their service and consideration in looking after my aeroplane. Finally, I would like to thank TAG Aviation for welcoming us back to Farnborough. It will be quite a homecoming! The Spirit of Artemis will now be based there and I look forward to seeing all of our wonderful friends and supporters over the summer. The mind boggles:ok: |
Yep.
When I recently noticed her using that newly adopted "Global Outreach" buzz-phrase, I thought to myself .. Oh, what fun we could have with that. Anyway .. "Give 'em enough rope ..." p.s. Just a shame she's going to take other people (who should know better) down with her. . |
The writer of that piece is neither a "professional billsh1tter" nor a "promotional copy writer". He is a thoroughly decent man, an experienced and enthusiastic PPL. I don't think that TCT has merited complementary reporting, but if the reporters are reporting facts, that's fair enough. Perhaps the facts of the future will take a different direction than they did in the past for TCT. |
The involvement of Ewald Gritsch in this monumental charade has been often questioned and it would seem that everyone has missed the obvious.Could it be that good old Ewald is a besotted middle aged man who's judgement has been clouded by matters of the heart.....not an unreasonable assumption given TCT's track record.You know what they say "there is no fool like an old fool"......................
|
I'm an old fool and I resemble that remark...
|
Step Turn
Without knowing this gentleman, nor details of his writing(s), the word "enthusiastic" seems operative. In particular, given the context of this discussion: Where he seems enthusiastic about TCT and/or her claimed aviation achievements? |
She braved everything that weather can throw at a pilot, hard landings, flip-overs and local bureaucracy as she navigated over 10,000 miles flying for hours each day often at no more than 500 feet. An incredible story illustrated by stunning images of her plane over the desert, the jungle and flying past the dramatic shape of Uluru in Australia which we grew up to call Ayers Rock. In the light of the last 38 pages or so, the only word which sounded honest was the word "incredible". |
pulse1
If the words you quote had appeared in the article to which Step Turn referred, then your fear about my sense of judgment would be well founded. :) They didn't. Step Turn quoted me saying The writer of that piece is neither a "professional billsh1tter" nor a "promotional copy writer" and he went on to respond to my comments about the article. The quote is from post 739 where I was responding to comments made by Stanwell about the article in our in-house journal. See Stanwell's response in post 742. The article from which you quote which was written by a guest at the lecture, and was posted later. I have no doubt whatsoever that the author of that commentary wrote in good faith. It is an accurate summary of TCT's claims during her lecture. The author is not a pilot. |
With TCT's clear skills, magical, dogged and superior in so many areas, I think she she's an obvious candidate for our next Prime Minister !
mike hallam. |
Originally Posted by Jetblu
(Post 9434068)
Flying Lawyer
I can see what you did there. ;) ....but I don't think it will work on this one. I will see if anyone else spots the obvious :)
Originally Posted by blueandwhite
(Post 9434084)
Do you mean
"I'll tell you wether or not I think you are correct" Or are you the pope and thus blessed with infallibility?
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
(Post 9434109)
blueandwhite No, I did not mean that. If I had I would have said so. No, not even a Roman Catholic, but I am in the unique position of knowing what is in my own mind and, accordingly, being able to say whether Jetblu's theory is correct or incorrect. I have no idea what it is and am curious. I love it when people try to reply to the question or issues they wish had been raised rather than what was really said. :D JetBlu said 1) he could see what you did 2) He didn't think it would work 3) he wondered if anyone else would spot it. At no point did he ask what you were thinking. Although I have got to agree with you that you are not infallible. :) |
mikehallam
:) And, according to her website, an "Inspirational Speaker" - a desirable characteristic in a Prime Minister. |
I had typed a great response then Pprune lost the page when I tried to post it, here we go again....
I don't know what JetBlu thought JetBlu saw. I don't know who the author is, or might be better known as. Maybe, just maybe, JetBlu thinks that as Flying Lawyer describes the Author as having joined pprune 16 years ago and Flying Lawyer joined in 2000, well maybe JetBlu is joining up the dots. Flying Lawyer's third person description of the author might actually have led JetBlu to think that Flying Lawyer is indeed the author. Flying Lawyer has not said that he isn't. Sometimes, when it looks like a Duck, and sounds like a Duck, and walks like a Duck, it might actually be a Grebe. Now, I'm not saying that Flying Lawyer did write the article, I'm not saying that I think he did. I'm saying that I think that JetBlu thinks flying Lawyer wrote is and tried to get some distance from it, and lend it credibility to it by describing the author in the third person. This bit got missed off from my original re-type. In the magazine, the byline for the article is Paul Smiddy, the magazine editor. So... if my theory is correct, then JetBlu's (imagined by me) theory is wrong. |
Please quote those parts of his report where, in your opinion, the word enthusiastic seems "operative" (sic) Though a very entertaining topic to discuss and reflect upon, and an example of how one (TCT) could do very much better with truth and ethics, considering innocent people being shot in the street, none of this really matters much. It's just the comic strip in the newspaper, no matter how it works out.... |
Nah.
I somehow don't think that FL personally had anything to do with that article. He's struck me as being little more literate than that. Because of his vigorous defence of his fellow member, I can see how that question mark came up, though. Just by the way, much earlier, I'd prepared a considered and somewhat detailed analysis of that report. OK, I'm on the last couple of lines of the final paragraph and hit the enter/return key to start a new line and, poof!, the whole thing's disappeared into the ether. It's not the first time it's happened to me, and indeed and others, who've taken the time and trouble to attempt to post something worthwhile and detailed, have had the same thing happen to them. It only happens on PPRuNe. Damn frustrating .. The better part of half an hour's work down the drain. Perhaps the administrator, 'iBobi', could look into it. |
Apart from quick replies is is advisable to write a detailed item elsewhere using word pad or similar and then paste to pprune.
|
Apart from quick replies is is advisable to write a detailed item elsewhere such as wordpad and the paste. |
Flying Lawyer
"Tell me what you think you can see and I'll tell you whether or not you are correct." I am correct. In admission by your own words, which I will come onto in a minute. First, it must be said that you are a much respected, likeable, honourable and genuine gentleman with huge amounts of integrity. Myself, like you have a foot in two camps, so, it will be true to say this is a difficult one for you to balance here. For that reason, I'm not going to push too hard other than to say that, I know, that you know, that this TCT debacle regarding the HCAP Masters Medal is very very wrong and unjust. In fact, it is totally unbelievable, and I doubt would be believed if it wasn't to be seen here. No, I don't believe for one minute that you wrote that piece. I know that you would have said so if you did. I guessed that it was written by a rather enthusiastic member of HCAP [or potential member] doing 'his bit' in this embarrassing and deceitful charade. Moving on to the interesting parts.... You said.. "He has accurately, and very briefly, summarised the lecture given by TCT." You was there, I wasn't. She is entitled to say what she wants while being accurately recorded, but, and there is a big but, once we go Honourable and to publication. Some people will genuinely believe her story by the very nature of it appearing in your company magazine. 'Due diligence'? "If you had ""read the article with an open mind"", you would have noticed that he has not lauded her".. Yes, and I think a similar statement should have accompanied THAT piece, to save HCAP's integrity. "anyone attending the lecture (who didn't already know the truth) would have left thinking that she'd flown the Stearman solo to Australia - with a 'chase aircraft' following her simply to record the flight. It's called facilitating the deceit. Of course, one can argue and play the dumb card, but by the very nature of the HCAP membership, I don't believe anyone will readily admit to that. And here we are today with members outside HCAP with jaws wide open in total disbelief. You couldn't make it up. I don't take much notice when she refers to the Stearman as 'my/mine' Generally, most woman refer to what belongs to others as 'theirs' and what belongs to them as their own. :) [speaking from personal experience] It is very very clear that the deceit is now getting white-washed while the spin doctors behind the scenes are carefully playing with the words. My submission is that whilst others may believe this is now getting played down and will be forgotten, I genuinely believe that it is now more serious than ever for HCAP. She has not done anything credible at all, and has now unfortunately brought adverse attention and publicity to HCAP. |
JetBlu
Flying Lawyer I can see what you did there. ....but I don't think it will work on this one. I will see if anyone else spots the obvious What exactly did you see FL do? |
England to Australia - solo
This thread started by asking detail of solo flights from England to Oz.
Although distracted somewhat by more recent events there has not been any mention (that I have seen) of the SOLO flight conducted by Jan Schönburg in Cessna 150, G-AWAW, in 1980 in honour of 50 yrs since Amy Johnson's flight. No real backup, no gps.:ok::ok: That was a real effort, but got very little coverage outside the aviation and local press of the day. She did write a book - will have to dig it up. |
airpolice
"What exactly did you see FL do?" He 'summed up' from his position rather eloquently, in that TCT was allowed to say her piece in front of the assembled honourable members, despite the actual facts and known truths being said. We are conditioned that because TCT believes it, they believe it too, and the music plays on. The 'Global Outreach Programme' is just a new hyped-up fascicle and I would be interested on what basis THAT is recorded. |
I wonder how real the instructor rating is ? AFI CFI or ground studies ?
How many ab initio has she trained ? The cover up expands like P.U. foam filler ! |
canopener
"Could it be that good old Ewald is a besotted middle aged man who's judgement has been clouded by matters of the heart.....not an unreasonable assumption given TCT's track record" It's possible, I guess. By TCT's own admission, she implied, 'alone with Ewald's cock-pit' Innocent Freudian slip? Who knows ;) |
Jetblu's use of English continues to defeat me.
|
I would think that Ewald is doing quite nicely out of it as it is.
His company, which specialises in the acquisition, rebuilding, restoration and on-selling of Stearmans, was previously little-known outside of the vintage aviation fraternity. I would venture to say that, as a result of publicity flow-on from all this, his order book, deposit book and profile would be looking quite healthy, thank you. He went into this with his eyes wide open, don't you worry. The only mugs that are going to end up looking a bit silly out of all this are the LAA, HCAP and RAeS. Better gather round the fire, boys. Would sir care for a port? . |
flybymike
"Jetblu's use of English continues to defeat me." You have been continuously defeated, despite coming back for more. 'Cock-pit' wasn't my English. It was hers. |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 22:58. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.