I challenge any of my critics to find any background to Tracey Curtis Taylor and her pre Artemis days.

All you read everywhere originates from her PR machine.

http://www.lightaircraftassociation....tis-Taylor.pdf

Try finding out about her pre 2013 flying.

Google her on Wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Curtis-Taylor

Well I have and it appears our "Aviatrix" has been a bit economical with the truth.

When she destroyed the R44 at Goodwood last year she only had 1430 hours in her log book.Pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor bidding to emulate Amy Johnson hits a parked helicopter | Daily Mail Online

But Tracey Curtis Taylor ,the so called Bird in a Biplane, claims she was an instructor at Ardmore, Auckland New Zealand , was trained by military pilots when she joined The NZ Warbirds , and has been flying for thirty years?

However the news from NZ is different.

She left NZ around the year 2000.

Prior to that all I can find is she was initially a ground course instructor in Met at Ardmore Flying School and then became an actual flight instructor.

She only ever had a C-Cat instructor rating which had limited privileges, her instructing job was short lived as she lasted 18 months or so. So why did she not gain any hours? 1430 hours over a claimed 30 year flying career as a pilot and inspirational speaker?


I have discovered the only serious job TCT ever had in New Zealand was working for a company called "Air Logistics" in Auckland where she was a sales rep and not a pilot.

Her hours over the years suggest very little flying as per the accident report last year. https://assets.publishing.service.go...6200_12-15.pdf

Her South Africa to UK and UK to Australia publicity events suggested solo flights while the reality is in my opinion she has never done a long cross country flight alone.

Since the rebuilt Spirit of Artemis returned to Farnborough it has remained on the ground while TCT has driven to PR events.

Why would an 'aviatrix' with spirit and adventure want to drive when they can fly.

Could it be Ewald is not available?

The honorary doctorate from Portsmouth might be interesting for the polytechnic to justify when facts are checked as a Freedom of Information application is underway.

One credit I will give her is not many pilots get Prince Michael (cousin of the UK Queen Elizabeth) to turn up at so many of their pre flights.

Even fewer get to dine with him:ok:

Put this in to your google browser..prince michael tracey curtis taylor :D

Different days and suits...does he know this woman?

This first picture looks a bit close proximity to royalty you have just met;)

http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galler..._with_pm_2.jpg
http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galler...wo_princes.jpg

I thought the same as Billie Bob. To me it looks like the award is still there.

In the article posted by Jay Sata (#1077) there is a link to a pdf document. TCT is still listed on there to receive the a Master's Medal. https://www.airpilots.org/file/2365/...nners-2016.pdf

Is that an old link? The main release is dated 12 Aug.

https://www.airpilots.org/press-page...-16-announced/

Isn't that a great phrase?
"In due course".
We breathlessly await the outcome of the deliberations of so many wise men.

Honorary doctorates are worth precisely nothing - they are a mechanism for universities to have someone who looks glamorous sitting in graduation ceremonies. Frankly, I would just ignore it - Pompey Poly is a very minor institution in any case.

Universities award people who matter other things. I sat in on the ceremonies where Boris Johnson got an honorary doctorate, and from GA Dr. Tony Segal got an honorary fellowship - at the same university. There was no doubt that the former was pure show, and the latter pure substance.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sou...WKR6v6W-cAdyTw

G

From that the heading of the list where she's mentioned with Tim Peake:

"For Outstanding Courage or Devotion to Duty in the Air"

Brilliant!


It does appear we were optimistic about the HCAP's ability to admit a mistake. Ah well...

The whole TCT saga has been quite fascinating. All it has endorsed for me is that 'fraud, deceit and corruption' is still live and kicking in certain circles, yet described and applauded in a way to insult a normal persons intelligence.

There's a saying.."You can't beat the system"


Whilst I think it is right to strive to put a wrong back to right, here, I think will be just be banging our heads against a wall.

Can people not see that the slogan "GREAT Britain", plastered on the side of the Spirit of Artifice, is worthy of a Monty Python skit.
That sponsorship goes back to a now-disgraced former Minister of the Crown.
The same as I imagine Her Maj is doing, there are many of the loyal subjects out here in the Colonies, sitting by the window, slowly shaking our heads.
.

A few posts back I questioned her links with Portsmouth.

I missed this.

So that explains her " strong connection" with Portsmouth.

It will be interesting to see how she arranges all these awards to fit her double barrelled name.

No mention of an ex spouse on her wiki bio despite using his surname.

Perhaps I should add it?

There is also the misleading statement "undertakes global flights in vintage aircraft."

Some sound advice from respected UK aviator Bob Crowe on her Facebook comments.

https://www.facebook.com/birdinabiplane

As if the creative use of language by her is not enough it is topped by the stupid gullibility of those supporting, encouraging and rewarding her. It is hard to believe this whole story as it is just too weird to be true.

Surely there are people in the UK that aren't blinded by the bluff and bulldust and can see through this farce. As clever as the Monty Python people are, I doubt even they could imagine anything as wayout as the Spirit of Artifice and its novel activities.

CC

Actually, from her own quote:

Doctorate, not degree
Royal Naval Reserve, not Royal Navy

But, again, who's counting...

maybe more precise to word it - 'nobody else on board the aircraft - period.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

hear the objection from the ghost of Graham Chapman , immaculately dressed army officer with swagger stick . .. . "Too silly. . .. too silly for words.."

Curious that on a pilot forum there can be any confusion about the definition of 'solo'.

It's really simple: Alone in the aircraft.

That's it, no more complicated than that.

I must admit TCT and her flying is a surreal saga.

It reminds me of the hype when Lady Sarah Ferguson claimed to have learnt to fly.
There are no pictures anywhere of her ever flying alone although she did a solo press call at RAF Benson. After she was given a ppl she never flew again.

I was told at the time by someone at Benson there was never any plan for her to actually use the licence.

Here she is describing her flying with former CNN chat show host Larry King.

CNN.com - Transcripts

The whole transcript is worth reading if you have the time. Lady Sarah seems to be on another planet.

Eh? A doctorate is a degree.

Sorry, yes - but it would be nice for her to actually call it by the same name as the University that gave it to her.

Similar to when she describes herself as Cdr when in fact she is a Lt.Cdr.

But yes, she's not incorrect in calling it a degree.

To digress slightly, dunno about other places, but at Cambridge the honorary MA can be regarded as higher status than the honorary doctorate ('cos it's give to fewer people and for more specific reasons), which is the other way around from the earned versions of those degrees. But as they're far more common one would assume that someone claiming to have an "honorary degree" had an honorary doctorate not an MA.


Here's an "only-in-Cambridge" honorary degree story, if you haven't seen it before:


Road sweeper to receive Cambridge University honorary degree - Telegraph


(I went to Allan's ceremony, so he had at least one familiar face in the Senate House.)

Thanks - I wasn't aware of the differences (or similarities).

Or that, apparently, it doesn't matter if she (or anyone) call it doctorate or degree - in the same way as airplane or aeroplane I guess?

Harsh Words.
 

Oh dear. I've not read every post on here, but I'm rather saddened at the tenor of much of the comment. I'm not commenting to specifically defend the lady in question, but I would like to make a few general points to put the often quite rude and cynical comments here into some sort of factual perspective.
Firstly, even in the real pioneering days before the war, not everyone had access to unlimited personal wealth to fund their little adventures. Sponsorship was commonplace, and yes, even then, sponsors wanted - quite reasonably - their 'Pound Of Flesh'. Often, pilots would set-out already in debt. Success, fame of some sort, was required to stimulate interest for newsreels, radio, lectures, articles and books, as well as paid talks and personal-appearances etc. Sound familiar...????? You bet.
People also often forget just how meteoric progress was after the Great War. All the serious pioneering flights really took place in the 1920's. As we move into the 1930's, flights are made, more typically, for self aggrandisement. That is not a criticism - merely a fact. Many - some may say most, of the 'epic' flights made during the 1930's didn't prove anything, other than the skill or boldness/recklessness of the crews. The five years or so between 1934 and 1939 were a complete game-changer. By the start of the war, aircraft were being built in Canada and then the US - and ferried to the ETO. Firstly by experienced Ferry Command Crews, then by kids who had very few hours. Ironically, some of those 1930's pilots who had gained so much fame/publicity, were involved, at first, with this ferrying, and almost forgotten. Some, like Scott and Mollison and Johnson to die, miserably in obscurity during and after the war. Their recent exploits of taking weeks to fly somewhere in canvas biplanes eclipsed by the routine of flying the Atlantic in large metal a/c with RNAV, in a few hours, by kids hardly out of school who were probably virgins without even a Driving Licence.
The point here is that technology had already far surpassed the a/c the 1930's 'Pioneers' were using, even by the outbreak of the war in 1939. Not all, but generally.
Imperial Airways were already serving the Commonwealth, and in the US, a very efficient and technically advanced network of aircraft, airlines and mail routes were well-established (Read E.K Gann for the full SP.). That is not in any way to diminish the flights of the 1930's lone fliers - it's just a basic fact commonly overlooked, that even back in the 1930's, many of these flights were not 'proving' anything. They were seeking self-agrandisement. Nor was sponsorship absent.
When the war ended in 1945, aviation was totally and utterly transformed from only ten years before. Gone were the canvas biplanes. We had pressurised a/c, jet-engines, RNAV, networks of paved airfields. The days of the lone pioneers in ordinary light aircraft 'proving' anything were over. Utterly.
Fast forward to today. Eighty years or so later, that we can exceed the performances of the pre-war jockeys is a given. In strict terms, there is nothing left to prove. All the flying is easier, GPS alone has ensured that. Time has moved-on. The 1920's and '30's has long gone - and even the pilots themselves, but at least we can read their accounts and marvel at the exploits of that earlier age.
So what of today. Do we belittle individuals because they didn't carry out a flight in accordance with how it was in 1921 or 1934...? We should not - it's 2016 FFS. Why take risks that today we would regard as stupid and reckless. One known sick engine, no radios, no dinghy, no life-jackets over the Shark-infested Sea of Timor...? But hey, in 1934, Scotty was wearing his 'Plus Fours' - and a flat-cap...!
One sometimes sees suggestions that perhaps modern facilities should be eschewed to make a flight more 'authentic/real/valid' etc. This argument disappears up it's own trouser leg. Where does one draw the line.....? Are we trying to belittle the achievements of the past..?
I think we should accept the achievements of the past. They stand. They proved their points in the context of the time. What does it prove to emulate them today, using the same methodology? Nothing whatsoever - the point was long made. Would one be trying to prove oneself 'better' than the original actors...? That would be pretty egotistical and pathetic to be sure.
If on the other hand, people just want to go out and have an adventure, fine - please don't knock them by churlish comparisons. Equally, don't be too harsh on those having to please sponsors. (Remember, even the great CWA Scott was to be seen 'modelling' the clothes of his sponsors - and looking very awkward too....!).
Those who fly know the score. They know just how different were the circumstances eighty years ago - and that is enough. That folks today should still wish to makes epic flights in light aircraft, we should celebrate, not denigrate them because they didn't conform to some fetishistic, anoraky standard of emulation.
As I said at the outset, I'm really speaking in general terms here, not specifically about this Ms.Taylors flight. (I also suspect that some of the derogatory comments made in this thread were not even made by pilots.).
Lastly, as a couple of others have pointed-out, there are many bold flights made today - and yet they receive nary a mention. Several people flew to Oshkosh from the UK this year, one solo in an RV, from Sleap I think (Well-done that man...!). The real achievement today, is that such flights should be so much safer - and hardly require comment... :)

GQ2

Upon your own admittance to having not read the thread, you really should.

This is not about TCT's flying in the 21st Century. We have no evidence here of her own flying. [other than two reports of her trashing two perfectly serviceable machines through negligence] The only evidence we have here is that two [2] pilots were in the cockpit 99.5% of the time. One [1] pilot being the owner, allegedly with excess of 20,000 hours.

Whilst you donate many paragraphs from the thirties on wards. Much happened in that same era which is also still quite common today.

Misrepresentation Act 1967.

Thanks for that picture Above the Clouds. One I have missed.

If you zoom in on "passenger " Ewald you can see his ipad resting on the coming.

Glad this Thread has been given a new lease of life - apart from the wrongs and the rights of the affair, it is always worth a look-in to see what's going to happen next !

D.

GQ2, if you had bothered to read the thread, you would have realised that the problem is not what TCT did, but what she claimed to have done (and didn't actually do).

At least they didn't lie about it.

Self-aggrandisement built on real achievement is one thing, self-aggrandisement based on lies and deceit is tantamount to fraud.

FBW

As this is such a long thread it is worth pointing out to new readers the reason for the discussion.

Sometime around 2013 UK private pilot Tracey Curtis Taylor emerged in the national and international press with the lovingly restored Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis under the tag Bird in a Biplane.

This aircraft,N56200, and Tracey were sold to the media as a female pilot flying solo across Africa and later the UK to Sydney with an old aircraft and basic flying controls. The storyline was paying homage to old female aviators but the real reason was sponsorship advertising Artemis Investments and making reality a tv programme.

The media fell for the story hook line and sinker. It is rare for one newspaper to make a mistake in headlines but the world press and TV were united in describing the flights.

The one word that stood out in all coverage was SOLO.

Of course the truth was somewhat different. Our 'Bird in a Biplane was not a solo pilot but flying all these "adventures" with a man up front who also happened to be an airline pilot and instructor. He also had rebuilt and owns the aircraft.

However she boasted of "seat of the pants flying with basic stick and rudder" despite having full state of the art navigation aids.

I suspect all involved knew the risk they would be exposed but guessed it would not make headlines as the public have short term memories. Papers and TV are very reluctant to admit they may have misreported.

Which is where we are now.

This Pprune thread has gone back over the history and press coverage of her so called "flying adventures" to reveal the truth.

Indeed the way it is developing it has all the ingredients of a Hollywood movie.

Throw in a a few UK Royals who pop out now and again to do press promotion and a short chequered flying instructor job that lasted 18 months in Auckland New Zealand and you have the basic plot.

Tracey claims in press,tv and radio interviews that she is trying to break down barriers to women in aviation. Her mission she suggests is to overcome the obstacles that women face. However she never mentions Ewald Gritsch,the airline pilot in the front seat on all her publicity seeking flights. He is quite camera shy but seen here on arrival in Sydney.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b...2bb21ecdd59eb4


During her days at Ardmore,New Zealand, and her wiki claims(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Curtis-Taylor) of being a member of the NZ Warbirds she must have met Liz Needham?

Liz is New Zealand's most experienced woman pilot. She first went solo on St Valentine’s day in 1974.

She might be one of the most successful and accomplished women pilots in NZ but Liz does not have a wiki page. So I think she deserves some publicity here.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/i...4355904514.jpg

From her aero club beginnings,just as Tracey had, Liz Needham worked hard and she built up one of New Zealand's premier aviation training establishments.
Warbird Adventure Rides


She has continued to where she is currently a Boeing 767 Captain for Air New Zealand.


In her spare time she has become a huge influence within the general aviation and NZ Warbird scenes, logged over 25,000 hours of flying, a lot of it using her A category instructors rating. This rating is awarded to the top instructors in New Zealand, and Liz was the first female pilot to achieve this.

Compare that to Tracey Curtis Taylor who in the 30 years flying experinece claimed has in my calculations about 1600 hours in her log book with just a basic NZ C licence.

The question is does Liz Needham remember our Bird in a Biplane and her NZ Warbirds flying?

Liz has has for many yesrs flown her own Harvard in the Roaring Forties aerobatic display team as well as displaying her P40 Kitty-hawk. I understand Tracey was undertaking similar flying in her Harvard at Ardmore towards the end of the 1990's so they must have flown in formation?

I await news from Auckland NZ :ok:

Thanks for your input to this discussion, GQ2.
An interesting post, even if 80% of it was stating the 'bleeding obvious'.

It was also noted that you suspected that a number of contributors to this thread are 'not even pilots'.
Well .. please be careful.

Here's hoping to hear more of your thoughts on this most interesting subject.

The female pilots in the family reckon they've never faced any particular barriers vis a vis males. One thing they do agree on, is that TCT has put the female equality issue, where it does or might exist, back a few centuries. By that they mean, getting there by the very fact that she is a woman, using female charm and wiles to fleece well meaning individuals, and dumping them once a particular aim has been achieved. Her number of partners came in for mention in this context, sorry Sam, no offence is /was intended to your good self.

GQ2, no one in my mind is objecting to the fact that TCT is making the flight, or her use of modern aids in order to make the flight, or making a film to promote aviation, or advancing the female cause. What they are objecting to is the blatant lying of the manner in which the flight is being made ie solo, circumnavigation, etc etc

Many thanks for your post GQ2.

I am certainly not knocking anyone for going out and having an adventure,sponsored or otherwise.

However the TCT story was sold to the press as a solo event.

There would have been no interest or publicity had they known there were two pilots on board.

Despite the Daily Mail story some weeks ago TCT and her sponsors refuse to admit the truth but instead continue to peddle this yarn of her solo efforts promoting women in aviation.

If we go back three years, before Tracey started her promotional flights, the newspapers were carrying stories of British Airways trying to recruit more female pilots.

Looking at these old figures from 2013 the people of India do not need to see a couple of wealthy people standing in front of a highly sponsored biplane to encourage more women pilots.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/45253438.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/45253922.cms

source Indian women pilots soar past global average - Times of India

I have not seen this posted here but some things seem to have gone missing.
HCAP list of award winners. TCT is there.
https://www.airpilots.org/file/2365/...nners-2016.pdf
A feeling of utter disgust is the best way to describe this absolute travesty. Why? Why? Why? What is it HCAP is afraid of? Do they not realise how dishonourable they have now become and the damage to their integrity.

As for sexism in aviation. I experienced just a small amount which I ignored and it went away. This sexism business has been exaggerated out of all proportion and, just to even things up a bit, women can be very resentful of other women doing things such as flying, driving a lorry etc. I can honestly say that the vast majority of males I have flown with have been great - no problems. TCT is doing women no favours at all. This is all such utter nonsense and I am still stunned that it has got this far despite all the efforts to enlighten people.

You have to get the whole picture to understand the truth on this story Lind1795.

Try google Tracey Curtis Taylor Prince Michael. Then click on pictures.

UK Royals are not usually so approachable or supportive.

Very few allow close contact in pictures.
http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galler..._with_pm_2.jpg

The average punter would never get a selfie like that.

HRH Prince Michael is a liveryman of the HCAP but also connected via pictures and his interests to TCT.
I have it on good authority Prince Michael has dined with TCT and Ewald following HCAP meetings.

If I am wrong I would ask either Tracey Curtis Taylor or Prince Michaels office to correct me.

Tim Peake could have orbited the moon three times and the 'Honourable'? Company of Air Pilots would have still given TCT her equal Masters Medal.

Tracey Curtis Taylor is listed on Wiki as However I estimate a maximum of 1700 hours in the last claimed 30 years of flying,she has no visible means of support, so what business is she in?

Please understand this thread is about a public figure as cited here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Curtis-Taylor

In laymans terms the HCAP are between a rock and a hard place. They are not stupid people but can not
deny Tracey getting her Masters Medal.


How many ordinary people get to do this?


http://www.birdinabiplane.com/images/jan15.jpg

The picture above was Prince Michael of Kent taking Tracey Curtis Taylor on an army jaunt from Battersea Heliport in London. This picture dates from January 2015 so before her so called expedition to Australia.

This quote from her site..source Tracey Curtis Taylor - Aviatrix, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker
The Army Lynx and crew cost big money to collect TCT and Prince Michael to position to Middle Wallop and return. The question is why was TCT with Prince Michael on a visit to the museum when she had only just done a minor dual flight from Cape Town to Goodwood?

And of course the bigger picture is how will the so called 'Hourable' Company of Air Pilots justify their awards and emerge from this?

Tracey Curtis Taylor lists her occupation on wiki as pilot and flying instructor.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracey_Curtis-Taylor

However she only has a UK ppl despite claims of being a display pilot. Even given minor remuneration for such displays it appears has lived in the UK for the last sixteen years working as a pilot?

I await news of her commercial flying and instructing in the UK since she left New Zealand.

She worked in a minor role at Ardmore under a pretty senior female pilot who I have agreed not to mention. (But I have mentioned so please ignore:ok:)

There are large blanks in her cv until three years ago?

Yet the LAA and HCAP are suddenly feting here.

How many ordinary pilots can get a letter deliverd from the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, GCB, DSC, ADC, DL, FRAe. by his minions.http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galler...hn_goodman.jpg

I'd probably leave that one alone JS, that's his own business and nothing to do with her embellishing the flights. If I recall correctly one the web postings or interviews said her profession was a diamond/jewellery appraiser or a waitress.

Well this is a rumour network and this is an interesting story.

I would not want to question anyones private life but the HCAP are giving Tracey Curtis Taylor the same Masters Medal as Time Peake ,who orbited earth for six months, so we are entitled to know what skills and experience she has.

There is so much of this story floating around now so despite her media operation trying to close it down I suspect the red top tabloids will be on board very soon.

My interest is solely regarding her flying.

All the evidence is out there to suggest she has never achieved the solo flying she claims in her print and media interviews. In a word DUAL or P2.

If she wants to dispute my argument regarding her ability as an aviatrix then I challenge her to fly me from Farnborough to Luxembourg via Le Bourget in the Spirit of Artifice. Wine and lunch on me.

I am sure I can find a newpaper to pick up the tab.( Most probably the Daily Mail )

Map and compass:ok:

I await your answer Tracey:ok:

So, I guess the big question would be...
Just who is, ultimately, really benefitting from all this?

From my observations, our 'supergirl in a gro-bag' is very shortly going to reach her 'use-by' date - and then, she'll be dropped like the proverbial hot potato.
We'll then find one quite resentful lady who's very likely to scream blue murder.
Some people are not very bright.

Good question Stanwell.

I suspect you are correct.

I can only quote from my experience of interviewing Sheila Scott when working for the BBC in 1988.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640x360/p01hg1rv.jpg

Sadly by then her exploits and adventures were long forgotten.

Her ' mentor' and sponsor was food mixer manufacturer Ken Wood.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKRzECWgAEvaYk.jpg


She died, shortly after my radio interview ,from lung cancer in a basement flat in Cambridge St London.

I understood at the time various flying charities were supporting her.

She was a cigarette smoker.

This is worth reading

Solo Flights around the World

Here is the answer from Portsmouth University.

" Portsmouth University"
a.k.a.
"Pompey Poly" not so very long ago ( before it seemingly developed assumptions above its station).

Thanks for that laugh, JS.
What impressively flexible policies, directorship and staff that institution has.

It certainly is a good story which is why am so interested.

The Daily Mail have been on it for some time.

So what was in it for Tracey,our low houred UK ppl?

Well the Africa trip was well funded as the story above illustrates.

So the total funding for the dual flight with Ewald from Cape Town to Franborough was around £600,000.

That is serious loot and not the sort of cash that is thrown around.

I love this quote from Tracey Curtis Taylor....
Playing the male establishment is ironic.

Sadly Lady Mary Heath did not have Prince Michael of Kent turning up at every photo opportunity.
http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galler..._with_pm_2.jpg

We all know what happened to Icarus.

These days the UK tabloid Sun is the big danger for high flyers:ok:'

I have it on good authority that no one at Honorable Company of Air Pilots will challenge Tracey Curtis Taylors Masters medal.

Rumour is words from above.

I would be a bit more supportive of Prince Michael of Kent,holder of a private pilots licence for fixed wing and helicopters, if I could find some pictures of him flying solo.

I guess in the upper echelons of society the servants up front do that:ok:

Hence Ewald not getting a mention anywhere on the awards game.

As a liveryman of HCAP and patron of the Light Aicraft Association Prince Mike does not appear to do much real flying:D

However if I am being unfair perhaps someone can post some pictures of him airborne SOLO and not being the "sole" pilot with the chauffeur in the front seat.

My posts are always supported by facts.

So here is a picture of some well connected members of the HCAP.Third from the left is Tracey Curtis Taylor and to her left is the UK Queens cousin Prince Michael. A very informal picture I am sure you will agree :ok:

Will he veto her undeserved award I want to know:D
http://www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/w...8/BH5486-1.jpg

There is a member of the flyer forum who has posted he is a member of H(sic) CAP and that he disagrees with the award and has even registered his disagreement with his superiors.

So they are not ALL sycophants. There is one who isn't. Just one mind ;-)

There is an old saying in newspapers that a picture speaks a thousand words.

So the support for TCT and her so called flying adventures is out there if you add her name to Prince Michael in a Google search.

At the very top of British society they say never explain and never complain.

In my opinion the links between Prince Michael,the Royal Navy,Light Aircraft Association,HCAP,Brooklands,etc and Tracey Curtis Taylor suggest the minor royals are supportive of her so called 'flying adventures'.

How the members of these organisations can look each other in the face and honestly make awards beats me.

Pictures such as the one below ,with TCT alongside the Queens grand daughter Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall ,suggest big sponsors and connections

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...98_634x446.jpg

Here is Zara again with an Artemis boat at Cowes week. Wearing an Artemis jacket!

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/...re-id453291034

Artemis have never commented on the whole TCT flying saga.

And despite all the allegations here on Prune neither has Tracey.

In fact I am told that a number of HCAP 'members' have raised the issue. I have 'had words' and also tried to get a response from Artemis. All has fallen on deaf ears. The refusal of Artemis to engage, if only to tell me to 'go away', gives off a nasty odour. The HCAP is of course a semi private organisation, but Artemis is a publicly listed company that has responsibility for looking after the money of others and abiding by strict financial regulations...........