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-   -   Tracey Curtis-Taylor (Merged threads) (https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/579030-tracey-curtis-taylor-merged-threads.html)

paperHanger 11th Sep 2016 15:58

Well done
 
Well done sir! Not everyone has to bottle to stand up for what they believe is right.

What irks me most is the lack of integrity in the way she has presented herself, quite the opposite of what we we have come to expect from the community of pilots.

sophi 11th Sep 2016 16:10

I am an LAA member but I will not be able to make the AGM. Is one permitted to vote when such a motion is put forward, or perhaps I should write an email to them, or even one for G-KEST to hand in??

clareprop 11th Sep 2016 16:47

Excerpt du Jour - 2
 
The Australian Civil Aviation Authorities magazine - January this year...

Probably seen on the thread before but this article seems to suggest they were told it was a 'solo' not 'sole' flight. Strange that after the South African 'misunderstanding', it still hasn't been clarified for them.

Stearman solo success | Flight Safety Australia

However, I think the first line of this release is pretty much the nail in the coffin of deceit...

http://www.boeing.com/resources/boei...essRelease.pdf

But to go back a bit further...

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/Boeing-S...intage-Biplane

Must be stopped now.

Mike Flynn 11th Sep 2016 18:16

Boeing are complicit in this.

Take a look at this sponsored video report from Boeing posted by Trace Dominguez who is a freelance also working for the Discovery Channel who I understand are going to air some Aviatrix programme later this year.

One Pilot Explains Our Deep Desire To Fly - Video


ADVENTURE Aug 21, 2016 02:00 AM ET
One Pilot Explains Our Deep Desire To Fly


In order to respect the power and ingenuity of modern day aircraft, you have to look to the past.
When female pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor landed in Sydney, Australia after a 14,600-mile journey flying solo from the U.K. in a vintage open-cockpit biplane earlier this year, the first thing she said was "I need a drink!"

And who could blame her? The treacherous journey was far from easy. It took about three months in total and Curtis-Taylor encountered countless obstacles along the way. Not only did she fly through thick fog in Romania and dust storms in Saudi Arabia, but at one point she found herself surrounded by birds of prey over Pakistan. Eagles, buzzards and vultures swarmed around her. She knew that if one got into the engine it would prove fatal for both her and the bird.

Luckily Curtis-Taylor survived and made it to her destination safely. Her bravery is truly astounding. Trace Dominguez got a chance to catch up with her at this year's Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, England where she told him all about her vintage plane, a Boeing-Stearman named Spirit of Artemis.

A plane like this is "probably the best flying adventure in the world," Curtis-Taylor told Trace. She explained that they're almost like art more than they are machine -- an art that should be preserved because it's starting to die out.

Curtis-Taylor said she often encounters aviation students that don't know how to fly planes like these and she thinks it's quite a shame. "I think this generation needs to be reminded ya know, that civil aviation was based really on people like me getting into wooden-fabric airplanes," she told Trace.

That's the important thing to remember: aviation as we know it today wouldn't have been possible without people like Tracy Curtis-Taylor, her piloting skills, her passion, and her incredible bravery
As the late Fleet Street newspaper editor Sir John Junor would have said "pass the sick bag Alice":ok:

strake 11th Sep 2016 18:27


"I think this generation needs to be reminded ya know, that civil aviation was based really on people like me getting into wooden-fabric airplanes,"..... That's the important thing to remember: aviation as we know it today wouldn't have been possible without people like Tracy Curtis-Taylor, her piloting skills, her passion, and her incredible bravery
Words actually fail me...

Mike Flynn 11th Sep 2016 18:43

The killer in that press release is the address.


News Release
Boeing Corporate Offices
100 N. Riverside Chicago,
IL 60606
Boeing: The Boeing Company
Over on the LAA forum Ian Melville joked about Stearmangate.

Now that there is a direct link,to Boeing, he might be nearer to the truth than he thinks.

The company have a corporate responsibility to tell the truth and not deceive the public.

They also have an image to uphold.

Maybe a phone call to the Washington Post is not such a bad idea:ok:

Wageslave 12th Sep 2016 00:20


based really on people, people like me, getting into wood and fabric airplanes,"
Er, Stearman, wasn't it, before it got trashed?

So in the interest of accuracy let's agree it's made of steel and fabric.

But do go on, and on - Tracey...

Stanwell 12th Sep 2016 02:07

To be fair, Wageslave...
At least the wings are of wood and rag construction.
Aside from that, it's the same ol' BS...
A fantasy world combined with breathtaking arrogance - everybody, except pretty little me, is stupid.

.

Sam Rutherford 12th Sep 2016 08:55

@Jonzarno

Late reply, on the Cape Town to Goodwood trip we were:

1 'Sole' pilot, Tracey
1 'Engineer', Ewald
1 Pilot of C208 support plane
1 Logistics, me
1 Director
1 Sound
1 Camera
1 Second camera/gopro/comms

So, eight in total, of which four were pilots.

maxred 12th Sep 2016 09:03


So, eight in total, of which four were pilots.
But Sam everything I read is about a solo pilot....:ooh:

So Bird in A Biplane was actually, 8 folk on a road trip???? Give that Aviatrix another award please.

B Fraser 12th Sep 2016 09:35

Sam,


Who did the flight planning, met checks, notams, decision making etc. ? I presume that with two aircraft in loose formation, it only needed to be done once and was shared between both teams.

piperboy84 12th Sep 2016 09:56

Sam, I got a question (and this is in no way a dig at you) but putting myself in your position sitting in the back of the Caravan day after day, hour after hour that's flying along doing S turns or holding just above the stall speed to stay behind the Stearman that's got a 20,000 hour ATPL, A&P keeping a close eye on things, at a certain point I think I would have said to myself "what is the point of all this sh*t, what are we achieving apart from burning thru a pile of money and avgas?" I understand it is what you do for a living but your other projects do look like real adventures and not a babysitting exercise as this one appears to be. Weren't your bored shitless?

Stanwell 12th Sep 2016 10:13

Well...
Having to deal with TCT, he would have more than earned his money on that alone, I suspect.

"What could be more important than getting my luggage to the hotel?!"
An all-time classic.
.

Mike Flynn 12th Sep 2016 11:03

It would never have got this far had it not been for Pprune.

Many thanks to the mods on this site for sticking with it when others turned a blind eye.

Here she is over herds of wildebeest in Africa.Sole pilot as you can see:ok:

https://s10.postimg.org/gbuz3tdm1/image.jpg

Jonzarno 12th Sep 2016 11:47


Here she is over herds of wildebeest in Africa.Sole pilot as you can see
Are you sure that the HCAP medal wasn't actually awarded because she flew so low? ;)

Sam Rutherford 12th Sep 2016 15:39

A couple of answers:

Whilst I had done all the flight planning for the entire route before departure, Ewald and the pilot of the C208 did most of the day to day enroute planning with my input at times. Tracey was generally given the final result (or not, as Ewald knew it of course) - but was very rarely involved any planning. In her defence, she was usually very busy with the film crew and it would not have made sense (for the film) for her to be checking notams etc. I filed all the flight plans and GenDecs (Stearman POB:2) and paid all the charges etc. for both aircraft.

I wasn't bored! As well as the aviation side (including the AVGAS along the route) I was also dealing with film permits and paperwork, visas, ground transportation, hotels and restaurant bookings and managing the entire (also very large amounts of cash) budget (converting money to receipts!).

Mike Flynn 12th Sep 2016 19:24

TCT/ Nylon Films and the BBC
 
Can I open up a new line of enquiry Sam.

Nylon Films must have sold the Aviatrix to the BBC before you all left Cape Town.

Did Nylon Films contact the BBC to alert them to the fact that it was no longer a solo voyage by TCT or was the video sold post production?

Who funded Nylon Films?

Was the low flying she claims part of your flight planning each day?

Was there a pre flight briefing from the film crew as to what they wanted from each flight?

Was Ewald briefed on how the above would be achieved and filmed?

Did no one ever question it was no longer a solo flight?

Mike Flynn 12th Sep 2016 20:14

:ok:Good post airpolice and of course you have the answer to why she never flys alone outside a local comfort zone.

There was an ideal opportunity recently for a flight from Farnborough to Lee On Solent to collect her honourary doctorate from Portsmouth Poly. Then up to Brough or Humberside for her Amy Johnson lecture.

However she drove instead despite some of the best VFR this summer.

"Too late to scramble" she claimed in her unique quirky 'Aviatrix' style.


I had hoped to bring the #SpiritofArtemis up to Yorkshire for the Amy Johnson Festival 2016 but not enough time to scramble after a late finish in Portsmouth the day before. Yesterday I arrived at Amy's old school for the unveiling of a plaque by the Lord Mayor of Hull and Judy Chilvers, Amy's wonderful niece, who looks so much like her.
I then gave a talk last night at The University of Hull - lots of ladies in attendance which was great to see - and hope that I conveyed something of how important Amy's flight in 1930 still is today. She is a fantastic role model for this generation and it has been deeply satisfying to take her story around the world in the Spirit of Artemis.
https://www.facebook.com/birdinabiplane

Of course that flying might have involved a bit of navigation and I don't think Tracey is up to that.

Meanwhile here are a few pictures to illustrate her claims of flying over Israel,Jordan and the Dead Sea with a 'military escort'.

Transpires it was a private registeted Israeli registered Stearman :ok:
Planepictures.net search: Registration: 4X-AAY

Who could that possibly be in the front seat of the Spirit of Artifice?
https://s22.postimg.org/eyqzs0nhd/image.jpg



Surely not our elusive airline pilot Ewald Gritsch? Zoom in and you will see Ewald is flying and Tracey is sightseeing
https://s12.postimg.org/8hq1px2zx/image.jpg
Over the Dead Sea. Total width around 15 kilometres. Less than than Cardiff to Minehead!
https://s22.postimg.org/dkzcwpo81/image.jpg

Mike Flynn 12th Sep 2016 21:11

And a reminder from Tracey to LAA members to focus on old aircraft.


I think this generation needs to be reminded ya know, that civil aviation was based really on people like me getting into wooden-fabric airplanes,"..... That's the important thing to remember: aviation as we know it today wouldn't have been possible without people like Tracy Curtis-Taylor, her piloting skills, her passion, and her incredible bravery

Stanwell 12th Sep 2016 21:16

Ahem...
"Incredible" (adj; So implausible as to elicit disbelief) would be the operative word there, would it not?


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