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Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:00 pm
by Ben K
To broaden the discussion it has always been the case that these sort of expeditions are only recognised if highly funded. Amy Johnson was no mill girl and the Lindberghs were wealthy.
Cherokee and Cub drivers mix in the wrong circles.
Previous Award Winners:
2012 David "Wheely Dave" Sykes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14508994IIRC Dave Syke's expedition wasn't highly funded.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:59 pm
by jerry_atrick
G-BLEW wrote:I think your comments would be better addressed to The HCAP.
<snip>
I have a view on the subject, but I'm afraid that whenever I see threads like this appear I just roll my eyes and see people grinding away at axes.
<snip>
Ian
This thread (and most comments) are not about Tracy Curtis' getting funding or claiming a solo flight when it was not. They are based on a supposedly reputable aviation organisation giving an accolade for a feat of aviation that does not appear to have been performed and it sullying its reputation in the process. It's a different axe being ground. Or did I miss something?
Old Pilot wrote:To broaden the discussion it has always been the case that these sort of expeditions are only recognised if highly funded. Amy Johnson was no mill girl and the Lindberghs were wealthy.
Cherokee and Cub drivers mix in the wrong circles.
Sure - but did Amy Johnson et al claim they were doing something they weren't? (in other words, I don't think the level of funding or on-ground support has been part of the grinding axe - at least in this thread)...
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:20 pm
by Chris Martyr
" On behalf of all our sponsors , Ewald and I would like to humbly accept this most prestigious of awards. "
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:34 pm
by Sam Rutherford
Steve Slater (LAA) was kind enough to reply to my question, and his answer is more closely aligned to:
1. She should receive all the accolades for helping the image of GA in general, and female aviators in particular – and the fact that the story is different from the truth is a detail that can be put aside for the greater good.
...than option 2. His opinion can be defended, and indeed is shared by many, but it is not mine.
Safe flights, solo or not!
Sam.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:45 pm
by TrailStar
and the fact that the story is different from the truth is a detail that can be put aside for the greater good.
Remind me not to buy a used aeroplane of this bloke.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:54 pm
by GAISA
Sam
I contacted you personally by e-mail as I do not believe it appropriate to bang on about things like this on public forums.
However since you have ignored my words to you and seem intent on putting words in my mouth, I will allow the rest of the forumites to read what I wrote to you.
First mail:
As I wrote in my Pilot column, whether dual or solo, the fact that Tracey and her team secured the funding, then delivered on her promised targets should be applauded. Like you though, I have reservations as to whether the Air Pilots are right in awarding her such an accolade for a ‘Feat of Navigation’. Perhaps it should have better been awarded elsewhere. However, although I am a Liveryman of the Company, the Air Pilots Awards committee is one of the few committees I have successfully managed to avoid being asked to attend since taking over at the LAA, so I guess it is their decision and up to them to justify it!
Like you, the purist in me certainly hopes that Amanda Harrison will prevail and that, when she does I’ll be the first to shout it from the roof tops. It is interesting that your comments on Tracey have been matched by a number of more positive comments, not least from other female pilots including the chair of the BWPA. Their feeling is that whatever the ‘spin’ created by Tracey and the PR team, her efforts are good news in helping more people, particularly women, realise that they too can get involved in aviation. That I am sure you’ll agree is no bad thing for all of us.
Second mail:
I think my previous responses on this are more than enough, and don’t intend to comment further. I must however disagree that my comments align with your words, that “She should receive all the accolades for helping the image of GA in general, and female aviators in particular – and the fact that the story is different from the truth is a detail that can be put aside for the greater good.” That is not my opinion and nor is your other statement.
Third mail:
Sorry to be pedantic Sam, but your words are not my opinion, and I must ask that you should not represent them as such. Like many I am happy to reserve my opinions till we can share them at a more appropriate time. Might I suggest therefore we draw a line under this?
TrailStar.
I hope therefore you might still be happy to buy a used aeroplane from me one day, although my J3 Cub is most definitely not for sale!!
Steve Slater
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:06 pm
by jerry_atrick
I read it as "great that she got some PR and promoted women in aviation, but not sure her delivering on 'her promised targets' are worthy of the award."
Which is sort of where I stand, except, I am not sure what her promised targets were? Simply flying the same route, or taking the same flight (i.e solo?)
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:34 pm
by Sam Rutherford
Still sounds awfully like:
1. She should receive all the accolades for helping the image of GA in general, and female aviators in particular – and the fact that the story is different from the truth is a detail that can be put aside for the greater good.
But maybe that's just me...
PS Sponsors and film crew were expecting a completely solo (ie nobody else in the aircraft at any time) series of flights. So that promise was not delivered... Lots of great PR though, so I guess that makes it all good!
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:41 pm
by Sam Rutherford
Hi Steve,
Sorry about this, but I think this is rightfully in the public domain.
Can I try you on a different yet similar question.
The LAA awarded Tracey the Bill Woodhams Trophy for a 'feat of aviation' for Cape Town-Goodwood. I was told subsequently that they were not aware of Ewald's presence in the aircraft and thought it had all been done solo (the flight plans showing 2 POB throughout a clear demonstration that it had not been).
This now being known and accepted, with the undeniable advantage of 20/20 hindsight, did she deserve the Trophy? Or did the LAA make a mistake?
You are, of course, under no obligation to respond.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:49 pm
by Ian Flyer
I wonder why those who profess to be so fed up of reading threads on this subject, so ardently read the threads? Can they not just........not read them?
For myself, I dislike the idea of people who claim to have achieved something, using smoke and mirrors (although not using them very well, because the truth is pretty clear to see)........there is a lot of this sort of thing about in the news currently........
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:35 pm
by TrailStar
Steve, I wouldnt buy a pot of dope of a bloke who gladly let the truth be put aside for some good PR, if you are not of that mind and have simply been misrepresented here by a third party, then please accept my apology for jumping on the disgust wagon and disregard the comment
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:38 am
by PeteM
I have to say I am dismayed by the congratulations in the LAA magazine on Tracy Curtis Taylor's flight. Thanks to the information posted on Pprune and here I cannot credit the awards she has been given for the previous flight.
If anything regarding 'the end justifying the means' is being used to justify the current congratulations or the previous awards then my disgust level reaches 'tilt'. Rewarding what is essentially fraud is a poor way to do anything.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:09 pm
by josher
North Cape to Cape of Good Hope in a Moth Major solo and unaccompanied and trying to raise money along the way. With reference to raising tv sponsorship he commented - 'I realised that 'reality' was reading from a script. Not my cup of tea!'
this is probably the one that deserves this kind of publicity. See
http://capetocape.net .
But then it's by a man and gadzooks he isn't even british!
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Sat Feb 06, 2016 7:58 am
by Old Pilot
What puzzles me is why would she accept the LAA award for navigation while knowing her journey from Cape Town to the UK was mostly dual.
The fact that the other occupant was a male flight instructor destroys the myth of a Bird in a Biplane pushing forward women's aviation.
Re: Tracy Curtis Taylor recomended for Award
PostPosted:Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:11 am
by Johnny
Single, dual, camera crews, support plane/s etc. Does it matter. The trip wasn't an Olympic event, it wasn't even a competition, the sponsors were happy to contribute and the trip brought much positive publicity to aviation.
Any grievance/s would be better directed towards those that that have wrongly honoured and portrayed her achievement. TCT has made no secret of the fact that others were involved. There are many published photos (in the media and her own www) of two on board. I don't understand the fuss. The fact the flight has been recognised by aviation institutions is for them to answer. Is it morally acceptable to accept an award? That is topic for another discussion where merits can be debated. There are some mealy mouthed folk around