Flight From Cape Town, SA To Britain Was Not Entirely Flown Solo

Tracey Curtis-Taylor, who made headlines claiming to fly her vintage biplane "Spirit of Artemis" solo on extended journeys, allegedly did not actually fly solo much of the time.

After the revelation by her flight instructor Ewald Gritsch that he occupied the front cockpit of the restored Stearman for all but four of the 36 legs of her flight from Cape Town, SA to Britain, the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) is considering stripping Curtis-Taylor of its prestigious Bill Woodhams Trophy, which it awarded to her in 2015.

The U.K. newspaper The Express reports that LAA veteran member Barry Tempest proposed the motion to rescind the award for the self-proclaimed "Bird in a Biplane". Tempest told the paper that he has the greatest respect for women pilots, but Curtis-Taylor "has not done a lot to further their case."

Tempest said the integrity of the organization is at stake.

Curtis-Taylor said in a statement that "For the avoidance of doubt, I have always been the sole pilot."

She was also awarded a Master's Medal by the Honorable Company of Air Pilots in 2016, but that award is now also being questioned.

Gritsch was seen escaping the wreckage of Curtis-Taylor's plane after it went down earlier this year in Arizona on an around-the-world attempt, which blew up on the Internet.

The LAA said it would respect the vote of its members in the matter.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk