In Amy Johnson’s footsteps, Tracy Taylor to fly 13,000 miles solo

NEW DELHI: Taking to the skies in a vintage Boeing aircraft, Tracy Curtis Taylor is on her way to achieving a unique feat - completing a 13,000 mile journey from United Kingdom to Australia over 23 countries in three months. Taylor, who is currently at Hindon airforce station on the outskirts of the capital says, "India is definitely one of the highlights of the trip".

Taylor, who is flying the Boeing Stearman, an open cockpit biplane, wants to not just replicate the inspiring story of legend Amy Jonson, who pioneered the first solo flight by a woman from Britain to Australia, but particularly engage with young women in the field of aviation and promote the achievements of women in all spheres of the world.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, the seasoned vintage pilot, shared her experience in India, citing flying over colorful cities in Rajasthan as a great experience. The aviator entered the Indian air space last week, visiting Ahmadabad and Jaipur, and is scheduled to make a total of seven stops across the country, the next one being Agra.

Speaking on the why she flies the Stearman, Tracy said, "The aircraft is especially strong and resilient, and that’s one of the reasons why I chose it". Shedding light on the main challenges posed during the journey, Taylor remarked that since it is an open cockpit, weather is the main challenge. "Visual flying is always a challenge, even while coming to Delhi, the light fog over the city did pose an issue".

Speaking on the ‘Stearman’ that landed at Hindon station, the Boeing Vice President in a statement said, "It is fitting that Tracy landed at Hindon Air base, where the C17 Globe masters of the Indian air force are also station. This is a unique moment where the oldest and one of the newest Boeing aircraft are together at the same base".

Fully restored in Hungary in 2013, The ‘Stearman’, which is fitted with additional fuel tanks for an enhanced range, has a top altitude of 10000 feet and a speed of 90 kilometers per hour. Once the primary trainer for pilots in the United States Army and Navy in the 1930s, the biplane was sold by the government for commercial purposes after the war.

While conducting a fly past at the air base, Tracy was accompanied by Squadron Leader Kamaljeet Kaur of the India air force who was co-piloting the Tiger Month, India’s vintage biplane. He stated that it was a ‘privilege’ to fly alongside someone like Taylor. Tracy also expressed great appreciation over the new rule of the air force allowing women pilots entry in the fighter stream. "I have interacted with pilots flying in transport and helicopter streams and this new move is definitely a breakthrough for women".