Tracey Curtis-Taylor

British aviator, adventurer and leading inspirational speaker, Tracey Curtis-Taylor, is a pilot with an inspired sense of adventure. She is best known for organising and piloting three expeditions across five continents in a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane following the pioneering female pilots of the 1920’s and 30’s: Cape Town to Goodwood, England; England to Australia, and the historic US Transcontinental covering the early airmail route.

Born in Lincolnshire, Tracey had crossed the Atlantic twice by boat before she was 11, emigrating to Canada and then returning to the north of England in the early 1970’s where her family opened what was only the second pizza restaurant in the country. It was an unlikely start to what would become a life spent flying old aeroplanes.

Tracey followed her twin sister to New Zealand in 1983 this is where she gained her private and commercial pilot’s licences, and an instructor rating. Significantly, she joined the New Zealand Warbird Association, where she began flying vintage planes and learnt aerobatics and formation flying. During her amazing aviation career, Tracey helped to organise the Flying Legends Air Show at Duxford, and was based with the Shuttleworth Collection at Bigglewade for nine years where she displayed her beautiful 1941 Ryan Recruit aircraft. She also was part of a four-man Russian crew that flew an Antonov An-2 biplane from Kiev to Cape Town.

Tracey has been recognised and presented with a number of titles and award from throughout her career was recognised by the Air League with two framed addresses, appointed an Honorary Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy Reserve and awarded the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Masters Medal in 2016. An exceptional and personable speaker for all kinds of events, Tracey uses humour and anecdote throughout her presentations to entertain and engage her audience.

Discussing her own adventurous experiences, and tailoring the content and tone of her speeches to suit the event type, Tracey’s presentations motivate and inspire individuals across the whole spectrum from business leaders to school children. During her intriguing talks, Tracey discusses topics such as pioneering aviation, women in aviation; female empowerment; fighting against the odds; drive, determination and the importance of never giving up.

Tracey is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Royal Geographical Society and the British Gemmological Association.