Meet Tracey

Aviator, Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker

Tracey Curtis-Taylor is an accomplished pilot who flies her vintage Boeing Stearman biplane, the Spirit of Victory, throughout the world following the pioneering flights of early female aviators.

14,600 Miles

Historic biplane flight from the UK to Australia

10,000 Miles

Cape Town (Africa) to Goodwood (United Kingdom)

40,000 Miles

Flown in the Stearman through 39 countries

As Seen In

Raised in Canada and surrounded by magnificent scenery, Tracey naturally took to adventure, so it was no surprise to her parents when she developed a passion for flight, having her first flying lesson aged 16.

She returned to England with her family in the 70’s and her early working career in London including training with de Beers as a diamond valuer and the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign Office in Whitehall.

But the ‘call of the wild’ and an ongoing fascination with Africa made Tracey cut the rope on her conventional life in England. She went to South Africa in 1982 where she worked for several months before returning to the UK overland in a Bedford truck – a journey that took five months camping through savannah, jungle and desert.

Speaking

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Trusted by Experts

Peter Benn

Past Master, (Chairman), The Honourable Company of Air Pilots of The City of London, Barrister , (non-practising), Airline Captain, Royal Naval Reserve Officer, (retired)

It is in her extraordinary, indeed exceptional, ability to communicate to an audience that her value is really revealed…she is able to inspire any audience through her experiences in flight and her enthusiasm for it...Tracey ignites passion for aviation and has a genuinely remarkable talent for reaching out to young people, inspiring the younger generation in general and women in particular.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent

Quite apart from Tracey’s amazing achievements at the controls of her vintage aircraft, she has made a name for herself as a polished public speaker and for that she is doubly admired. I so well remember her giving the prestigious Cobham Lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society to wide acclaim.

Bret Bradigan

Rotary Club of Ojai

Tracey’s presentation soared — full of adventure, courage, and purpose. From your flights across continents and oceans to your tireless advocacy for women in aviation, you left us all inspired and awestruck…Her passion, resilience, and storytelling reminded us what it means to live boldly and with intention. She not only flew vintage planes across the globe — she brought history to life and charted a course for others to follow. One of our members summed it up perfectly after finishing her book Bird: ‘She is a very impressive person!’ Thank you, Tracey, for lifting our spirits and reminding us that the sky is never the limit.

Andy Connell

Teacher, Historian, Singer and Councillor, former Mayor of Appleby and Chair of Eden and Cumbria

I was fortunate enough to attend a talk by Tracey Curtis-Taylor and it was an exceptional experience. It is rare to encounter a speaker who can simultaneously inspire and entertain with such effectiveness. Her presentation style is uniquely engaging: authentic and original and delivered with a brio and dynamism that captivated the audience from beginning to end. She combines an evident depth of knowledge with enormous charisma. Her passion for aviation shines through in every story she tells, keeping the audience both informed and laughing. A compelling and accomplished speaker, Tracey brings the world of aviation to life with intelligence, humour, and infectious enthusiasm. She is a true natural on stage and an asset to any event programme.”

Bird tells the remarkable personal story of how Tracey Curtis-Taylor overcame extreme adversity to complete her three remarkable journeys.

From cheating death twice and saving her crew from a firing squad to overcoming a bitter campaign waged by a male-dominated aviation industry; from her relationship with a mysterious French spy to the shocking secret that drove her family apart.

Bird is the action-packed, inspirational story of a woman who fulfilled her high-flying ambitions, was brought crashing down to earth in more ways than one, yet still survived to tell the tale.

Bird is available now – buy from Amazon, WHSmith, Waterstones, Foyles or other good booksellers.