2014 has been a big year for me, the ups and downs not limited to my activities in the skies.
It would be easy to dwell on the downs, but frankly the season has been far too good to me to do that.
I’ve met yet more amazing people, gained more great friends, inspired others, been inspired, felt supported, moved and encouraged and at the end of the day finished another flying season successfully, having learned many valuable lessons and gained more experience than I could ever have hoped for. The aviation world really can be a wonderful one.
Highlights have included performing at massive shows in front of crowds of several hundreds of thousands of people, meeting fans to be told I’m doing amazing and inspiring things, being hailed as ‘one of the very best’ displays at shows alongside some utterly incredible acts I could never ever have imagined being compared with. Of course I was also truly humbled being a part of a show upstaged by a pair of aircraft flying with eight merlin engines…
There have been some amazing times with some amazing people and I am so grateful to everyone that has stood by me, supported, encouraged and helped me to keep going this year, I believe I’ve done a few of you proud and I hope to continue doing so. Every word of encouragement, every picture shared, every smiley face tweeted means the world to me.
The winter now sees us in a phase of yet more change, I’ve moved to Gloucestershire to take a job with my sponsor, Hercules Propellers, who will also be helping me expand my flying ‘business’ – to hopefully enable next season to be the best yet. The aeroplane will be in tip-top condition after a winter of extensive maintenance, I will be getting ever fitter and stronger as part of my own winter regime, and plans are afoot to hopefully re-enter the competitive scene in a big way, as well as to take the UK Airshow circuit by storm.
2015 is after all the year of the 70th anniversary of the very first flight of the Pitts Special, so we will be doing our utmost to make it a very special year too.
Keep watching this space!
Glad you end the 2014 season positively. I have always been a huge fan of the baby Pitts and really enjoy your show. Every act needs a differentiator and, in a world of carbon fibre monsters with thrust to weight greater than 1 there really is a space for an all time classic so stick with the Pitts and keep doing what you do. Hope the new job works out and will be looking out for you in 2015.
Massive thanks Chris, I adore the little Pitts and I really do agree with you that there is a very definite and obvious place for her (and indeed me alongside) on the UK circuit. I hope to bring more joy to the circuit in 2015 with the little red girl, it’s going to be fun!
Hi Lauren, I haven’t had the good fortune to see you fly yet but love the Pitts – I didn’t realise the design went so far back! Gloucestershire is a great place, Gloucester and Cheltenham are fabulous for shopping and Kemble and Staverton are marvellous places for seeing interesting aircraft. Plus (if you are organised) you never have to pay the toll on the Severn Bridge! Best wishes for the future.
I was at Duxford a couple of weeks ago, and l thought if the “TRIG TEAM” were there then you should be too. Sure you will be a show regular for many years to come and we look forward to seeing you light up the show the way you did at Little Gransden. Been chasing Lancasters around for the past few weeks but still time for credit where it is due, and its due to you. Thanks!!
Hope you’re building up the muscles in your right arm for next years show of signing autographs following you fantastic display. Be sure that all of us at Stipstream events will be supporting you in 2015. In the words of Bruce Forsyth “Keep flying”!!!
I love watching the little Red Pitts display. I have always loved aerobatics, if I had one wish, it would be, to fly daily, get onto the aerobatics circuit. Until my lottery ticket wins, I’ll be watching you display perfect aerobatic sequence.
Good luck with the new job and I can’t wait for 2015 display season.
Great work, great achievements Lauren. I look forward to seeing more of your Hercules enhanced displays next season 🙂