Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown
Eric Brown one of the highest decorated Navy flyers has died at the age of 97. Served with distinction in WW2, was the first person to land a jet on to an aircraft carrier, made over 2000 deck landings and a test pilot for many years. RIP
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A truly great man. Not only the finest Royal Navy fleet Air arm Pilot but probably the best Test Pilot we have ever had too.
He flew more different types of aircraft than anyone else including most German types captured after the war. He was our most decorated pilot ever, and was a test Pilot during the important early Jet years and when we were losing test pilots at the rate
of nearly one a month.Remember in those days there were no advanced computers or simulators and the First flight of any new prototype really was a leap into the unknown. In short Eric was one of those men who really did make Great Britain Great.
I can think of no better epitaph than the simple description
Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown - Aviator!
TF
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A truly great man. Not only the finest Royal Navy fleet Air arm Pilot but probably the best Test Pilot we have ever had too.
He flew more different types of aircraft than anyone else including most German types captured after the war. He was our most decorated pilot ever, and was a test Pilot during the important early Jet years and when we were losing test pilots at the rate
of nearly one a month.Remember in those days there were no advanced computers or simulators and the First flight of any new prototype really was a leap into the unknown. In short Eric was one of those men who really did make Great Britain Great.
I can think of no better epitaph than the simple description
Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown - Aviator!
TF
Write your comments here...No doubt there will be a big parade in his honour at RNAS Culdrose, a brilliant man.
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He actually flew almost every German aircraft captured, and that included about 3 Jets I belive. The ME 262, The Arado 234 and the Heinkle 'Volksjager". He was fluent in German and that probably helped his preparation for such flights.
But his greatest achevements came whilst testing our early Jets like the Supermarine 'Attacker' and the later Sea Hawk. He also helped with the development of shipborne versions of the De Haviland Vampire & Venom.
But despite his fame and the fact that he rapidly became our most decorated flyer, he never became too proud to talk to anyone, he was generally regarded as a true Gentleman.
TF
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There was a TV programme about him on BBC2 last night. Unfortunately I only caught the last fifteen minutes.
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