Eric Winkle Brown BBC2 Sun 9pm

[JeremyH5]

BBC2 is showing "Bitain's Greatest Pilot: The Extraordinary Story of Captain Winkle Brown" tomorrow evening.
I have heard him speak at a RAeS lecture, his story is truly astonishing. I recommend you watch the programme.

[Dr Jekyll]

Is he really only Britain's greatest pilot though?

[Simpo Two]

Perhaps the greatest pilot nobody except aviation fans have heard of. In the scheme of things he's remarkably low profile.

[Eric Mc]

If he was American, he probably would have been "bigged up" a great deal more.

Also, because he wasn't a company test pilot (like Neville Duke, John Derry, Peter Twiss, Geoffrey de Havilland, John Cunningham etc) he was never "promoted" in the same way in newsreels and the media of the day. Back in the 1950s these company pilots were as well known as football stars - but Brown wasn't because he remained a "service" pilot throughout his career - either with the Royal Navy or the Royal Aircraft Establishment.

[aeropilot]

Holds the record of most types flown.

Skilled linguist as well (which is why he was picked for the job searching out German a/c for testing at the end of the war)


One of the most spritely 90+ year olds I've ever encounted.

And yes, I would say our greatest pilot.

[Fishtigua]

Loon.

But he's one of our loons.

Look's like a good'un to me.

[Bradgate]

He is our Chuck Yeagar.

[aeropilot]

Bradgate said:

He is our Chuck Yeagar.

That's an unfair comparison given that Yeager is an arrogant arse and Winkle Brown is a true gent.

[Mashedpotatoes]

What a bloke, what a bloke. Thank you mr Brown thank you.

[HOGEPH]

He's had a busy life!

[HarryW]

Same as I put in the TV thread for him.


Only one thing to say; What a great and interesting man. Enjoyed that immensely.

[Eric Mc]

It left out so much though.

Brown could do with a three hour documentary.

There was a fee DVD with Aeroplane Monthly last month but it was a "taster" for a new full DVD on his career.

The full DVD should be well worthwhile tracking down.

[HarryW]

Does he have a book? That would be a great read.

[RegMolehusband]

Take your pick http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Captain-Eric-Brown/s...

[Eric Mc]

And all very readable too - and informative.

[s111dpc]

Thanks for the heads up - that was a really good programme, as a some have already said what a life - lived to the full, makes me feel a little inadequate

[Eric Mc]

s111dpc said:

Thanks for the heads up - that was a really good programme, as a some have already said what a life - lived to the full, makes me feel a little inadequate

It barely touched on his career to be honest. They could have made at least three more documentaries to cover what he has done.

[Total loss]

aeropilot said:

Bradgate said:

He is our Chuck Yeagar.

That's an unfair comparison given that Yeager is an arrogant arse and Winkle Brown is a true gent.

+ 1 to that

[JVaughan]

There was a discovery program .. Planes that never flew where he talked in detail about the SR.53 and Sr.177 rocket interceptors and how they were superior to the F-104 but by US intervention, the F-104 sale went ahead and another nail was hammered into the coffin of the UK's aerospace industry. Fascinating chap

[HOGEPH]

I went to see him a few years ago at our village hall. Standing room only, and he kindly told me that his favourite helicopter was a Bolkow 105.