Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown

[Wander00]

Documentary BBC4 Thursday night 23 November. Not a repeat (it does not say it is anyway)




Sorry about small "c" - predictive text changed it and I did not notice. Mods - any chance of correcting please

[spekesoftly]

According to the Radio Times it is a repeat, but well worth viewing again.

[Wander00]

It is at10 pm UK time, will look again but did not see an "R" for repeat by the listing. Matron, bring my better glasses please

[spekesoftly]

And if you miss the 10pm slot, it's being shown again on BBC4 at 2am on Friday morning.

[Wander00]

That is what I thought the "R" was to do with. Silly me. Still one of the nicest people I ever met

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Just looked it up to set a record on my Sky box and the synopsis states he was an FAA pilot ? WTF ?

NEO

[Tony Mabelis]

He was a Fleet Air Arm pilot.
Tony

[glad rag]

Documentary BBC4 Thursday night 23 November. Not a repeat (it does not say it is anyway)




Sorry about small "c" - predictive text changed it and I did not notice. Mods - any chance of correcting please

How are you watching the BBC in France? It is nationally restricted. I do hope you are not admitting to illegally circumventing those restrictions.
As a legitimate licence payer (not by choice) I really despise liscence cheats almost as much as I despise paying the bbc...

[izod tester]

When I was working in Brussels in the 1980s BBC 1 and 2 were provided along with French, Dutch, German and Italian channels on the cable TV. So far as I know, the cable TV company received them off the air from receivers on the Belgian Coast. How do you know that Wander00 does not have a UK TV license anyway - he may well have a pied a terre in UK.

[roving]

How are you watching the BBC in France? It is nationally restricted. I do hope you are not admitting to illegally circumventing those restrictions.
As a legitimate licence payer (not by choice) I really despise liscence cheats almost as much as I despise paying the bbc...

Do you really think anyone cares a fig for your opinion?

[FODPlod]

First aired 1 June 2014 but definitely worth watching again.

[pasta]

I watched this last night on iPlayer. Lovely documentary; it's a bit like reading his book, but with added film footage...

[just another jocky]

I recorded and watched it. Fascinating to see that it was him being interviewed but there was sooooooo much missed out, like why he was one of the first allied soldiers into Bergen-Belsen and interviewing the commandant and they really glossed over his touring of Germany immediately post cessation of hostilities to try to find and fly as many German aircraft as possible.


Still, you have to expect some editing out of important stuff when trying to cover the life of someone like Winkle in just one hour.

[glad rag]

Do you really think anyone cares a fig for your opinion?

As a "retired barrister" I find your take.. amusing.

[Treble one]

Just looked it up to set a record on my Sky box and the synopsis states he was an FAA pilot ? WTF ?

NEO


NEO, Capt Brown learned to fly on a UAS-there is a very famous photo of him in RAF (VR)? Uniform with RAF wings-however after returning a trip to Germany prior to the declaration of war, there were no vacancies in the RAF-hence he joined the FAA.

[glad rag]

NE, Capt Brown learned to fly on a UAS-there is a very famous photo of him in RAF (VR)? Uniform with RAF wings-however after returning a trip to Germany prior to the declaration of war, there were no vacancies in the RAF-hence he joined the FAA.

His pre war escapades were amazing.

[amontgomery]

Edinburgh University Air Squadron Association (a charity) are placing a statue of "Winkle" at Edinburgh Airport and this should be in place mid July. Plan also is to support a flight scholarship programme for less advantaged youngsters. Google EUAS Association for more information.


Monty

[spannermonkey]

Had the privileged of attending a dining-in night around 2007 when he was the top table guest of honour. Quite an amazing individual and very humbling to listen to his tales.

[Fonsini]

I watched the documentary where he ran through his life story and I was quite literally wide eyed. He met and was then introduced to flying by Ernst Udet (no less), visited Berlin as a youngster in 1936 and attended the Olympics, was aboard a carrier which was sunk, was then the only survivor out of an entire lifeboat of men who sadly died of hypothermia, crashed a vampire and kept his legs by virtue of being so short he could pull them up out of the rudder wells (which were ripped away in the crash), interviewed Goering while imprisoned - the list goes on and on, his life reads like a Boy’s Own adventure. Truly an extraordinary man.

This is from memory, please excuse any embellishments.

[Cazalet33]

He flew over 2,400 carrier deck landings, including the first jet landing etc. The USN, forever trying to catch up with the navy which invented such things as mirror landing lights; angled decks; steam cats etc) tasked some poor sod to try to match the world record. The poor wretch managed only 1,600 before suffering a nervous breakdown.

The list of aircraft types he flew as PIC is astonishing in its breadth, length and depth:

Aeronca Grasshopper
Aerospatiale Alouette
Aerospatiale Ecureuil
Aerospatiale Twin Squirrel
Agusta 109
Aichi Val
Airspeed Ambassador
Airspeed Envoy
Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Oxford
Arado 96B
Arado 196A
Arado 199
Arado 232B
Arado 234B - Blitz
Arado 240
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Auster Aiglet
Avro Anson
Avro Athena
Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancastrian
Avro Lincoln
Avro Manchester
Avro Shackleton
Avro Tudor
Avro Tutor
Avro York
B.A. Swallow
BAe 125
BAe 146
BAe Hawk
BAC Lightning
Baynes Carrier Wing
Beagle B.206
Beagle Pup
Beech Baron
Beech Bonanza
Beech Super King Air
Beech Traveller
Beechcraft Expediter
Bell AH-1 Huey
Bell 47
Bell 204
Bell 222
Bell Airacobra
Bell Airacomet
Bell HTL-5
Bell Jet Ranger
Bell King Cobra
Bell Long Ranger
Blackburn Beverley
Blackburn Botha
Blackburn Buccaneer
Blackburn Firebrand
Blackburn Firecrest
Blackburn Roc
Blackburn Shark
Blackburn Skua
Blohm & Voss 138
Blohm & Voss 141B
Blohm & Voss 222 Wiking
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Boeing Vertol Chinook
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul P.108
Boulton Paul Sea Balliol
Brantly B-2
Breguet Alizé
Breguet Atlantic
Brewster Buffalo
Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufort
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Bombay
Bristol Brigand
Bristol Britannia
Bristol Buckingham
Bristol Bulldog
Bristol Freighter
Bristol Sycamore
Britten-Norman Islander
Bücker Bestmann
Bücker Jungmann
Bücker Jungmeister
Bücker Student
Cant Z1007
Caproni Ca.309
Caproni Ca.311
Caproni Ca.135
Cessna 150
Cessna Cardinal
Cessna Skymaster
Cessna Skywagon
Chance-Vought Corsair
Chance-Vought Cutlass
Chilton D.W.1
Chrislea Ace
Comper Swift
Consolidated Catalina
Consolidated Liberator
Consolidated Vultee Privateer
Convair 240-5
Curtiss Commando
Curtiss Helldiver
Curtiss Kittyhawk
Curtiss Mohawk
Curtiss Seamew
Curtiss Tomahawk
Dassault Étendard
Dassault Mirage
Dassault Mystère
de Havilland 86B
de Havilland Beaver
de Havilland Chipmunk
de Havilland Comet
de Havilland Devon
de Havilland Don
de Havilland Flamingo
de Havilland Fox Moth
de Havilland Gipsy Moth
de Havilland Heron
de Havilland Hornet Moth
de Havilland Mosquito
de Havilland Otter
de Havilland Puss Moth
de Havilland Rapide
de Havilland Sea Hornet
de Havilland Sea Mosquito
de Havilland Sea Vampire
de Havilland Sea Venom
de Havilland Sea Vixen
de Havilland Swallow
de Havilland Tiger Moth
de Havilland Vampire
Dewoitine 520
DFS 230
DFS Kranich
DFS Weihe
Dornier 17
Dornier 18
Dornier 24
Dornier 26
Dornier 27
Dornier 217
Dornier 335 - Pfeil
Douglas Boston
Douglas Dakota
Douglas Dauntless
Douglas Devastator
Douglas Invader
Douglas Skymaster
Douglas Skyknight
Douglas Skyraider
Druine Turbulent
Elliot Newbury Eon
Embraer Bandeirante
English Electric Canberra
Enstrom F28
Enstrom Shark
Erco Ercoupe
Fairchild Argus
Fairchild Cornell
Fairchild XNQ-1
Fairey IIIF
Fairey Albacore
Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Battle
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Fulmar
Fairey Gannet
Fairey Gordon
Fairey Primer
Fairey Spearfish
Fairey Swordfish
Fiat B.R.20
Fiat C.32
Fiat C.42
Fiat G.50
Fieseler Storch
Focke-Wulf 189 - Uhu
Focke-Wulf 190
Focke-Wulf 200 - Condor
Focke-Wulf 58 Weihe
Focke-Wulf Ta.152
Focke-Wulf Ta.154 - Moskito
Folland 43/37
Fouga Magister
Fournier Milan
General Aircraft Cygnet
General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Hotspur
General Aircraft L/56
Gloster E.28/39
Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Javelin
Gloster Meteor
Gloster Sea Meteor
Gotha 244
Grumman Ag-Cat
Grumman Albatross
Grumman Avenger
Grumman Bearcat
Grumman Cougar
Grumman Goose
Grumman Guardian
Grumman Hellcat
Grumman Panther
Grumman Tigercat
Grumman Widgeon
Grumman Wildcat
Handley Page Gugnunc
Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Hampden
Handley Page Hastings
Handley Page Hermes
Handley Page Marathon
Handley Page Sparrow
Hawker Fury
Hawker Hart
Hawker Hector
Hawker Henley
Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Nimrod
Hawker Osprey
Hawker P.1040
Hawker P.1052
Hawker P.1127
Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Hawk
Hawker Siddeley 748
Hawker Siddeley Gnat
Hawker Tempest
Hawker Typhoon
Heinkel 111
Heinkel 115
Heinkel 162 - Volksjäger
Heinkel 177 - Greif
Heinkel 219 - Uhu
Henschel 123
Henschel 129
Heston Phoenix
Hiller HTE
Hitachi T.2
Horten IV
Hughes 300
Hughes 500
Hunting Percival Jet Provost
Hunting Percival Provost
Ilyushin 2 - Shturmovik
Ilyushin 4
Jodel Ambassadour
Jodel Club
Jodel Excellence
Jodel Grand Tourisme
Jodel Mascaret
Jodel Mousqetaire
Junkers 52
Junkers 86
Junkers 87 - Stuka
Junkers 188
Junkers 290
Junkers 352
Junkers 388
Kamov 26
Kawasaki Tony
Klemm 26
Klemm 35D
Klemm L25
Klemm L27
Lavochkin 7
Le Vier Cosmic Wind
Ling Temco Vought Crusader
Lockheed Constellation
Lockheed Electra
Lockheed Hercules
Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Lightning
Lockheed Neptune
Lockheed Shooting Star
Lockheed Starfighter
Lockheed Ventura
Luton Minor
Macchi C.202
Macchi C.205
Martin Baker M.B.5
Martin Baltimore
Martin Marauder
MBB Bo 105
McDonnell Banshee
McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk
McDonnell Phantom II
Messerschmitt 108 - Taifun
Messerschmitt 109
Messerschmitt 110
Messerschmitt 163 - Komet
Messerschmitt 262
Messerschmitt 410 - Hornisse
MIG-3
MIG-15
Mil-1
Mil-2
Mil-4
Miles 18
Miles 20
Miles 28
Miles 38
Miles 48
Miles Aerovan
Miles Falcon
Miles Gemini
Miles Hawk
Miles Hobby
Miles Libellula
Miles Magister
Miles Martinet
Miles Master
Miles Mentor
Miles Mohawk
Miles Monarch
Miles Monitor
Miles Sparrowhawk
Mitsubishi Betty
Mitsubishi Dinah
Mitsubishi Zeke - Zero
Mooney M20
Morane-Saulnier 406
Morane-Saulnier Paris
Morane-Saulnier Rallye
Muntz Youngman-Baynes
N.S.F.K. S.G.38
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa
Nipper III
Noorduyn Norseman
Nord 262A
Nord Noralpha
Nord Pingouin
North American Harvard
North American Mitchell
North American Mustang
North American Sabre
North American Savage
North American Super Sabre
North American Texan
Northrop Gamma Commercial
Northrop Black Widow
Northrop F-5
Orlikan Meta Sokol
Percival Gull
Percival Pembroke
Percival Prentice
Percival Proctor
Percival Q6
Percival Vega Gull
Petlyakov PE-2
Piaggio P.136
Piaggio P.166
Piasecki Retriever
Piel Emeraude
Pilatus Porter
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Piper Comanche
Piper Cub
Piper Cub Special 90
Piper Grasshopper
Piper Navajo
Piper Pawnee
Piper Seneca
Piper Supercruiser
Piper Tripacer
Piper Cherokee
Pitts Special
Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-16
Portsmouth Aerocar Major
Reggiane 2000
Reggiane 2001
Reid & Sigrist Desford
Republic Seabee
Republic Lancer
Republic Thunderbolt
Republic Thunderjet
Republic Thunderstreak
Robin Royale
Robinson R-22
Rollason Condor
Ryan Fireball
Saab 21
Saab 29
Saab 105
Saab Lansen
Saab Safir
Saunders-Roe P.531
Saunders-Roe Skeeter
Saunders-Roe S.R./A.1
Savoia Marchetti SM79 - Sparviero
Savoia Marchetti SM82
Savoia Marchetti SM95
Scheibe Motorspatz
Schmetz Olympia-Meise
Schneider Baby Grunau
Scottish Aviation Bulldog
Scottish Aviation Pioneer
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
Short S.31
Short Sealand
Short Skyvan
Short Stirling
Short Sturgeon
SIAI-Marchetti S.F.260
Siebel Si 204
Sikorsky HRS
Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly
Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II
Sikorsky S-58T
Sikorsky S-61
Sikorsky S-76
Sipa S.903
Slingsby Capstan
Slingsby Kirby Cadet
Slingsby Motor Tutor
Slingsby Prefect
Slingsby Swallow
Slingsby T.21
Slingsby T.31
Socata Diplomate
Stampe et Vertongen SV-4
Stearman Caydet - (sic)
Stinson Junior R
Stinson Reliant
Stinson Sentinel
Sud-Aviation Djinn
Supermarine Attacker
Supermarine S.24/37 DUMBO
Supermarine Scimitar
Supermarine Sea Otter
Supermarine Seafang
Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seagull
Supermarine Spiteful
Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Walrus
SZD Bocian
Taylorcraft Auster
Taylor J.T.1 Monoplane
Taylor J.T.2 Titch
Thruxton Jackaroo
Tipsy S.2
Tipsy Trainer
Tipsy Type B
Vertol 107
Vickers Valiant
Vickers Vanguard
Vickers VC10
Vickers Viking
Vickers Viscount
Vickers Warwick
Vickers Wellington (Wellington VI)
Vickers Windsor
Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake
Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher
Vultee Vengeance
Waco CG-3
Waco Hadrian
Westland Aérospatiale Gazelle
Westland Aerospatiale Lynx
Westland Lysander
Westland Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly
Westland Sikorsky S-55 Whirlwind
Westland Wasp
Westland Welkin
Westland Wessex
Westland Whirlwind
Westland Wyvern (Eagle engine)
Winter Zaunkönig - Wren
Yakovlev-1
Yakovlev-9
Yakovlev-11
Youngman-Baynes High Lift
Zlin Akrobat

[Davef68]

H
The list of aircraft types he flew as PIC is astonishing in its breadth, length and depth:

Hawker P.1127


Does anyone know where/when he flew the P1127? He's not listed in Hugh Merrywether's book, so presumably after the aircraft were handed to the RAE/AAEE etc.

[Cazalet33]

I greatly hope that an arrangement can be made with the family and an appropriate authority, such as the IWM or National Archive or Cambridge University, so that digitised copies of all of his logbooks can be made available online in the same way that we can read Captain James Cook's logs.

[Davef68]

The FAA Museum now own his logbooks, and they were talking about a digitised version being available at one point, although I beleive plans have now changed

[Fonsini]

I seem to recall he refered to the HE162 fighter as one of the finest combat aircraft he ever flew, having “perfectly balanced controls”.

High praise indeed for an emergency last-ditch fighter.

[GemDeveloper]

Some may not have seen Winkle giving a lecture to the Yeovilton Branch of the RAeS on 29 July 2014. It is available on the RAeS website:

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/video-recording-of-capt-eric-winkle-brown-named-lecture/

You need to settle back and enjoy it; it is 1¾ hours of video! :ok:

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/scots-flying-legend-eric-winkle-brown-lands-at-old-base-once-more-qlft9p8fk

Scots flying legend Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown lands at old base once more

A statue of the Second World War pilot Eric “Winkle” Brown has been unveiled by the Duke of York.

Brown, described by the astronaut Tim Peake as the “greatest test pilot who ever lived”, holds the world record for flying the greatest number of different aircraft and piloted Britain’s first supersonic flight. The bronze statue depicts the veteran of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm who died in 2016 at the age of 97.

Prince Andrew, who served as a pilot in the Royal Navy and holds the rank of vice-admiral, unveiled the statue, designed by David Annand, the Scottish sculptor, at Edinburgh airport. Brown was born in Leith, Edinburgh, and went on to become a naval officer after training at RAF Turnhouse, now Edinburgh airport, in the late 1930s.

Sir John Elvidge, chairman of the airport, said the pilot was “synonymous with RAF Turnhouse and in turn a key figure in the history of what is now Edinburgh Airport. The fact his remarkable career is still held in such high regard after all these years is a testament to the man. “We are proud of the connection between Edinburgh airport and the RAF and we want people to share that by learning about this truly inspiring man who served his country with great honour, and his statue is a small token of thanks to him and this legacy.”

Brown flew 487 types of aircraft including biplanes, helicopters and supersonic jets. He also holds the world record for the most aircraft carrier deck take-offs (2,721) and landings (2,407).

Hamish Macleod, chairman of the Edinburgh University Air Squadron Association, which raised the funds for the statue, said: “Winkle was not only a man who loved to fly, but he also inspired a generation of pilots with his modest good humour and outstanding courage. The statue of him outside Edinburgh airport will give the many thousands of passengers the opportunity to reflect on this Scottish hero who can inspire us all.”

Dr Macleod also spoke of his association’s plans for a scholarship in the pilot’s name to help disadvantaged youngsters to fly light aircraft. “Winkle’s legacy can also bring a life-changing experience to today’s youngsters, helping them to learn to fly, or simply experiencing the thrill of flying in small aircraft.”

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/1983x1116/methode_2ftimes_2fprod_2fweb_2fbin_2fb8f43e32_7e15_11e8_a645 _f0478472c67b_9bc300080455b3bbbde2fe9fa6a10f33c75315dd.jpg