Winkle Brown honoured by Guild of Air Pilots
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Winkle Brown honoured by Guild of Air Pilots
The Guild Award of Honour
Awarded on rare occasions to individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation.
Awarded to: CAPTAIN ERIC BROWN CBE DSC AFC KCVSA MA FRAeS
Lord Stevens, Eric 'Winkle' Brown, Capt Jock Lowe (this year's Master of the Guild)
Citation:
Having taken his first flight at the age of eight with his father, a former pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, at the controls, in 1939 Eric Brown started to learn to fly seriously while in the UAS at EdinburghUniversity. Graduating with a MA in German, he went into the Fleet Air Arm and stayed there for the next 31 years, flying no less than 487 aircraft types - a record unlikely ever to be beaten.
In 1941, he claimed two FW 200s while flying Martlets of No. 802 Squadron from HMS Audacity. Following a period on trials work involving Sea Hurricanes and Seafires and a stint as a Deck Landing Instructor he was posted to become the Chief Naval Test Pilot at RAE Farnborough, subsequently flying all types of allied naval aircraft.
There are many outstanding events in his career, perhaps the most notable is making the world's first landing of a jet aircraft - a Sea Vampire - on the deck of an aircraft carrier, HMS Ocean, on 3 December 1945. He also has the (perhaps unique) experience of deliberately landing a Sea Vampire wheels-up on an aircraft carrier as a test assessment of the use of an inflatable mattress in lieu of arrester wires. He also holds the world record for the most deck landings and most catapult launches of any pilot.
In 1946, as CO of the Enemy Aircraft Flight at Farnborough he became heavily involved in the flight testing and assessment of German, Italian and Japanese aircraft, in all flying 55 individual types, ranging from the prone pilot Berlin B9, the push-pull Do335, and the remarkable little Heinkel He162 ‘Volksjager’ to the highly innovative German combat types entering the Luftwaffe inventory towards the end of the war.These also included the twin axial flow jet-engined Me262 and the Me163 ‘flying bomb’ (he did one clandestine flight with its unstable fuel of hydrogen peroxide/hydrazine hydrate in methanol). He also flew compression ignition (diesel) engines in the two-engined Do18, the three-engined Bv26 and the six-engined Bv222 flying-boat. As a German linguist, he interrogated many of the leading German aviation personalities, including Willy Messerschmitt, Ernst Heinkel and Hanna Reitsch.
Later, he resumed flying with No 802 Squadron on Sea Furies, spent two years at the US Navy Test Centre at PatuxentRiver, commanded No 804 Squadron (Sea Hawks), was Commander Air at RNAS Brawdy, Naval Attache in Bonn from 1958 to 1960, served at the Admiralty as Deputy Director of Naval Air Warfare, and commanded RNAS Lossiemouth.
Retiring in 1970 he began a second career in the field of helicopter aviation. Here, his posts included being Chief Executive of the British Helicopter Advisory Board and Chief Executive and Vice-President of the European Helicopter Association, based in Amsterdam.
A Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Commander Eric Brown holds the distinction of having been awarded successively the MBE, OBE and CBE, together with the DSC and AFC. He is the author of some 36 published books, mostly about aviation.
Eric Brown is one of the few remaining flying legends and, in the words of Hawker Aircraft Chief Test Pilot, Bill Humble, ‘in an era of outstanding test pilots, Winkle was simply the best.’ Because of his outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation - and particularly to the development of British naval aviation Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown is awarded the Guild's Award of Honour.
In 1941, he claimed two FW 200s while flying Martlets of No. 802 Squadron from HMS Audacity. Following a period on trials work involving Sea Hurricanes and Seafires and a stint as a Deck Landing Instructor he was posted to become the Chief Naval Test Pilot at RAE Farnborough, subsequently flying all types of allied naval aircraft.
There are many outstanding events in his career, perhaps the most notable is making the world's first landing of a jet aircraft - a Sea Vampire - on the deck of an aircraft carrier, HMS Ocean, on 3 December 1945. He also has the (perhaps unique) experience of deliberately landing a Sea Vampire wheels-up on an aircraft carrier as a test assessment of the use of an inflatable mattress in lieu of arrester wires. He also holds the world record for the most deck landings and most catapult launches of any pilot.
In 1946, as CO of the Enemy Aircraft Flight at Farnborough he became heavily involved in the flight testing and assessment of German, Italian and Japanese aircraft, in all flying 55 individual types, ranging from the prone pilot Berlin B9, the push-pull Do335, and the remarkable little Heinkel He162 ‘Volksjager’ to the highly innovative German combat types entering the Luftwaffe inventory towards the end of the war.These also included the twin axial flow jet-engined Me262 and the Me163 ‘flying bomb’ (he did one clandestine flight with its unstable fuel of hydrogen peroxide/hydrazine hydrate in methanol). He also flew compression ignition (diesel) engines in the two-engined Do18, the three-engined Bv26 and the six-engined Bv222 flying-boat. As a German linguist, he interrogated many of the leading German aviation personalities, including Willy Messerschmitt, Ernst Heinkel and Hanna Reitsch.
Later, he resumed flying with No 802 Squadron on Sea Furies, spent two years at the US Navy Test Centre at PatuxentRiver, commanded No 804 Squadron (Sea Hawks), was Commander Air at RNAS Brawdy, Naval Attache in Bonn from 1958 to 1960, served at the Admiralty as Deputy Director of Naval Air Warfare, and commanded RNAS Lossiemouth.
Retiring in 1970 he began a second career in the field of helicopter aviation. Here, his posts included being Chief Executive of the British Helicopter Advisory Board and Chief Executive and Vice-President of the European Helicopter Association, based in Amsterdam.
A Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Commander Eric Brown holds the distinction of having been awarded successively the MBE, OBE and CBE, together with the DSC and AFC. He is the author of some 36 published books, mostly about aviation.
Eric Brown is one of the few remaining flying legends and, in the words of Hawker Aircraft Chief Test Pilot, Bill Humble, ‘in an era of outstanding test pilots, Winkle was simply the best.’ Because of his outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation - and particularly to the development of British naval aviation Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown is awarded the Guild's Award of Honour.
The Guild's Award of Honour is awarded on rare occasions. This year, exceptionally, there were two Awards - the other to Neil Armstrong.
Report >> HERE
If any pilots are interested in becoming a member of the Guild of Air Pilots, please feel free to PM or email me.
A more interesting and enjoyable group of aviators, from many different areas of aviation, would be hard to find.
Tudor
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 4th Nov 2006 at 07:50.
Couple of stories I heard about him from an old Farnborough 'radio operator'
Testing arresting systems on the old runway 04/22 using a Sea Fury; he was catapulted from the north east end as many times before, and engaged one of the cables, only for the entire tail section of the aircraft to become detatched, and the rest (containing him) getting airborne! He was heard to say 'oh dear how annoying' before somehow landing the remaining part of the aircraft near 'H' Shed I believe without injury!
The rubber landing deck was trialled at Farnborough by him prior to actual carrier trials; he apparently had many goes at landing the Vampire on it before going for it each time saying something like 'not this time' or just 'going round', getting down to just a few feet above it before making the go/no go decision.
NB: The concrete base for the rubber deck still exists between the new control tower and the runway.
Testing arresting systems on the old runway 04/22 using a Sea Fury; he was catapulted from the north east end as many times before, and engaged one of the cables, only for the entire tail section of the aircraft to become detatched, and the rest (containing him) getting airborne! He was heard to say 'oh dear how annoying' before somehow landing the remaining part of the aircraft near 'H' Shed I believe without injury!
The rubber landing deck was trialled at Farnborough by him prior to actual carrier trials; he apparently had many goes at landing the Vampire on it before going for it each time saying something like 'not this time' or just 'going round', getting down to just a few feet above it before making the go/no go decision.
NB: The concrete base for the rubber deck still exists between the new control tower and the runway.
Cool Mod
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I invited Eric Brown to the 2004 GatBash to enjoy the company of many fine aviators.
Together with two other test pilots, John Farley and Dave Southwood, we enjoyed a good deal of great chat. Later he made a short but very interesting speech about some of things he did in his glorious career.
He is a remarkable man who deserves all the honours he has received.
A truly great man.
PPP
Together with two other test pilots, John Farley and Dave Southwood, we enjoyed a good deal of great chat. Later he made a short but very interesting speech about some of things he did in his glorious career.
He is a remarkable man who deserves all the honours he has received.
A truly great man.
PPP
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Deserves it a damn sight more than (as rumoured) a certain football player who's deserted his home country.
Isn't there some system where a number of joe publics can get together to recommend honours like this? I'd certainly be proud to support a campaign for Winkle; never met him but read much about him.
Isn't there some system where a number of joe publics can get together to recommend honours like this? I'd certainly be proud to support a campaign for Winkle; never met him but read much about him.
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Deserves it a damn sight more than (as rumoured) a certain football player who's deserted his home country.
Isn't there some system where a number of joe publics can get together to recommend honours like this? I'd certainly be proud to support a campaign for Winkle; never met him but read much about him.
Isn't there some system where a number of joe publics can get together to recommend honours like this? I'd certainly be proud to support a campaign for Winkle; never met him but read much about him.
I was a young Naval Airman at Lossiemouth in the late sixties and Eric Brown was my commanding officer. At the time I was not aware of his illustrious background but I remember him, despite our relative status, as a perfect gentleman. If we could get a campaign going to get him a Knighthood I would support such a move in any way i could.
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Captain Eric ’Winkle’ Brown.
Captain Eric ’Winkle’ Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, MA, Hon FRAeS, RN.
Captain Brown is 90 years old today. He was born in Leith, Edinburgh on this day, 1919.
A former Royal Navy officer and test pilot, he has flown more types of aircraft than anyone else in history, an official total of 487.
He also holds the world's record for the most carrier landings, 2,407, and landed the first jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier, landing the de Havilland Sea Vampire LZ551/G on the Royal Navy carrier HMS Ocean on December 3, 1945.
A remarkable career, Happy Birthday Sir.
CG.
Captain Brown is 90 years old today. He was born in Leith, Edinburgh on this day, 1919.
A former Royal Navy officer and test pilot, he has flown more types of aircraft than anyone else in history, an official total of 487.
He also holds the world's record for the most carrier landings, 2,407, and landed the first jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier, landing the de Havilland Sea Vampire LZ551/G on the Royal Navy carrier HMS Ocean on December 3, 1945.
A remarkable career, Happy Birthday Sir.
CG.
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'Winkle' Brown
Yes an amazing naval aviator - he must have been CO HMS Fulmar in its final days as I can recall him being guest of honour at a Burns supper in the WO & CPOS's mess - he gave an amusing speech along the lines of " the Chiefs may think that the Captain is an old dodderer but the Captains knows what the Chiefs are up to " - great memories. A couple of years later I bought his book " Wings on my Sleeve " - how he test flew all those esoteric German aircraft that came into our possession at the end of the war is a story in itself
Never met him personally but I heard many stories about him eg he was doing trials at Farnborough with different types of cable arresting systems using a Sea Fury. Having been catapulted straight into the arrestor cable for the umpteenth time, the aircaft decided enough was enough and the entire tail assembly complete with arrestor hook broke away from the aircraft and the remaining portion with Winkle on board got airborne. He was apparently heard to remark 'Oh how annoying' over the R/T then proceeded to land the remaining part of the airframe safely!!
Strangely enough I am just reading a book by another FAA test pilot and he is quite critical of Brown (although he only refers to him an "another naval test pilot").
Basically he claims the FAA could have been operating jets off carriers 3-4 years earlier if Brown had not been quite so critical of the Vampire after his first landings/take-offs. Points to the fact the US were operating jets of carriers while us Brits were still mucking about with the likes of Sea Furies and Wyverns.
Basically he claims the FAA could have been operating jets off carriers 3-4 years earlier if Brown had not been quite so critical of the Vampire after his first landings/take-offs. Points to the fact the US were operating jets of carriers while us Brits were still mucking about with the likes of Sea Furies and Wyverns.
Last edited by Groundloop; 22nd Jan 2009 at 12:01.
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Brave guy!
I remember reading about the time he was evaluating captured ME262's which had a 24-hour scrap life on the engines.
"One never knew whether that particluar aircraft had flown one hour or twenty three and a half"
Happy Birthday Sir!
I remember reading about the time he was evaluating captured ME262's which had a 24-hour scrap life on the engines.
"One never knew whether that particluar aircraft had flown one hour or twenty three and a half"
Happy Birthday Sir!
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GL said....
"Basically he claims the FAA could have been operating jets off carriers 3-4 years earlier if Brown had not been quite so critical of the Vampire after his first landings/take-offs. Points to the fact the US were operating jets of carriers while us Brits were still mucking about with the likes of Sea Furies and Wyverns."
Wasn't it more to do with who had the first angled deck carrier. USS Antietam was the first carrier so fitted.
Winkle Brown was stuffed into a Vampire and told to land on a rubber mattress! Not sure he was responsible for RN carrier procurement policy.
Anyway, a Happy 90th to one of my heros.
"Basically he claims the FAA could have been operating jets off carriers 3-4 years earlier if Brown had not been quite so critical of the Vampire after his first landings/take-offs. Points to the fact the US were operating jets of carriers while us Brits were still mucking about with the likes of Sea Furies and Wyverns."
Wasn't it more to do with who had the first angled deck carrier. USS Antietam was the first carrier so fitted.
Winkle Brown was stuffed into a Vampire and told to land on a rubber mattress! Not sure he was responsible for RN carrier procurement policy.
Anyway, a Happy 90th to one of my heros.
Last edited by aviate1138; 25th Jan 2009 at 20:33. Reason: Belated B'Day greeting.
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Happy Birthday to Captain Brown. An aviation pioneer in every sense of the phrase!
He holds the current world records for the most carrier catapult launches, the most carrier landings by a pilot, and the most types of aircraft flown.
In 1995 he was inducted into the Carrier Test Pilot Hall of Honor. Very distinguished company and can you imagine the stories told around that bar at happy hour?
aviate1138
USS Antietam, the first carrier modified with an angled deck, had the mod done in Sept-Dec of 1952. (Remember the days when we had the expertise and will to do that so quickly? And likely on-budget? There is some History and Nostalgia for ya.)
The first landing of a jet on a carrier was in 5 Nov 1945. It was obviously on a straight deck.*
The first deployment of carrier based jet aircraft was of FH-1 Phantoms on the straight decked USS Saipan in 1948.
The first combat deployment of jets on a straight deck was in July of 1950 with F9F Panthers aboard USS Valley Forge.
In short, the angled deck assisted with but did not enable the operation of jets from carriers.
* Despite the howls of protest which will likely follow, the first carrier jet landing was made on the USS Wake Island, on 5 Nov 1945. Ensign Jake C. West suffered a failure of the forward radial engine of his Ryan FR-1 'Fireball' shortly after takeoff, forcing him to start his aft jet engine. He flew the emergency recovery pattern on the jet engine and made a successful landing. Thus, the first jet landing aboard a carrier.
He holds the current world records for the most carrier catapult launches, the most carrier landings by a pilot, and the most types of aircraft flown.
In 1995 he was inducted into the Carrier Test Pilot Hall of Honor. Very distinguished company and can you imagine the stories told around that bar at happy hour?
aviate1138
USS Antietam, the first carrier modified with an angled deck, had the mod done in Sept-Dec of 1952. (Remember the days when we had the expertise and will to do that so quickly? And likely on-budget? There is some History and Nostalgia for ya.)
The first landing of a jet on a carrier was in 5 Nov 1945. It was obviously on a straight deck.*
The first deployment of carrier based jet aircraft was of FH-1 Phantoms on the straight decked USS Saipan in 1948.
The first combat deployment of jets on a straight deck was in July of 1950 with F9F Panthers aboard USS Valley Forge.
In short, the angled deck assisted with but did not enable the operation of jets from carriers.
* Despite the howls of protest which will likely follow, the first carrier jet landing was made on the USS Wake Island, on 5 Nov 1945. Ensign Jake C. West suffered a failure of the forward radial engine of his Ryan FR-1 'Fireball' shortly after takeoff, forcing him to start his aft jet engine. He flew the emergency recovery pattern on the jet engine and made a successful landing. Thus, the first jet landing aboard a carrier.
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StdB
I like the understatement in your link
the jet engines had sluggish acceleration which required a long take off run, which was fine on dry land, but understandably gave rise to some concern when using aircraft from carriers
