Plummet Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I have just heard that Eric Winkle Brown has died aged, I think, 97. A great man. See him talking on You Tube. Plummet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.B. Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I have just heard that too and was about to post. **LINK** Only the other night he turned up in a documentary on telly and my wife commented on how lyrical his descriptions were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 That's sad news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Laughton Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Another great person from British aviation passes on - I hope he gets the recognition he deserves. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 That's very sad news indeed - although small in stature, he was truly a giant in aviation.....RIP, Sir Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Noo that's awful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 RIP Mr Brown you were a true legend in our time and I held the greatest respect for you he did so much .Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 A truly great aviator. Any one wanting to read his story "WINGS ON MY SLEEVE" Captain Eric Brown is a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Holland 2 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Great man, genuinely worthy of respect. Truly a life well lived. I doubt we will see his like again. R.I.P. and thank you. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Accepted as the greatest pilot ever I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Hooper Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Can only second what a legend he was. I read his "Wings on my sleeve" last year and couldn't put it down. Truly sad that he has passed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 sad sad news. but he lived his life to the full and did things we can only dream of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 A gentleman and Britain's best pilot.... 487 different types of aircraft We'll not see the likes of Eric again RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Price 2 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Quite right Dave. we will certainly never see the likes of him again. Very sad news. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Maybe the greatest modern day aviator RIP, no, now reach for the skies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 An incredible life and an enthralling author and speaker. From one of his lectures at the RAF Cosford Museum, three things he said remain with me: The rocket powered Me163 Komet was a weapon of desperation. 'Winkle' Brown flew it once under rocket power, and vowed never again. To explore its handling and get an understanding of swept wing aerodynamics, he did go on to do seventy five aerotows in it behind a Spitfire though! When flying in to collect an Arado 234 twin jet bomber in Denmark, the Luftwaffe station commander presented his sword to 'Winkle' Brown. The airfield was still behind enemy lines! One of the engines on the Arado blew up on 'Winkle' Brown's subsequent take off. Initially, sabotage was suspected, but he later concluded that the engine, with a 25 hour life, had just completed its 25th hour. In 'Winkle' Brown's opinion, the finest fighter of the war was the Focke Wulf 190 due to its combination of handling, performance and firepower. Rest in Peace Eric Brown, A life lived to the full, through an amazing period in history, and memories graciously shared for the benefit of the rest of us. Edited By Robin Colbourne on 21/02/2016 20:09:38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Walters Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 RIP Eric - a good innings, a fascinating life in aviation and a thoroughly decent man. I shall stand in front of his statue at the RNAS Museum at Yeovilton two weeks today with my old ATC friends for a planned reunion/visit and have a quiet word. If you haven't listened to him on Desert Island Discs get on the BBC Radio Player and have a listen to quiet hero and be proud of being British! Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison 2 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 An extremely interesting man who achieved much in a life far more eventful than most, and whose name will live on in the record books. I have his book, time to re-read it. RIP Captain Brown. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 We knew that he couldn't last for ever but it's still hard to believe that he's finally gone. He was a symbol of something that we have lost but meant a lot to many of us. When the Wilson government cancelled the advanced carrier programme and scrapped the partly built ship that he had played such a great part in designing, they turned the knife by ending his career and retiring him as well. You can see that he was so strongly identified with British naval aviation, getting rid of him as well was the strongest message of their determination to put an end to it. He was sacrificed for political ends by pygmies who weren't good enough to shine his shoes. He won't be forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Very sad news. A remarkable man, a true hero in an age that generally doesn't recognise heros sadly. BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i12fly Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 A true giant amongst men. A huge character and a true gentleman. He made time to speak to everyone that had an interest in aviation. Meeting him at the Shuttleworth Aviation Lecture a few years ago was not just an interesting day it was an inspiration. He had applied himself to the service of his country in his own analytical confident manner but still remained a modest man. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Posted by Colin Leighfield on 21/02/2016 22:05:54: When the Wilson government cancelled the advanced carrier programme and scrapped the partly built ship that he had played such a great part in designing, they turned the knife by ending his career and retiring him as well. You can see that he was so strongly identified with British naval aviation, getting rid of him as well was the strongest message of their determination to put an end to it. He was sacrificed for political ends by pygmies who weren't good enough to shine his shoes Where does that impression come from Colin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Walters Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I had my say about Eric last night on the forum so this morning I listened to BBC radio news at 7.00am (your time) for the obituary reminding the public why he was an important historic figure - nothing!! How sad is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 John F. Read carefully his description of what happened to the carrier programme and his career following that. He was retired in 1970, not by his choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Have to agree with Terry.It is a bad job that the passing of the worlds greatest aviator does not merit a mention on the main news channels. Recently the passing of a pop star [nothing against him] had reporters tripping over themselves to find something more to say and was top headline all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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