Winkle: The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot

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It was partly for his service on board Audacity that Brown was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 6. He tested experimental Nazi planes I knew Eric Brown for nearly 40 years – he was Superman, absolutely brilliant,” says Beaver. “I knew him at the time that he was just becoming a national treasure. He had written a lot about aeroplanes, but there was nothing really about his character.” The subtitle for this biography of Eric “Winkle” Brown describes him as “Britain’s greatest pilot”. Winkle may not be a household name, but he was a versatile and brave airman who flew more kinds of aircraft than any other pilot in history, and won so many accolades that King George VI once groaned “What, you again?” as he presented him with another. Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place. The Winding Stair From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: So, who was the real Eric “Winkle” Brown? Here, Beaver shines a light on feats of heroism and derring-do, as well as a markedly different origin story to the one publicly known until now.

By a twist of fate, it turned out to be the Glenn Miller’s final public performance. The following day, Miller flew to Paris. His aircraft disappeared over the English Channel in atrocious weather, with all on board lost.Sadly, Eric did not leave the East Surrey Hospital after he was admitted and passed away on 21 February 2016. I spoke at his funeral and again at his memorial service. Crucially, I received his papers, notebooks, and the loan of family albums. His logbooks, however, went to the Fleet Air Arm Museum – but not before I had had a chance to read them. Gathering the evidence Captain Eric Brown, RN, is one of the titans of flight testing. Nearly 500 types in his logbook, around 3,000 arrested landings, and a reputation as the greatest carrier suitability test pilot in history. This book is a good biography of him, with some revelations...but also some surprising gaps. Harris’s exciting and suspenseful novel takes its cue from a little-known historical development. In 1660, when King Charles II was restored to the throne, he passed the Indemnity and Oblivion Act, forgiving his enemies save those who had been complicit in his father’s execution, who were duly hunted down and (in most cases) killed. Harris follows two, equally compelling, narratives: that of the regicides Edward Whalley and William Goffe, fleeing across the world, and the vengeful royalist Richard Nayler, intent on pursuing them. If only all historical thrillers could be this entertaining. He learned that there was a shortage of pilots in the Royal Navy and so, in 1939, Brown joined the Fleet Air Arm and began his illustrious flying career. Riveting ... one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise ... an incredible story Flyer

It would also have been interesting to read more of Brown's post-Naval career. I'm surprised that he did not wind up employed by one of the major American companies...or as a contract instructor at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Eric 'Winkle' Brown may not be a household name, but he certainly should be, and this thumping great biography by Britain's leading aviation historian deserves to put that right DAILY MAIL 'BOOK OF THE WEEK' The first indication, he says, that some details “didn’t add up” came following Brown’s death in 2016, aged 97. “After he died his family gave me all the papers,” recalls Beaver. “I was the first non-family member they called when he was taken ill in 2016 because we were close.

2. He rode in a ‘wall of death’ stunt – with a real lion

Riveting ... one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise ... an incredible story' FLYER