Andre Turcat

On january 9th the Airbus flight test department had A350 MSN1 overfly Mr. Turcat’s grave near Aix as a special gesture of respect and honour. After several low and slow passes the A350 special flight returned to Toulouse.

That dates me doesn’t it?

Not necessarily. It’s so good his book keeps being reprinted. Neville Duke was my hero too.

Agree about Neville Duke. I got his book as a form prize back in 1950-something. That dates me doesn’t it?

Sad news indeed. I’m about ten years too young to have idolised the likes of John Derry or Neville Duke. For me it was messrs Turcat, Trubshaw and Farley.

The BBC’s report on his passing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35233500

Thanks for the “heads up” on Andre Turcat. Having been the first pilot to fly Concorde he could at least say he had outlived that seminal aircraft. RIP Andre.