Heads Up Eric 'Winkle' brown

Really enjoyed the one hour BBC documentary and tracked down the 1:42 full-length version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winkle-Interview-Captain-Melrose-Brown/dp/B0054D2TXY

I’d have to source a damn Region 2 DVD player to watch it, though.

By chance I heard the interview with Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown on BBC Radio Two whilst driving today.

Sadly Jeremy Vine wasn’t perhaps best equipped to be asking questions to such a notable pilot in such a specialised subject as aviation, and especially, carrier-aviation, but then I don’t suppose the average listener of his show noticed and, at least, ‘Winkle’ Brown’s experiences were revealed to the wider Radio Two audience. For example, Jeremy Vine seemed utterly astonished that Eric had flown in an aircraft with ‘no roof’ on the cockpit!

One thing I did learn from the interview was that the name ‘Winkle’ was passed to Eric Brown after the death of Eugene Esmonde VC during the ‘Channel Dash’ and that in the Fleet Air Arm it had something to do with their similar ‘stature’…

…I’d never heard (or read) that before.

I would read a book about ‘Winkle’ any day than have to listen to Radio Two’s ‘Jeremy Whine’

Sadly I haven’t but have heard nothing but enthusiasm from those who have.

I know I am repeating what others have said but his books are amongst the best you can get and his talks are second to none. I deliberately use the words talks rather than lectures because that’s what they are, he doesn’t lecture to you, he talks to you and fascinates you with every sentence. If you get the chance to attend one of his talks then do so, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

Yes, as you say, nothing can beat the books, and thanks for that link.

Well his books are a good read and the recent tv documentary is also an excellent but brief insight into a unique aviator and his career in flying.

I picked up a DVD at Duxford last year which I think may be a full length version of the recent tv programme. I have looked on the makers website and it is no longer in production or in stock, however there may still be copies of it available at Duxford.

Just in case anyone is interested, it is 1 hr 42 mins title “Winkle” produced by Delta Vee Media www.deltaveemedia.co.uk

Steve

How true!! I was wondering, not having listened to any of the radio interviews, if any could have been more detailed or more revealing about his career than the excellent hour long documentary of his life shown on television last month.

By chance, caught the end of this. At last the rest of the world is catching up with what the aviation community has known for a while….

Winkle is a legend!

NOW NOW!

Thanks Steve, just started listening to it now, 1234 and they’re talking about income tax. Co-incidentally I’ve just started reading ‘Wings on my Sleeve’, I’ve only got to page 21 and he’s already seen Hanna Reitsch flying a helicopter, been flown by Udet, been expelled from Germany by the Nazis, flown his first carrier landing, and been close to two HE111s been blown to bits by flak. 😮