Interview with Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown

Thanks Cows!

I really must meet the gentlemen!

…..

Not sure what I will say! LOL

That’s asimilar pic to the one I was talking about earlier, but different angle.
Yes it is a Spiteful, just goes to show how big the MB.5 was!

Anyone ID the fighter aircraft with the bubble canopy in front of the MB.5? (second pic down on the page)

Looks quite small compared the the MB5 – Spiteful maybe?

Wasn’t it Winkle Brown who test flew the swept wing Sea Hawk, and said that although he could fly it, it was probably too much for the average FAA pilot

I think he was talking specifically about that jet (P.1052), not swept wing types in general.
The DH110 Sea Vixen took so long to get into service due to RAF/RN spec. changes and the Scimitar started out as straight wing (508 & 529) jet.

An interesting interview of a great testpilot and aviator. I recently read “Wings on my Sleeve” as well as “Wings of the Luftwaffe” and was immediately impressed by Captain Brown´s skill as an author but even more so as an extraordinary pilot with excellent and literally unique experience. He surely is one of a kind.

Michael

Wasn’t it Winkle Brown who test flew the swept wing Sea Hawk, and said that although he could fly it, it was probably too much for the average FAA pilot….so we continued with Navy straight wing jets for years before the….Oh yes…the swept wing Scimitar, the Sea Vixen….and then Ahhhh…Phantom….
That decision left the FAA years behind and under performing, compared with the RAF.
OOooooops better duck real low now…………….

Theres also a great pic on that post of a FW190 being taken apart (lamost by hand it seems) by families(?) public(?) at this exhibition in 1945 – apparently they just said ‘help yourselves’ to the public!

The event was held between 29 October and the 9th of November, and yes visitors were alowed to take off parts from that and a 109 I believe, almost all of the other German stuff was scrapped, not sure which is the greater folly!
There is one photo showing a Ju 52, Ju 88 / Fw 190 Mistral, Ju 252, Fw 200 Condor, Do 217, Fi 103, Do 335, Ju 188, He 219 Uhu, 2 x Fw190, 2 x Bf109, Fi 156 Storch, Ar 234, and Me 262 aswel as a Martin Baker MB.5, Firebrand, Brigand, Spearfish, and Windsor all outside on the ramp! Inside the hangar was 2 He 162s, 109s, 190s and Ju 88, and an Ar 232 ‘centipede’ was present aswel.
Apparently none of these German (or indeed the Britsh) aircraft survived scrapping.

Will check the vid out, thanks.

Thank you CGB, a great steer.

What a legend.

Brilliant – many thanks for sharing. I will download and enjoy at my leisure. Have met him a couple of times and he has a host of admirers and friends on this forum. Wonderful man!