Eric Brown (pilot)

Eric Brown
Brown in December 1945
Birth nameEric Melrose Brown
NicknameWinkle
Born(1919-01-21)21 January 1919
Leith, Scotland
Died21 February 2016(2016-02-21) (aged 97)
Surrey, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1939–1970
RankCaptain
Battles/warsWorld War II

Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS, RN[1] (21 January 1919 – 21 February 2016) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer and test pilot. He flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history.[2]

He also held the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and was the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot.[3] He achieved several "firsts" in naval aviation, including the first landings on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engined aircraft, an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage and a jet-propelled aircraft.

References

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  1. Jones, Luke (14 November 2014). "Eric 'Winkle' Brown: The man who seemed not to notice danger". BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  2. Ailes, Emma (23 April 2013). "Captain 'Winkle' Brown: Is he the greatest pilot ever?". BBC News Scotland. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. "Paisley University Library Special Collections – Putnam Aeronautical 1997". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)