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‘World’s greatest’ aviator Eric Winkle Brown dies at 97

Discussion in 'Everything Else Heritage' started by Martin Perry, Feb 21, 2016.

  1. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    RIP
    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...viator-eric-winkle-brown-dies-at-97-1-4035347
    A remarkable man; the epithet was not lightly earned.
     
    Martin Perry, Feb 21, 2016
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  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    A true legend in his own lifetime. If it had wings, he could fly it. Attended a talk by him some years ago. A truly great honour.
    RIP Winkle.
     
    Spamcan81, Feb 21, 2016
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  3. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Quite a man.

    I understand that his meticulous attention to detail had a lot to do with his success as, and survival as a pilot
     
    johnofwessex, Feb 21, 2016
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  4. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    Watched the TV programme again just last week about Eric Brown and his incredible exploits in so many aircraft. It tickled me that the Americans were desperate to break his record for the pilot who had flown the greatest number of different aircraft. His achievements do seem inconceivable today. A very sad loss of a truly Great Man.

    Vale Eric.
     
    ragl, Feb 21, 2016
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  5. Eightpot

    Eightpot Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Eightpot, Feb 22, 2016
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  6. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I would have left out the word air, just unique man who obviously squeezed everything he could out of life and a bit more. The sort of fella they wrote boys comics about.
    RIP
     
    Johnb, Feb 22, 2016
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  7. 8126

    8126 Member

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    I picked up his autobiography on a whim a couple of years ago; to my shame I'd never heard of him before. I also got the impression that perhaps part of the reason for his success was that he understood very well when he'd got away with something through luck and did his best to avoid it happening again, rather than believing himself immortal for having survived so much.

    So when the DH108 did to him exactly what had killed Geoffrey de Havilland Jnr, he attributed his survival to the fact that he was shorter than de Havilland, rather than believing himself a better pilot. A lesser man might have got caught up in his own legend after an incident like that; Brown remained completely professional.
     
    8126, Feb 22, 2016
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    big.stu and Martin Perry like this.

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