Honorary doctorate for pilot who holds world record for test flights

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 21:57

A PENSIONER who holds the title of being the world's most prolific test pilot will be awarded with an honorary doctorate by Edinburgh University.

Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown, 89, who once crashed while performing a demonstration for Sir Winston Churchill, will be awarded the degree next month by his alma mater in honour of his distinguished career .

The former Royal Navy officer's career almost ended before it began when he was captured by the Gestapo as a modern languages undergraduate on exchange in Nazi Germany. But he was mistakenly released by the SS, who failed to realise he was an RAF volunteer service pilot – and later ended up interrogating key Nazi figures including Herman Goering to learn from their advanced aviation technology.

Now he is in the Guinness Book of World Records for notching up 487 test flights, having served as the chief test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough.

And his long career included 11 near fatal accidents, such as when he crashed before the former war prime minister at Donibristle in 1941, falling into the Firth of Forth and ending up with a broken nose and arm.

Captain Brown, who gave up his wings at 72, said: "I was surprised and very honoured to be awarded the doctorate. Studying modern languages at Edinburgh University gave me an exciting part of my life, going to Germany and then spending time interrogating people.

" I loved the challenge of flying. Speed is like an aphrodisiac, and I love fast aeroplanes, like I love fast cars.

"But I realise my reactions are now not as quick as they used to be."

Captain Brown inherited his love of planes from his father, a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.

Originally from Edinburgh, he learned to fly alone as a student with the university air squadron.

After 42 years serving as a Royal Navy officer, he is the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated pilot and also holds the world record for the most carrier landings, 2,407.

His book on his adventures, Wings on My Sleeve, has sold 30,000 copies since first being published in 1961.