News

Famed Test Pilot Eric “Winkle” Brown Dies

Pia Bergqvist

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 09:56 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Eric Melrose Brown, one of the most decorated pilots of all time, died at 97, having served 31 years in the British Fleet Air Arm and notably surviving 11 airplane crashes.
He demonstrated unparalleled versatility by flying 487 different types of aircraft, including every major Allied and Axis helicopter, propeller, and jet.
Brown held three Guinness World Records, most prominently for 2,407 aircraft carrier deck landings and performing the first-ever jet landing on a carrier in 1945.
His remarkable accomplishments earned him significant recognition, including meetings with King George VI and Winston Churchill, and honors such as the CBE, OBE, and MBE.

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Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.