Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: gripen on November 14, 2014, 03:22:38 PM

Title: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: gripen on November 14, 2014, 03:22:38 PM
I don't know if posted earlier? Enjoy!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/d01755cf#b04nvgq1
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Brooke on November 14, 2014, 10:42:34 PM
Nice!  Thanks for the post.  :aok
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Bruv119 on November 15, 2014, 02:47:53 AM
Guy is a legend.   If only there were more like him.    :salute
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: DaveBB on November 15, 2014, 08:53:13 AM
I'd say Yeager and Brown are both on the same level.


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65P2OWMxIT0/TqGeQEGuxRI/AAAAAAAAJZA/bxaYtmT4tmo/s1600/Yeager_today.JPG)
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Golfer on November 16, 2014, 07:24:58 PM
I'd say Yeager and Brown are both on the same level.


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65P2OWMxIT0/TqGeQEGuxRI/AAAAAAAAJZA/bxaYtmT4tmo/s1600/Yeager_today.JPG)

Not even a little bit. Yeager couldn't hold Brown's jock.

Hoover carries the day and will forever be the unattainable standard to which men should be measured.
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: drgondog on November 22, 2014, 05:41:08 PM
Not even a little bit. Yeager couldn't hold Brown's jock.

Hoover carries the day and will forever be the unattainable standard to which men should be measured.

Curiosity compels me to ask what your metrics are?

I guess I have to ask:
How much time have you had with any (all) of them to make assessments regarding a.) flying ability as measured by instrument flying skills, emergency procedures, judgment under stress, formation flying, etc; b.) combat record, test pilot record, diversity of test and combat environments; c.) demonstrated courage and skills when knocked out of a normal environment (i.e walking out of France and into Spain while being hunted by the German army).

You want to place Brown with Yeager as a combat fighter pilot? or Hoover?

You want to claim that either Hoover of Brown have been placed into more high stress test flying environment?  What did either Hoover or Brown fly that pushed the envelope of speed and altitude in 'one off' experimental ships with crappy flying qualities?

I've known Yeager a long time, not particularly fond of the kind of person that he has become since Glynnis passed away but I think I can look at his accomplishments in aviation as a pilot and leading edge pioneer objectively.  Can you?
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: FLS on November 22, 2014, 06:52:31 PM
Single handed capture of German airbase. Brown FTW.   :lol

Seriously, it's silly to compare them. All giants.
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Brooke on November 22, 2014, 08:46:03 PM
They are all amazing and accomplished guys.
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Cthulhu on December 04, 2014, 02:37:09 PM
"Memories of a WW2 Hero", Eric Brown's story is on Netflix. I highly recommend it.

http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/80021875?trkid=3565916 (http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/80021875?trkid=3565916)
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: Cthulhu on December 04, 2014, 03:12:30 PM
What did either Hoover or Brown fly that pushed the envelope of speed and altitude in 'one off' experimental ships with crappy flying qualities?
Brown flew the DE Havilland 108 that killed Geoffrey (no slouch pilot himself). It killed two other pilots as well. It tried to kill Brown as well. It failed.

I have tremendous respect for the flying skills of all three men, Hoover especially. As far as their characters,  I've already commented in another thread about what the other test pilots at Edwards thought of Yeager and his bullying, "who needs a flight plan?", "I'll call General LeMay if you don't like it" attitude. He single-handedly destroyed the NF-104 program with his antics, and guys like Frank Borman were not the least bit happy with him. His subsequent attempt to blame the airplane for his unwillingness to learn how to operate the thing or follow the test flight profile (the post crash investigation showed there was absolutely nothing wrong with the aircraft) speaks volumes about the man's suitability as a test pilot.
Title: Re: Eric 'Winkle' Brown on BBC
Post by: FLS on December 04, 2014, 04:05:12 PM
Brown's book "Wings On My Sleeve" is excellent and details his many accomplishments. Hoover's book "Forever Flying" is also excellent.