Hi Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
catfood
Jedi Knight
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There was a program on the BBC last night about Eric 'Winkle' Brown. I consider myself a bit of an aviation anorak but he is not someone I had ever heard of before. He is worth a Google (and a biography if one exists)
What an eventful life he has lead (and is still leading - he is a healthy 95 now).
He attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics (as a spectator) where he met Goering and became friends with Ernst Udet the german WW1 ace who encouraged him to fly.
Was present at the Nurumberg Rally.
He studied German at university, becoming fluent (as well as learning to fly).
Was in Germany at the outbreak of WW2 when he was arrested and released (into Switzeland with his MG) by the SS
Flew off HMS Audacity before it was sunk, he was only one of two survivors from his sqadron.
Became a test pilot responsible for testing aircraft for deck landings (performing 1500 landings on 22 carriers).
Went to Germany towards the end of the war to evaluate and fly FW190, ME262 ME163 (and survived!) and Arado AR234s amoung may others.
Investigated the high Mach handling of Spitfires, P51, P38 etc.
Was present at the liberation of Belson.
Iterrogated Himmler and Goering amoung others for the Nuremburg trials.
etc, etc.
His log book shows he has flown 487 different types - a world record -(including fly the first tail rotor helicopters in the UK after 'reading the instruction manual' without any tuition).
He made 2407 carrier landings (another record).
The right stuff indeed.
What an eventful life he has lead (and is still leading - he is a healthy 95 now).
He attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics (as a spectator) where he met Goering and became friends with Ernst Udet the german WW1 ace who encouraged him to fly.
Was present at the Nurumberg Rally.
He studied German at university, becoming fluent (as well as learning to fly).
Was in Germany at the outbreak of WW2 when he was arrested and released (into Switzeland with his MG) by the SS
Flew off HMS Audacity before it was sunk, he was only one of two survivors from his sqadron.
Became a test pilot responsible for testing aircraft for deck landings (performing 1500 landings on 22 carriers).
Went to Germany towards the end of the war to evaluate and fly FW190, ME262 ME163 (and survived!) and Arado AR234s amoung may others.
Investigated the high Mach handling of Spitfires, P51, P38 etc.
Was present at the liberation of Belson.
Iterrogated Himmler and Goering amoung others for the Nuremburg trials.
etc, etc.
His log book shows he has flown 487 different types - a world record -(including fly the first tail rotor helicopters in the UK after 'reading the instruction manual' without any tuition).
He made 2407 carrier landings (another record).
The right stuff indeed.
