Former RHS Pupil Eric Brown

From - The Scotsman 12/05/2008
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.