Test Pilot

by Neville Duke

Neville Duke is well known in aviation circles, not only as a successful fighter pilot, but also as a test pilot with the Hawker Aviation Company.

Joining the RAF at the start of the war, he found himself in 1941 with 92 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill. That spring and summer he survived the air battles over Northern France with the Biggin Hill Wing, often flying as wing man to the famous and legendary 'Sailor' Malan - Fighter Command's top-scoring pilot at that time.

Towards the end of the war he became an RAF test pilot and later a member of the RAF's High Speed Flight. This was the start of a successful career as a test pilot after leaving the Service in 1948, having been awarded the AFC. Working for Hawkers, he became Chief Test Pilot and did all the major flight development on one of the most famous of all RAF peacetime aircraft - the Hawker Hunter, and with it took the world speed record in 1953. 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of this record.

Neville later set up his own test flying business, as well as becoming the personal pilot of Sir George Dowty. He worked for years as a freelance and highly respected test pilot, working on the Optica, Fieldmaster and Firemaster airplanes. He still flies his own plane.

Genres: Aviation

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 1992

About the author

Neville Duke was one of the first men to fly an aircraft at a speed greater than the speed of sound.
He was a British test pilot and fighter ace of the Second World War. He was the most successful Western Allied ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, and was credited with the destruction of 27 enemy aircraft. After the end of the war, Duke was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost test pilots. In 1953, he became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a Hawker Hunter at 727.63 mph (1,171.01 km/h) over Littlehampton.

Reviews

[Alex Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chronicle of a very interesting life. The evocation of the first fly and the discovery of a vocation for life are heartwarming. The thrills and dangers of WW2 air combat are narrated with great detail as well as the postwar test pilot experience. Amusing and interesting, well written, and fast-paced. My Corgi Books edition worn and battered adds character to this wonderful reading.

[James R Jackson III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stands out

Crimenelly! What a career and lived to tell it. This is just the best one of these.I'm sure he is talented. Somebody was looking.out for this English dude. Better him than me.

[Stephen P. Moynihan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice autobiography of a post war test pilot.

Nice personal view of British WWII pilot who became a post war test pilot. Good stories. I recommend this book.