I suppose this was inevitable but it's still sad. Reading his book 'Wings On My Sleeve' one gets the impression of just what a professional aviator he was. He holds the record for the most types flown (487) both rotary and fixed wing, which is a record that will probably never be broken and also notched up 2407 landings on aircraft carriers. Aviation wouldn't be as safe as it is without his (and other pilots) work in the unknown. I try and approach flying in the same analytical manner and if I could be even a fraction as good as he was then I'd be happy. Even if you aren't a pilot or have no interest in aviation, next time you get on an aeroplane to go somewhere, just take a brief moment to think about the test pilots who, in the 1940s and 1950s, climbed into new aircraft and pushed the boundaries without the benefit of computer modelling or simulation. The cost in life was high but because of them, you can sit back and watch a movie at 35000ft.
Worlds Greatest Aviator
