Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown Joins The People’s Mosquito as Patron

PRESS RELEASE- The People’s Mosquito, the UK’s DH.98 restoration-to-flight project, is honoured to announce that Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown has graciously accepted its invitation to become the charity’s Patron. To many, “Winkle” Brown will need no introduction, but for those who are less familiar with him, Capt. Eric Melrose “Winkle” Brown CBE, OBE, MBE, DSC, AFC, KCVSA, MA, PhD, Hon FRAeS, RN is a former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who, in testing 487 different types of aircraft, has flown more types of aircraft than any other pilot in history – a record unlikely to be broken. He also holds the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed, completing 2,407, and is the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s most decorated living pilot.

Among those landings was the first on a carrier of a heavy twin-engine aircraft, and this feat was achieved in none other than an adapted de Havilland Mosquito. While at Farnborough as Chief Naval Test Pilot, Capt. Brown was involved in the deck landing trials of the Sea Mosquito, the heaviest aircraft at that time chosen to be flown from a British carrier. Captain Brown landed one for the first time on HMS Indefatigable on 25th March 1944. This was quite a feat considering the fastest speed for deck landing was 86 knots, while the stall speed was of the Mosquito was 110 knots. He was also the first pilot to land a jet – a de Havilland Sea Vampire – on a carrier deck, in December 1945. At the end of the war, Capt. Brown was present at the liberation of Belsen-Bergen concentration camp, acting as a translator, and interrogated several key individuals including the notorious female guard, Irma Grese. He went on to interview many important Nazis, including Hermann Göring before his trial at Nuremberg, and Werner von Braun.

Captain Brown brings his decades of experience, his vast knowledge and his indomitable spirit to this exciting project. “I’m very happy to put my name to The People’s Mosquito project and help get a Mosquito flying again”, he said. Formed in December 2011, The People’s Mosquito is a charitable organization with the sole objective of restoring a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to flying condition and returning it to British skies. The project began life on Twitter when warbird restorer and aviation fanatic John Lilley tweeted about his longstanding idea of getting a Mosquito flying in the UK again.

For more information about “The people’s Mosquito” visit theWebsite www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk.

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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