TEST PILOT Letters
On Official Company Headed Paper
Signed by Chief Test Pilots
3 letters on official company headed paper
signed by distinguished test pilots:
Group Captain HJ Wilson CBE AFC* ~ Rolls Royce Ltd
Geoffrey Tyson OBE ~ Saunders-Roe Ltd
Harald Penrose ~ Westland Aircraft Ltd
Hugh ‘Willie’ Wilson was Chief Pilot at RAE Farnborough during the war and by 1946 was Officer Commanding ETPS. On 4th November 1946 he flew a Gloster Meteor to a new World Speed Record of 606.25 mph. After leaving the RAF in 1948, he worked for a number of aviation companies including Blackburn and Rolls Royce. He passed away in 1990 aged 82.
Geoffrey Tyson test flew for Shorts during the war and became CTP in 1945 but shortly afterwards left to take up the post of CTP for Saunders-Roe. He first flew the amazing Saro SR.A/1 and demonstrated an inverted flypast in it at Farnborough. He died in 1987 aged 80.
Harald Penrose was Chief Test Pilot for Westland aircraft for 23 years, completing first flights on many famous types and amassed an impressive total of 309 types in his log book. He was also a renowned author and historian. He passed away in 1996 aged 92.
The letters are dated between 1955-68 and are to the noted aviation historian John WR Taylor concerning entries in his books. They are all in VG condition.