Brian Trubshaw
Ernest Brian Trubshaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ernest Brian Trubshaw Template:Birth date Liverpool, England |
| Died | March 24, 2001 (aged 77) Cherington, Gloucestershire, England |
| Occupation | Test pilot |
| Years active | 1942–1986 |
| Known for | First British aviator to pilot the Concorde |
Ernest Brian Trubshaw, CBE, MVO (29 January 1924 – 24 March 2001) was a distinguished British test pilot, recognized as the first British aviator to pilot the Concorde in April 1969.
Biography
Trubshaw was born in Liverpool in 1924 and spent his childhood in Llanelli, where his family operated the Western Tinplate Works. He received his education at Winchester College.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and underwent pilot training in the United States. Throughout World War II, he operated Short Stirlings and Avro Lancasters with Bomber Command before moving to Transport Command. Following the war, he flew for the King's Flight, transporting King George VI and other members of the Royal Family. Additionally, he served as an instructor at both the Empire Flying School and RAF Cranwell.
Leaving the RAF in 1950, Trubshaw embarked on a thirty-year career as a test pilot with Vickers Armstrongs. By 1964, he took over from G R 'Jock' Bryce as chief test pilot and advanced to director of test flighting in 1966. His test piloting included significant aircraft such as the Vickers Valiant V-bomber, Vanguard, VC10, and BAC One-Eleven.
Trubshaw earned worldwide acclaim when he piloted Concorde for the first time on 9 April 1969, flying from Filton Aerodrome to RAF Fairford. Prior to this, he co-piloted an early French Concorde prototype test flight alongside André Turcat. Their contributions to Concorde's development were honored with the Iven C. Kincheloe Award in 1971.
His honors include being named a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in 1948, receiving an OBE in 1964, and elevation to CBE in 1970. In 1976, he was awarded the French Aeronautical Medal. Later roles encompassed divisional director and general manager of British Aerospace’s Filton facility (1980–1986), as well as membership on the UK Civil Aviation Authority board (1986–1993). He also provided aviation consultancy and authored works like Concorde: The Inside Story.
Known for his strong character, Trubshaw enjoyed cricket, golf, and equestrian activities, including serving as a fence judge at the Badminton Horse Trials for multiple years.
Personal life
In 1972, he wed Yvonne Edmondson (née Clapham).
An avid sportsman, Trubshaw played cricket during his time at Winchester College and within the Royal Air Force; later he attained a nine handicap in golf.
Death
He passed away peacefully in his sleep on 24 March 2001 at his residence in Cherington, Gloucestershire.
Legacy
Trubshaw was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1998.
See also
- John Cochrane – British Concorde test pilot
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1924 births
- 2001 deaths
- BAC One-Eleven
- British Aircraft Corporation
- British test pilots
- British World War II bomber pilots
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Concorde pilots
- Cricketers from Gloucestershire
- English cricketers
- Harmon Trophy winners
- Members of the Royal Victorian Order
- People educated at Winchester College
- Military personnel from Liverpool
- People from Llanelli
- People from Tetbury
- Royal Air Force cricketers
- Royal Air Force officers
- Segrave Trophy recipients
- 20th-century English sportsmen