Duncan Simpson

Duncan Menzies Soutar Simpson
Born	(1927-12-23) 23 December 1927 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	5 December 2017(2017-12-05) (aged 89)
Occupation	Test pilot
Years active	1945–1970s
Known for	Advancing the Hunter, Harrier, and Hawk aircraft; chief test pilot at Hawker Siddeley

Duncan Menzies Soutar Simpson Template:Postnominals (23 December 1927 – 5 December 2017) was a distinguished Scottish test pilot instrumental in advancing the Hunter, Harrier, and the Hawk advanced trainer aircraft utilized by the RAF’s Red Arrows. During the 1970s, he served as the chief test pilot at Hawker Siddeley. His notable flights include piloting the first production Harrier in December 1967 and the inaugural two-seat Harrier in April 1969.

Early life

Simpson was born in Edinburgh and received his education at Merchiston Castle School in the city. His uncle had a background as a test pilot with the Fairey Aviation Company.

de Havilland

Following his school graduation in 1945, he began working at de Havilland based in Hertfordshire.

Royal Air Force

In 1949, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force, training with 6FTS and 226 OCU. He operated the Gloster Meteor VIII while assigned to 222 Squadron. By 1953, he was part of the Day Fighter Development Unit at the Central Fighter Establishment.

Hawker Siddeley Aviation

XV738, the first Harrier GR1 production model later converted to GR3, pictured in August 1987 at RAF Gütersloh with 4 Squadron, flown by Squadron Leader Clive Loader, who rose to become an Air Chief Marshal

Simpson joined Hawker Siddeley in 1954. He became the third pilot to fly the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 when he took to the skies in August 1962. On 27 December 1967, he conducted the maiden flight of the first production Harrier GR1, designated XV738. Later, on 24 April 1969, he was the first to pilot the two-seat Harrier XW174. However, on 4 June 1969, just six weeks after this flight, he had to eject from this aircraft at approximately 100 ft over Larkhill, Wiltshire, following an engine failure at around 3,000 ft. The ejection resulted in a broken neck requiring a bone graft through surgery performed via his throat. Remarkably, he resumed flying within nine months and was honoured with the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air during the 1969 Birthday Honours. This incident led to all Hawker aircraft being equipped with canopy severance cords that shatter the canopy before ejection.

He was promoted to deputy chief test pilot in 1969 and advanced to chief test pilot a year later. On approximately 21 August 1974 at around 7 pm, Simpson completed the first flight of the Hawk HS1182 prototype (XX154), reaching an altitude of 20,000 ft during a flight lasting 53 minutes. The Hawk officially entered RAF service in November 1976.

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Hawk XX154, first flown in August 1974 at Dunsfold Aerodrome, shown here at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July 2015

Personal life

In June 1958, he entered into marriage and became a father to two sons and one daughter. The family resided in Guildford, Surrey.

Among his accolades, he was honored in 2011 by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Earlier, he was awarded the OBE during the 1973 Birthday Honours. Additionally, he earned the distinction of Fellow within the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He passed away at the age of 89 in December 2017.

See also

• Ralph Hooper, the engineer behind the Harrier and Hawk aircraft
• List of Harrier family losses
• Edward Tennant, who conducted the inaugural flight of the Folland Gnat on 18 July 1955, flying from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Chilbolton in Hampshire

External links

• Telegraph obituary dated 14 December 2017
• Times obituary published 10 February 2018

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