Warbird Information Exchange

It's been a couple of days now since his death, and no one here has mentioned it, so I thought I should. Neville Duke was one of the finest, most unassuming men, and a personal hero of mine. I really am saddened by his death.

He was one of the great fifties test pilots, and even set the absolute world speed record in a Hawker Hunter. He was still acting as a test pilot deep into his seventies, and an avid pilot until his final day. Not to mention that he was also a 27 victory ace. However, it was his unassuming, gentlemanly manner which always impressed me most. He was a true hero, and an honorable, decent man. There is little more a man can achieve towards greatness in his life than that.

Richard

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/04/13/db1302.xml

Thank's for that old chap. Arf Arf etc etc.

Neville came from a time when British test pilots were household names and flying was an exciting thing that gripped the nation's imagination. Sadly, neither are the case now in the UK. I have never had sporting heros but in my teens in the late 60s if I had a hero at all it was Neville Duke and I used to pore over the copy of Neville Duke's Book of Flight in our school library frequently. When I was 14 I met him and flew with him a couple of times in light aircraft. Two of my prized possesions are one of his old nav maps and a signed photo of him and I in front of a Britten Norman Islander. He was a real gentlemen and was always willing to spend time encouraging my, and many other's, interest in flying. He passed away shortly after landing from a flight. What a great way to go - the end of another safe flight and a long flying career. He will be greatly missed.

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David Legg
Editor, The Catalina News
The Catalina Society
Author: Consolidated PBY Catalina - The Peacetime Record