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  • Wings on My Sleeve

  • The World's Greatest Test Pilot Tells His Story
  • By: Eric 'Winkle' Brown
  • Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
  • Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (336 ratings)
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Wings on My Sleeve

By: Eric 'Winkle' Brown
Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
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Summary

The autobiography of one of the greatest pilots in history.

In 1939 Eric Brown was on a University of Edinburgh exchange course in Germany, and the first he knew of the war was when the Gestapo came to arrest him. They released him, not realising he was a pilot in the RAF volunteer reserve - and the rest is history.

Eric Brown joined the Fleet Air Arm and went on to be the greatest test pilot in history, flying more different aircraft types than anyone else. During his lifetime he made a record-breaking 2,407 aircraft carrier landings and survived 11 plane crashes.

One of Britain's few German-speaking airmen, he went to Germany in 1945 to test the Nazi jets, interviewing (among others) Hermann Goering and Hanna Reitsch. He flew the suicidally dangerous Me 163 rocket plane and tested the first British jets.

Wings on My Sleeve is 'Winkle' Brown's incredible story.

©2006 Eric Brown (P)2016 Orion Publishing Group

What listeners say about Wings on My Sleeve

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A great read!

I found this a real turner. The story of a truly unique flying career, never to be repeated.

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5 people found this helpful

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An incredible story from start to finish

If this were a work of fiction you'd say it was far fetched. Eric Brown was present at so many aviation milestones and saw so much in his long life. He had so many lucky escapes I'm beginning to think it was divine intervention as well as skill and luck that saved him. I met him once and he was a perfect gentleman. His book is gripping throughout and gives an incredible insight into wartime and post-war aviation development.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

This excellent memoir is his only underachiement.

Spectacular in his place in time ,a flight introduction with Udet in pre ww2 Germany.The low health and safety of the birth of the jet age . His obvious gifts as a naturally outstanding pilot the book leaves a nagging doubt ,that with better advise and a little teasing in interview, you could be reading an absolute barn stormer.
The remarkable achievements of this man in aviation are beyond comparison by a clear distance.... worth the price to hear his opinions on virtually all the machines flown in ww2 by all sides.
Just can't help thinking there was so much more in entertainment to winkle out of the Winkle.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Strangely Dull

For someone who had such an amazing career, Capt Brown managed to make his autobiography very emotionless and more a list of dates and events, than the fascinating story one would expect. The narration was okay, given the lack of emotion in the words written,but my overall experience is best summed up in the title of this review

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    2 out of 5 stars
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there must be a good story hidden here but not this book

i think the author was a far better pilot than story teller and someone should have ghost written the autobiography or a biography for him . A man with such a good story to tell should have a better record of his achievements . There is little context no back story just a long list of planes he flew which starts to become dull despite the amazing subject - someone please re write this mans life story and do him justice .

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A Remarkable Man and Incredible Pilot

A very interesting account of the life of a remarkable man and incredible pilot. It is mind boggling how many aircraft types and helicopters he flew. His skill , daring and enthusiasm are to be admired and his award of a CBE was well deserved.

The narration was very good, being clear and well paced.

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What a remarkable career

Really enjoyable story of a remarkable career. Quite humbling, and yet not at all boastful. Very interesting to hear about the German experimental aircraft from the end of WWll

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An exceptional story

The story of an incredible man that covers a vast range of aviation situations and aircraft types. I can never understand why Winkle Brown is not better known for his record breaking achievements.

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Very interesting and well-paced book.

Very interesting book and a good read for anyone with the slightest interest in aviation history. Well-paced with just the right amount of detail. I particularly enjoyed the author's recollection of test flights in captured German aircraft and the logistical arrangements around them.

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Fascinating Biography

I was thoroughly engrossed in this audio book from beginning to end. I have enjoyed further researching the many aircraft discussed in this biography

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