Duncan Simpson
Duncan Simpson OBE FRAeS FIMechE (23 December 1927 - 5 December 2017)[1] was a Scottish pilot, and the former chief test pilot of Hawker Siddeley in the 1970s. He flew the first production Harrier aircraft in December 1967, and the first two-seat Harrier in April 1969.
Early life
He was born in Edinburgh, and was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. His uncle was a test pilot for the Fairey Aviation Company.
Career
de Havilland
After leaving school in 1945 he worked for de Havilland in Hertfordshire.
Royal Air Force
In 1949 he joined the Royal Air Force with 6FTS and 226 OCU, and flew the Gloster Meteor VIII with 222 Squadron. In 1953 he joined the Day Fighter Development Unit at the Central Fighter Establishment.
Hawker Siddeley Aviation
He joined Hawker Siddeley in 1954. He first flew the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 in August 1962; he was the third pilot to fly the P.1127. On 27 December 1967, he was the first the fly the first production Harrier GR1 XV738. On 24 April 1969[2] he was the first to fly the two-seat Harrier XW174; six weeks later on 4 June 1969 in this aircraft, he was forced to eject at low level (100ft), over Larkhill in Wiltshire, when the engine failed at 3,000ft. On ejection from the aircraft he broke his neck; he needed a bone graft, and surgeons had to operate via his throat. He returned to flying nine months later, and received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
He became deputy chief test pilot in 1969. He became chief test pilot in 1970. He was the first to fly the Hawk HS1182 (XX154) at around 7pm on 21 August 1974,[3] and reached 20,000ft in a 53-minute flight; this aircraft currently flies with the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS). The Hawk entered service with the RAF in November 1976.
Personal life
He married in June 1958 and had two sons, and a daughter. They lived in Surrey.
He received an award in 2011 from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. He received the OBE in the 1973 Birthday Honours. He became a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He died aged 89 in December 2017.
See also
- Ralph Hooper, designer of the Harrier and the Hawk
- List of Harrier Jump Jet family losses
References
External links
Business positions | ||
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Preceded by |
Chief Test Pilot of Hawker Siddeley Aviation 1970-1978 |
Succeeded by |