The triumphant flight crew pose at the bottom of the steps of Concorde 001 after her first landing at Filton, on the 10th August 1972. A historic day for Filton's history. Stood at the bottom of the steps; Deputy Chief Test Pilot John Cochcrane bottom left, John Allen, Chief Flight Test Observer in the middle, and Peter Baker right, Test Pilot. Back row left, Mike Addley, Flight Test Observer, Terry Mason, Dennis Ackary, Flight engineer (Third crew member).
Peter Baker joined the RAF in 1943, flying Sunderlands between 1946-1949 with No 201,209 and 239 Sqn's. He attended the CFS course then FTS. He took No12 Course ETPS in 1953 and served with A and AEE Boscombe Down between 1954-1956. He was a tutor at ETPS between 1957-1959. He voluntarily retired at the rank of Squadron Leader from the RAF in 1959 to join Handley Page as a Test Pilot.
He was a Test Pilot with Handley Page Ltd then with British Aircraft Corporation (becoming British Aerospace) for 19 years. He has been involved with VC 10, BAC 1-11, Concorde. Peter left British Aerospace to become a Test Pilot with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) becoming their Chief Test Pilot. He practised for two years as freelance airline pilot,becoming and Aviation consultantin 1989.
Among his honours are the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the air, R.P. Alston Medal, Liveryman and Upper Freeman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators