Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Frank T. Courtney 1895-1983




Frank Courtney learned to fly with Graham White before joining the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, and was later shot down by Max Immelman. After the war he flew in air races,major victories including the 1920 London Aerial Derby and 1923 Kings Cup.

For 26 years leading American and British companies retained him as a Test Pilot and engineering consultant. Sopwith, deHavilland, Handley Page, Boulton-Paul, Saunders-Roe, Parnall and Curtiss-Wright were among the many manufacturesr whose prototypes he flew. He was also responsible for much of the early Cierva autogyro flying.