Peter Twiss - Test Pilot
09-02-2011 | 08:53 AM
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Peter Twiss - Test Pilot
<h1 class="story-header">Pilot who set 1,000mph jet-powered aircraft record dies</h1><div class="caption body-narrow-width">
<span style="width: 304px">Peter Twiss flew the Fairey Delta II between two timing points in West Sussex</span></div><p class="introduction">A former fighter pilot from Hampshire who was the first man to fly a jet-powered aircraft at more than 1,000mph has died aged 90.</p>
Peter Twiss, from Fareham, entered the record books in 1956 when he flew the Fairey Delta II aircraft between two timing points on the West Sussex coast.</p>
Six previous attempts at the record at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, failed before he reached 1,132 mph.</p>
Mr Twiss, who was also recognised for his wartime service, died on Wednesday.</p>
The pilot, who went to school in Sherborne, Dorset, had been in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II.</p>
He developed night fighter tactics, flying from Ford in West Sussex, before becoming a test pilot.</p>
He later appeared in the James Bond film, From Russia With Love, piloting a speed boat, and in Sink the Bismarck! in which he flew a Fairey Swordfish.
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">This was an intense period of aviation firsts. At the timeI was a child at junior school. (First grade) and kids had comics in those days ( A weekly periodcal for kids) Mine was the 'Eagle' and it contained a cutaway drawing of the FD2.
</span>
Alistair.</p>
<span style="width: 304px">Peter Twiss flew the Fairey Delta II between two timing points in West Sussex</span></div><p class="introduction">A former fighter pilot from Hampshire who was the first man to fly a jet-powered aircraft at more than 1,000mph has died aged 90.</p>Peter Twiss, from Fareham, entered the record books in 1956 when he flew the Fairey Delta II aircraft between two timing points on the West Sussex coast.</p>
Six previous attempts at the record at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, failed before he reached 1,132 mph.</p>
Mr Twiss, who was also recognised for his wartime service, died on Wednesday.</p>
The pilot, who went to school in Sherborne, Dorset, had been in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II.</p>
He developed night fighter tactics, flying from Ford in West Sussex, before becoming a test pilot.</p>
He later appeared in the James Bond film, From Russia With Love, piloting a speed boat, and in Sink the Bismarck! in which he flew a Fairey Swordfish.
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">This was an intense period of aviation firsts. At the timeI was a child at junior school. (First grade) and kids had comics in those days ( A weekly periodcal for kids) Mine was the 'Eagle' and it contained a cutaway drawing of the FD2.
</span>
Alistair.</p>
09-02-2011 | 09:22 AM
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From: Wilts, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Peter Twiss - Test Pilot
Sad news Alistair.
At the invitation of my good friend Andy Aldridge, I was privileged to attend an event at the Fleet Air Arm museum back in 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1000 mph flight at which Peter Twiss gave a presentation on the build-up to and the series of flights that culminated in the one that got the record. A really lovely man, he was in the company of many other famous aviators at that event including Neville Duke who, of course, was a decorated ace from WW2 and Hunter test pilot.
End of an era.
Rgds,
Dick
England
At the invitation of my good friend Andy Aldridge, I was privileged to attend an event at the Fleet Air Arm museum back in 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1000 mph flight at which Peter Twiss gave a presentation on the build-up to and the series of flights that culminated in the one that got the record. A really lovely man, he was in the company of many other famous aviators at that event including Neville Duke who, of course, was a decorated ace from WW2 and Hunter test pilot.
End of an era.
Rgds,
Dick
England
