Brien Singleton Wygle (August 23, 1924 – September 15, 2020) was an American pilot from Seattle, Washington. Wygle was a test pilot for Boeing.
Brien S. Wygle | |
|---|---|
 Wygle in 2009 | |
| Born | August 23, 1924 |
| Died | September 15, 2020 (aged 96) |
| Occupation | Test pilot |
| Spouse |
Norma Renton
(m. 1947; died 2003) |
| Children | 4 |
Early life
editOn August 23, 1924. Wygle was born as Brien Singleton Wygle in Seattle, Washington. Wygle's brothers are Hugh Wygle and Monte Wygle. In 1927, Wygle and his family moved to Canada. Wygle grew up in a farm near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1942, Wygle graduated from Kathryn High School in Canada.[1][2]
Education
editIn 1951, Wygle earned a Bachelor of Science mechanical engineering degree with aeronautics from University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. In 1953, Wygle graduated from United States Air Force Test Pilot School.[1][2]
Career
editIn 1942, at age 18, Wygle joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. During World War II, Wygle became a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Wygle flew the Douglas C-47 Skytrain as a combat cargo pilot.[1][3][4]
In 1948, Wygle flew bombing missions for Israel.[1]
In 1951, Wygle became a test pilot for Boeing in Wichita, Kansas. In 1951, Wygle's first assignment was flying the B-47 bomber. After transferring to Seattle, Washington, Wygle flew the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber as a lead project pilot. In 1957, Wygle performed flight testing as a pilot for the Boeing 707 airliner. In 1967, Wygle flew the first Boeing 737 flight as a test pilot.[1][5][6][3]
Wygle was the co-pilot of the first Boeing 747 flight that took place on February 9, 1969, in Everett, Washington. For the first flight, he flew as co-pilot with the pilot in command Jack Waddell and the Flight engineer Jesse Wallick. During this flight they experienced minor problems with the wing flaps and decided to cut the flight short.[7]
In 1970, Wygle became a Director of flight tests at Boeing.[8]
In January 1990, Wygle retired from Boeing as the Vice President of flight operations.[1][3]
Awards
edit- 1945 Distinguished Flying Cross for valor[1]
Personal life
editIn May 1947, Wygle married Norma Renton. They have four daughters.[1][2]
In August 2020, Wygle developed pneumonia. On September 15, 2020, Wygle died in Bellevue, Washington with his family in attendance. Wygle was 96.[1][2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Gates, Dominic (September 17, 2020). "Brien Wygle, an unassuming icon among Boeing test pilots, led an intrepid aviator life". seattletimes.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Brien Singleton Wygle (Aug. 23, 1924, to Sept. 15, 2020)". mtexpress.com. September 23, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Meet Brien Wygle – Boeing Test Pilot". wingborn.com. July 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
- ^ "Brien Wygle Archives - This Day in Aviation". This Day in Aviation.
- ^ "Boats That FlY". airportjournals.com. July 1, 2005. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ "Boeing 747 turns 40 today". 9 February 2009.
- ^ Murray, Ryan (May 9, 2017). "Bellevue resident Brien Wygle honored for first flight of 737". bellevuereporter.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
External links
edit- Meet Brien Wygle – Boeing Test Pilot at skiesmag.com
- Brien Wygle oral history interview at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections
- Brien S. Wygle Collection at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections