A FORMER Whalley man has become the first pilot in the world to test an innovative ‘ski-jump’ launch system which will be used on UK aircraft carriers.
Pete ‘Whizzer’ Wilson completed the feat when he undertook the test for Lancashire-based BAE Systems, which is creating the new system so planes can launch and land on very short runways.
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Pete, who was born in Whalley and later brought up in Kent, did the test flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, USA, where he now lives.
He has been a test pilot for BAE since June 2000 and before then was a pilot for the Royal Navy.
Pete said: “It’s always exciting when you get to do something in aviation for the first time. We spend literally years planning these ‘firsts’, with hundreds of hours in the simulator as the event gets close, but even with all the preparation the test team remains focussed on the potential that something unexpected might happen.
“As is usually the case, the jet performed as expected and it was a real pleasure.”
He will continue testing the new design at the US naval station for the next two weeks.
BAE Systems is behind the design and manufacture of the F-35B ski-jump ramps, which allow aircraft to take off in a shorter distance. It’s referred to as a ‘ski jump’ as the launch recreates a feel of leaping into the air.
The F-35B is designed to operate to and from aircraft carriers.
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