Harald Penrose
| Harald Penrose | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Harald James Penrose |
| Born |
12 April 1904 Hereford |
| Died | 31 August 1996 (aged 92) Hardington Mandeville, Yeovil |
| Nationality | British |
| Aviation career | |
| Known for | Test pilot and author |
| First flight | 1919 Avro 504K |
Harald Penrose, O.B.E, CEng, F.R.Ae.S, A.M.I.N.A was the chief test pilot at Westland Aircraft Ltd between 1931 and 1953, a naval architect, and an aviation author. His flying experience ranged from man carrying kites before the First World War to early jet fighters and helicopters. He designed, built and flew his own glider in the 1930s, designed 36 boats and yachts, and wrote many books describing his flying career and the history of British aviation.
Harald James Penrose was born at 103 Park Street Hereford on 12 April 1904, the son of James Penrose, an Inland Revenue clerk and his wife, Elizabeth Alice. His fascination with manned flight started at an early age when his father showed him pictures of Bleriot's monoplane. He first flew aged 7 in a man-lifting kite. His first powered flight was in 1919, in a modified three seat Avro 504K, piloted by Alan Cobham.
When he left school in 1920 he was unable to find an apprenticeship in the aircraft industry, so on the advice of Frederick Handley Page he attended the aeronautical engineering course at Northampton Engineering College, London University. During a visit to de Havilland he flew in the prototype Moth as a passenger, piloted by Hubert Broad. As part of his course he undertook industrial placements working for Handley Page Ltd and Westland Aircraft Ltd.
After graduation in 1926 Penrose was employed by Westland Aircraft Ltd He started work on the shop floor, later working as an observer for the test pilot Lawrence Openshaw, then as assistant to Capt. Geoffrey Hill supervising the construction of the Widgeon III prototype.
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