Brien S. Wygle
{{Short description|American pilot (1924–2020)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brien S. Wygle
| image = Brien Wygle at SETP 2009.jpg
| caption = Wygle in 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date |1924|08|23}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|09|15|1924|08|23}}
| death_place = Bellevue, Washington, US
| occupation = Test pilot
| spouse = {{marriage|Norma Renton|1947|2003|reason=died}}
| children = 4
}}
Brien Singleton Wygle (August 23, 1924 – September 15, 2020) was an American pilot from Seattle, Washington. Wygle was a test pilot for Boeing.
Early life
Education
In 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.
Career
In 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.wingborn.com/meet-brien-wygle-boeing-test-pilot/ |title=Meet Brien Wygle – Boeing Test Pilot |website=wingborn.com |date=July 2015 |accessdate=September 26, 2020}}U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
In 1948, Wygle flew bombing missions for Israel.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/brien-wygle/|title=Brien Wygle Archives - This Day in Aviation|website=This Day in Aviation}}{{cite web |url=http://airportjournals.com/boats-that-fly/ |title=Boats That FlY |website=airportjournals.com |date=July 1, 2005 |accessdate=September 25, 2020}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-747-turns-40-today/|title=Boeing 747 turns 40 today|date=9 February 2009|publisher=}}
In 1970, Wygle became a Director of flight tests at Boeing.{{cite web |url=https://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/bellevue-resident-brien-wygle-honored-for-first-flight-of-737/ |title=Bellevue resident Brien Wygle honored for first flight of 737 |website=bellevuereporter.com |first=Ryan |last=Murray |date=May 9, 2017 |accessdate=September 25, 2020}}
In January 1990, Wygle retired from Boeing as the Vice President of flight operations.
Awards
Personal life
In May 1947, Wygle married Norma Renton. They have four daughters.
In August 2020, Wygle developed pneumonia. On September 15, 2020, Wygle died in Bellevue, Washington with his family in attendance. Wygle was 96.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/brien-wygle-an-unassuming-icon-among-boeing-test-pilots-led-an-intrepid-aviator-life/ |title=Brien Wygle, an unassuming icon among Boeing test pilots, led an intrepid aviator life |website=seattletimes.com |first=Dominic |last=Gates |date=September 17, 2020 |accessdate=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mtexpress.com/obituaries/brien-singleton-wygle/article_ac07aafe-fd13-11ea-9390-b77d22af93cb.html |title=Brien Singleton Wygle (Aug. 23, 1924, to Sept. 15, 2020) |website=mtexpress.com |date=September 23, 2020}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.skiesmag.com/news/meet-brien-wygle-boeing-test-pilot/ Meet Brien Wygle – Boeing Test Pilot at skiesmag.com]
- [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/items/show/45850 Brien Wygle oral history interview] at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections
- [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/collections/show/910 Brien S. Wygle Collection] at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wygle, Brien S}}
Category:Military personnel from Seattle
Category:Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II