Philip Lucas

{{Short description|English aviator and test pilot}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox person |name = Philip Lucas |image = |caption = |birth_name = Philip Gadesden Lucas |birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|09|03|df=yes}} |birth_place = Bexleyheath, Kent, England |death_date = {{Death date and age|1981|12|18|1902|09|3|df=yes}} |death_place = Crawley, Sussex, England |body_discovered = |death_cause = |resting_place = |resting_place_coordinates =  |citizenship = |other_names = |known_for = |education = |alma_mater = |employer = |occupation = Test Pilot |years_active = 1926–1967 |height = |title = |term = |predecessor = |successor = |party = |opponents = |boards = |spouse = |partner = |children = |parents = |relations = |callsign = |awards = George Medal |signature = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Philip Lucas''' GM (1902–1981) was an English aviator and test pilot who was awarded the George Medal for his courage and skill landing a damaged Hawker Typhoon prototype.<ref name="obit" />

Philip Gadesden Lucas was born on 3 September 1902 at Bexleyheath, Kent and was educated at Epsom College before starting an apprenticeship with Vickers.<ref name="obit" /> He joined the Royal Air Force in 1926 and by 1931 had joined Hawker Aircraft as a test pilot.<ref name="obit" /> In 1939 he became Hawker's Chief Experimental Test Pilot operating from Brooklands in Surrey and Langley in Buckinghamshire.<ref name="obit" /> He flew the Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Tempest straight from the production line and for development flying.<ref name="obit" />

In 1941 Lucas was flying a Hawker Typhoon prototype that he managed to land safely after it suffered a structural failure during flight. For his courage and skill he was awarded the George Medal:{{Blockquote|Test Pilot Lucas displayed great courage and presence of mind during a test flight and, by his skill and coolness, saved an aircraft from destruction.|London Gazette<ref name="gm" />}}

Lucas retired from test flying in 1946 and became general manager of Hawker Aircraft, which by the time he retired in 1967 had become Hawker Siddeley Aviation.<ref name="obit" /> He died in Crawley, West Sussex on 18 December 1981, aged 79.

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="gm">{{London Gazette|issue=35156|supp=y|page=2643|date=6 May 1941}}</ref> <ref name="obit">Mr Philip Lucas." Times [London, England] 5 January 1982: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 March 2012.</ref> }}

==Further reading== *{{cite magazine |date=25 April 1946 |title= Britain's Test Pilots no.6 Philip Lucas|magazine= Flight|volume=LXIX |issue=1948 |pages=416–7 |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%200806.html }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, Philip}} Category:1902 births Category:1981 deaths Category:English aviators Category:English test pilots Category:Royal Air Force officers Category:People educated at Epsom College Category:Recipients of the George Medal