John Lankester Parker
Encyclopedia
John Lankester Parker OBE FRAeS Hon. MSLAE
(1896 – 22 August 1965) was Chief Test Pilot
for Short Brothers
from 1918 until his retirement in 1945. He joined Shorts in 1916
as a part-time test pilot and assistant to then Chief Test Pilot Ronald Kemp, having been recommended for the post by Captain
, later Admiral Sir, Murray Sueter, RNAS. By the time he retired he was a director of the company.
's Seaplane School based in Windermere, where he flew, first as a pupil and then as an instructor, between 1914 and 1916. It was during this time that he made the acquaintance of Murray Sueter, Ronald Kemp and Oscar Gnosspelius
, all of whom would figure later in his work at Shorts.
In 1916 he joined the Prodger-Isaacs Syndicate of freelance test pilots, working for several British aircraft manufacturers.
s from the Eastchurch
airfield. In spite of his relative youth, his flying skills impressed Horace Short, who soon offered him a permanent position as assistant to Ronald Kemp.
He became Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers in 1918 as successor to Ronald Kemp.
Between 1918 and his last official flight as Chief Test Pilot on 22 August 1945 he flew every Shorts prototype on its maiden flight, ranging from the diminutive Short Satellite
(640 lb (290 kg)) to the very large Short Shetland
(75,860 lb (34,410 kg)). During the course of his long association with the company, especially during the early pioneering years, he survived numerous forced landings, both on land and on water.
He was awarded the OBE in June 1942.
In 1943 he became a Director of Short Brothers and Harland Ltd., Belfast, resigning from the Board in 1958.
, serving as its Master from 1951 until 1953 and again from 1956 until 1957. In 1948 he was the first recipient of the Guild's Brackley Memorial Trophy, "awarded to a transport pilot(s) or navigator(s), for outstanding flying, contributing to the operational development of air transport, or transport aircraft, or of new techniques in air transport flying."
In 1964 he succeeded Lord Douglas of Kirtleside as President of the Seaplane Club of Great Britain.
In memory of his long association with the Medway area, a road in Rochester, Kent was named after him.
MSLAE
Post-nominal indicating that the bearer is a Member of the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers .The society also awarded honorary Membership...
(1896 – 22 August 1965) was Chief Test Pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
for Short Brothers
Short Brothers
Short Brothers plc is a British aerospace company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boats during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s...
from 1918 until his retirement in 1945. He joined Shorts in 1916
1916 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1916:- Events :* Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft simulate night torpedo attacks for the first time against Japanese fleet units in Tateyama Bay during annual fleet maneuvers, although no torpedoes are dropped....
as a part-time test pilot and assistant to then Chief Test Pilot Ronald Kemp, having been recommended for the post by Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
, later Admiral Sir, Murray Sueter, RNAS. By the time he retired he was a director of the company.
First flying experience
He gained his first flying experience as a pilot and instructor flying for the Northern Aircraft CompanyLakes Flying Company
The Lakes Flying Company was an early British aircraft manufacturer of seaplanes based at Windermere. In 1914 it was taken over by the Northern Aircraft Company Limited.-History:...
's Seaplane School based in Windermere, where he flew, first as a pupil and then as an instructor, between 1914 and 1916. It was during this time that he made the acquaintance of Murray Sueter, Ronald Kemp and Oscar Gnosspelius
Oscar Gnosspelius
Major Oscar Theodor Gnosspelius was an English civil engineer and pioneer seaplane builder.Gnosspelius was born at Brookfield House, Maghull on 18 March 1878 the only son of Adolf Jonathan Gnosspelius.. He was educated in Bedford and later was to study civil engineering at the City and Guilds...
, all of whom would figure later in his work at Shorts.
In 1916 he joined the Prodger-Isaacs Syndicate of freelance test pilots, working for several British aircraft manufacturers.
Shorts
His first assignment with Shorts began on 17 October 1916, when he was asked by Horace Short to test fly a batch of six Short BomberShort Bomber
-See also:...
s from the Eastchurch
Eastchurch
Eastchurch is a village on the Isle of Sheppey, in the English county of Kent, two miles east of Minster.The village website claims "... it has a history steeped in stories of piracy and smugglers".- Aviation history :...
airfield. In spite of his relative youth, his flying skills impressed Horace Short, who soon offered him a permanent position as assistant to Ronald Kemp.
He became Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers in 1918 as successor to Ronald Kemp.
Between 1918 and his last official flight as Chief Test Pilot on 22 August 1945 he flew every Shorts prototype on its maiden flight, ranging from the diminutive Short Satellite
Short Satellite
- References :*...
(640 lb (290 kg)) to the very large Short Shetland
Short Shetland
-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. and James, D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London, Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat. London: Faber & Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN...
(75,860 lb (34,410 kg)). During the course of his long association with the company, especially during the early pioneering years, he survived numerous forced landings, both on land and on water.
He was awarded the OBE in June 1942.
In 1943 he became a Director of Short Brothers and Harland Ltd., Belfast, resigning from the Board in 1958.
Other activities
Parker was a long-time member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air NavigatorsGuild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Guild was established in 1929 and was granted the status of a Livery Company in 1956...
, serving as its Master from 1951 until 1953 and again from 1956 until 1957. In 1948 he was the first recipient of the Guild's Brackley Memorial Trophy, "awarded to a transport pilot(s) or navigator(s), for outstanding flying, contributing to the operational development of air transport, or transport aircraft, or of new techniques in air transport flying."
In 1964 he succeeded Lord Douglas of Kirtleside as President of the Seaplane Club of Great Britain.
In memory of his long association with the Medway area, a road in Rochester, Kent was named after him.