George Neal, an award-winning test pilot who earned his Canadian private certificate 80 years ago, died this week at 97. He was recognized last June at age 96 by Guinness World Records as the oldest active pilot after flying his DHC-1 Chipmunk from Brampton Airport to Toronto’s Pearson International. Neal began his flying career as a student pilot at the Toronto Flying Club in 1935, became a private pilot the following year, and began working for de Havilland Aircraft of Canada. In 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a test pilot and flight commander, rejoining de Havilland in 1946.
Over the next 37 years, he worked in a number of roles at de Havilland, most notably chief test pilot. He helped develop the DHC-1, DHC-3 Otter and the DH-100 fighter jet. Neal also served as chief pilot for the National Aviation Museum until 1991. When he was awarded the Trans-Canada (McKee) Trophy by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute in 1989, his citation stated, “Perhaps no other pilot in Canada has had such a varied and complete career in aviation.” Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame inducted him in 1995. “We have lost a pioneer in Canadian aviation,” said Tom Appleton, chairman of the Hall of Fame. “On behalf of the Hall, we extend our most sincere condolences to George Neal’s family and friends.”
