From Wilmington to the skies, the Story of George London
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– “People that know me say that they can’t believe I did all those things, and that I am just down to earth. I’m just me, that’s the way I am today,” said. Colonel George London, a retired Test Pilot.
Humble might be an understatement for Colonel George London, but at one point in his life, this unassuming grandfather, was an Air Force Veteran, part of the 1st C-17 crew flight, and the only black test model to fly a first flight at Edwards Air Force Base in its 96-year history of first flight. A highflying trailblazer.
“I was the 9th graduate at the Air Force Test Pilot School, so between the third black graduate and me, the 9th graduate, was 21 years between the two of us,” said London. “After 75 years of test pilot school, it has been 3,260 graduates, 29 black.”
Between all those other graduates, London is in the 1 percent of the top students, as he was also the first black test pilot for the Boeing C-17
Raised in Wilmington, NC, London has flown over 58 different types of aircraft, six of them being supersonic, and after all that excitement, London is now taking it low as an instructor in Fort Washington
“I’m excited by what I do. The number of people that I’ve helped over the years, I got a number of my former students that are applying for the airlines, others become instructors. I’ve trained a couple of astronauts as well,” said London.
When London went to go see his astronauts go to space, he and his family were the first to show up.
Barbara London, the younger sister of George, says his achievements are out of this world, and it can be a great inspiration to many young African Americans in Wilmington
“He’s local, and someone they can relate to. He is the kind of person that you will talk to and encourage them. I think it’s awesome to know someone that has achieved everything he has.”
With everything he has done, Norris London, younger brother of George, says he hopes that his brother gets more recognition for his achievements.
“We don’t see it in our history books; we see other things. That is hopefully something younger people may be able to see in their history books in the future, about what he accomplished,” said Norris London.
