Derek Piggott served in the RAF as a pilot in the late stages of the war and in the years that followed until 1953.  He became a world renowned instructor on gliders and some of his books on instructing remain the authoritative source.  He was an outstanding pilot and created some national height records in early generation gliders.  He was also a highly-regarded experimental and stunt pilot in films including the Blue Max, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines and Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang amongst others.  In November 1961 he made the first British unaided take-off and human-powered flight in an aircraft built by students at Southampton University.  He was appointed MBE and received a number of prestigious aviation awards.

The photograph shows him with his record breaking Skylark glider.

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