Philip William Wilkinson passed away at his home in Yerington on the morning of May 10th 2008 in the presence of his family.
Philip was born on January 24th 1929 in London, England to Kate and William Wilkinson. As a boy during World War II at the age of ten he was evacuated from the city to the English Countryside for safety from bombing raids. There he worked on a farm and learned to appreciate farm and village life.
Philip began his long career in the aircraft industry in 1945 with his apprenticeship at DeHavilland Aircraft Company where he was educated in aero engine design, manufacture, and testing. From 1950 to 1952 Philip Served in the British Royal Air Force as an aero engine mechanic where he worked on Spitfires and jet fighter aircraft. During his free time he enjoyed riding and racing bicycles. In 1952 he was honorably discharged from the RAF and went back to work in the civilian aviation industry. One of the projects he most enjoyed and frequently talked about was his work as a flight test engineer in which he would test aircraft engines and wing de icing systems while flying and recording data in modified WWII bombers. From 1961 to 1962 he worked for Mr. Bill Lear in Switzerland where he was given the job of designing the landing gear for the first Lear Jet. In Switzerland, Philip was able to follow his passions for skiing, hiking and climbing. Following this, Philip worked for several other companies which included Dornier Aircraft of Germany and Hawker Siddeley Aviation where he helped to design the first Harrier vertical takeoff fighter. In 1966 and 67 he worked for CDI in England which had been contracted to design the wing of the C5 military cargo aircraft for Lockheed.
In 1968 Philip immigrated to the United States and became a US citizen where he worked for the Boeing Aircraft Company on design of the 747 Jumbo Jet. In 1973 while living in Seattle, Washington he met and married Vivien Wilkinson originally from London, England. During this time,he learned to sail and participated in Yacht Racing where he served as a crew member on his cousin's boat. Three years later Philip and Vivien moved to Redondo Beach, California where their son Stanley was born in 1977. Over the next thirteen years Philip worked for the Rockwell company, the Downey Space Division, and the Rocketdyne company. Philip's major design contributions while working for these companies included major work on the B-1 Bomber, mechanical design on the space shuttle main engine, shuttle engine handling systems, and one of the stages of the MX missile. Also during this time Philip performed design work for the Lockheed L-1011 passenger aircraft and the C-17 military cargo aircraft. Just before Philip retired and moved to Yerington in 1990 ,he had begun work on the B2 Bomber Project.
In Retirement Philip loved to work on his ranch at the south end of the valley where he raised cattle and very much enjoyed hiking in the surrounding mountains with his son. He went to great lengths to learn to fix, maintain, and build as many things as he could himself, (oftentimes making his own tools for a certain job) even if it was not always the easiest or most expedient thing to do as he loved the mental challenge of this. He was also interested in cars and took pleasure in driving. Philip was a member of the Lyon County Civil Air Patrol search and rescue squadron and a lifetime member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He always appreciated the opportunities that life in America provided, especially the quality of life that came with living in the west, with its feeling of freedom and open space. Philip kept an open mind about the world around him and was constantly making observations about it- whether wondering how a complex machine might work or the nature of the animals and plants around him. Philip is survived by his wife Vivien, and their son Stanley of Yerington. Those who wish to sign the online guest book and share with his family may do so at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447 (775) 463-2911