Major Wings is a skilled pilot who participated in Aurora Expedition.
History[]
He successfully lands in the polar sea between a forest of icebergs. He performs a brave act by rescuing Snowy, who is in trouble on one of the wings of the seaplane. He also does not hesitate to risk his life by landing his plane in the violent turbulence of a stormy sea caused by the Phostlite in order to come to Tintin's aid.
Trivia[]
- The name of this pilot is never mentioned in the book series. The character was named four years after the publication of The Shooting Star, in Tintin (magazine), on 28 November 1946[1] and he reappeared in several articles. In these articles, Tintin would "interview" the pilot and Captain Haddock on technical details concerning aircraft and ships, from models to full-scale versions. The questions in the interviews were based on readers' letters. The technical aspects of balloons and planes were explained by the seaplane pilot who was given the name Major Wings and often lapsed into English. The rank of Major would imply an American USAF commission — which would be odd for a European-based expedition — but it might be noted that continental writers have often given Army ranks to officers of the British RAF regardless of the fact that it does not use such a system. The comic book hero Colonel Clifton, who is retired from the RAF, is an example of this — his proper rank would be that of Group Captain.