AeroSociety Podcast

Frank Robinson discusses the importance of simplicity in rotorcraft design and how simplicity of design and technology is critical to all aspects of aviation.

At the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race in 2009 Janet and Ann Rich broke the female duration world record flying for almost 70 hours, covering 1,100 kms from Geneva to Madrid. The gas used was hydrogen and the balloon was a traditional "old" gas balloon. The presentation will include an illustrated account of this flight and footage of an F18 Spanish military sent to fly round the balloon twice in recognition of the record.

ACM Sir Stephen Dalton describes the Chancellor’s pre-budget speech that is likely to make clear the scale of the financial challenge facing us. Yet the world remains a dangerously unpredictable place as it emerges from the financial crisis into an as yet ill-defined multi-polar state. While we rightly concentrate all efforts on Afghanistan we must not lose sight of the current and future threats to the national interest that history tells us will emerge, often in unexpected form.

The last 10 years have not seen the overdue consolidation in the world's airline industry. There are still too many airlines chasing too few passengers. The provision of infrastructure has been haphazard (new airports in China, new runways in the Gulf, prolific discussion in the UK). The continuing regulatory drag, and inter state imbalance, has inhibited many necessary efficiencies.Al-Qaeda has shown a consistent and persistent interest in Civil Aviation which has also seen itself become one of the poster children in the climate change debate. Emissions trading, offsetting, and alternative fuels , were little discussed in 1999; in 2009 they were on the front page of the websites. Printed front pages are now a part of history as are printed tickets, fixed prices and uncrowded airspace. This Lecture will explore the current environment and endeavour to encourage the participants.

Wing Commander Matthew E Lewis describes how the development of effective programmes for reducing injuries in aircraft accidents depends on gaining an understanding of how accidents cause injuries, the nature of the forces contributing to the injuries, and the characteristics of the types of accidents under investigation.