AeroSociety Podcast

London’s aircraft firms dominated the industry during the early part of the twentieth century and never more so than during World War I. In this lecture from 2012, Dr Ron Smith takes us on a tour of London’s airfields and manufacturers. As well as exploring the “Big five” – Grahame-White, Handley Page, de Havillands/Airco, Fairey & Sopwith/Hawkers – he looks at many of the smaller companies that were once found within London’s boroughs. Dr Ron Smith FRAeS addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 22 February 2012. The lecture was introduced by Peter Elliott and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

On the eve of launching the world’s largest telescope into space, the European Space Agency’s Director of Science & Robotic Exploration gives a wide-ranging lecture discussing the Herschel and Planck missions, ESA policy and programmes, ESAs astronomical work and his experience as an ESA director. The core of this lecture was an exploration of the Herschel and Planck missions. Herschel, named after Sir William Herschel who from his home in Slough discovered light beyond the visible spectrum and mapped the northern skies, was designed to detect infrared to submillimetre wavelengths from cool objects across the Universe. The Herschel Space Observatory had the largest telescope ever flown in space with a main mirror 3.5 m across, more than four times larger than any previous infrared space telescope and almost one and a half times larger than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. Planck, named after German physicist Max Planck, was Europe's first mission to study the Cosmic Microwave Background, the relic radiation from the Big Bang. Dr David Southwood addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Space Group on 30 April 2009. The lecture was introduced by Pat Norris FRAeS and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ CEO gives an interesting strategic view from the top of Boeing in 2011. He explores the trends affecting civil aviation, including the environmental considerations linked to the predicted expansion of airline operations and the resultant demands upon Air Traffic Management. He also sheds light on some of the manufacturing challenges encountered during the design and build of the 787 and explains some of the development options with the 777, 747-8 freighter, and whether to re-engine the 737 or design a new narrow-body aircraft. The recording also includes a fascinating question and answer session. Jim Albaugh FRAeS gave the Royal Aeronautical Society’s 2011 Sopwith Memorial Lecture on 15 June 2011. The lecture was introduced by the then Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Simon Luxmoore FRAeS. The podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS and released courtesy of the The Boeing Company.

One of the UK’s leading authorities on airship design gives a technical view of how airship design evolved from the first airship up to the mid-1970s. Mowforth also explores problems experienced in airship design in some detail, including static lift, aerodynamics, structures and materials. Dr Edwin Mowforth CEng MRAeS gave his lecture to the Airship Association Members Meeting at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Lecture Theatre on 24 September 1975 and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

After the financial crash of 2008 the Royal Air Force was faced with shrinking budgets. In his fascinating lecture, the then Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, summarises historical events when the RAF had to adapt to changing threats during periods of austerity, including the Iraqi Uprising just after World War I, the Berlin Airlift and the Cold War. He also shows how flexibility, the ability to deploy rapidly and work with international and industrial partners were crucial to the RAF's success in more recent conflicts such as Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. With lessons from history in mind, Sir Stephen turned to the challenges that faced the RAF at the beginning of the 2010s, stressing the need to balance operations in Afghanistan with the need for homeland defence and the security of NATO. Amongst other factors, he argued that Command and Control had to be flexible and new technologies, such as the use of UAVs and simulation, needed to be adopted as conflicts arise in different scenarios and the balance of power changed, both on the battlefield and in cyberspace. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton FRAeS gave the Royal Aeronautical Society’s 98th Wilbur & Orville Memorial Lecture on 10 December 2009. The lecture was introduced by the then President, Dr Mike Steeden CEng FRAeS, and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. The material and information contained in this lecture are UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright 2009 and the recording is the copyright of the Royal Aeronautical Society 2009.

A key role for the aviation medicine sector is to investigate the factors that impair our chances of safely surviving emergencies in flight. The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine’s Head of Human Factors and Biomechanics and the principle investigator on over 130 aviation accident investigations gives a fascinating history of how we have developed our understanding of the subject before giving us his cardinal rules on surviving a crash, both for civilians and servicemen. Wg Cdr Matt Lewis MRAeS gave the Royal Aeronautical Society’s 37th Stewart Memorial Lecture on 18 March 2008. The lecture was introduced by AVM Simon Dougherty and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. The material and information contained in this lecture are UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright 2008 and the recording is the copyright of the Royal Aeronautical Society 2008.

Britain’s higher education institutions have not only educated many of the world’s top aviation professionals, but academics both inside and outside aero engineering departments have made a ‘mind blowing’ contribution to the science that underpins aeronautics. Starting with the work of Sir Isaac Newton and the education of Sir George Cayley, Prof. Poll takes us on a journey exploring the late nineteenth century disagreement between Sir George Stokes and Lords Rayleigh and Kelvin on the possibility of flight, the work of the American Samuel Langley, the establishment of the Aeronautical Research Council and the creation and development of aeronautics departments across the UK including at Imperial College, Queen Mary College, Cambridge University and the establishment of the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield. He concludes by looking at the challenges facing aerospace academics in the twenty-first century. Prof Ian Poll FEng FRAeS gave the 2009 RAeS Handley Page Named Lecture on 26 June 2009. The lecture was introduced by the Society’s then President, Dr Mike Steeden, and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

As part of our activities to celebrate Black History Month this October, we have recorded a podcast with Kerissa Khan MRAeS, RAeS Council Member and Innovation Lead for the UK FutureFlight. Tune in to hear more about her career story, what drew her to aerospace engineering, future technologies and meeting the green challenge. Kerissa also talks about the impact of Covid-19 and why diversity and inclusion matters, including what industry leaders can do to create and sustain a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The then Chief of Staff (Aviation and Carriers) gives his audience a masterful guide to the past, present and future of air power at sea, starting from when the aircraft carrier displaced the battleship as the Royal Navy's capital ship to looking forward to the commissioning of the Queen Elizabeth Class of carrier. Admiral Cunningham begins by listing the firsts achieved by the Royal Naval Air Service and how it evolved from the launch of the Mayfly in 1909, through into World War I and into the "fallow" inter-war years when the United States and Japan took the lead. He then outlines the resurgence of British Maritime Air Power during World War II and its importance in both the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres and subsequent conflicts, including the Korean War and the Falklands Conflict. Turning to the contemporary world, Cunningham notes how many developing nations recognise the importance of Maritime Air Power and have a Carrier Programme. He comments on the demise of HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier and looks ahead to the technical challenges of operating the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers, which were then due to be in service in 2019. He highlights the need to integrate the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft with the various radars on the ship, the key role of officers in the control room and the need to gain experience with the US Navy during the intervening years. He concludes by stressing the need for Maritime Air Power as an offensive and defensive element of a persistent and self-sufficient fleet at sea, which can respond to uncertain and changing threats. Rear Admiral Cunningham took 20 minutes of questions which covered: the future role of UAVs; the integration of a helicopter on a destroyer; escort protection by an Air Defence destroyer; the importance of rehearsing as a Task Group; the role of joint RN/RAF operations; the reliance of the RN on the US for training and the decision to scrap HMS Ark Royal rather than HMS Ocean. Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Air Power Group on 8 November 2011. The lecture was introduced by Rear Admiral Simon Henley CEng FRAeS and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. The material and information contained in this lecture are UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright 2011 and the recording is the copyright of the Royal Aeronautical Society 2011.

Legendary test pilot, Capt. Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, highlights some of the record breaking 487 aircraft types he flew during World War II and his time at the RAE Farnborough, including the Gloster Gauntlet, the Grumman Wildcat & Hellcat, Miles M.52, General Aviation GAL.56 and the de Havilland DH 108 TG306. Brown also tells us the story of how he made the world’s first jet landing on an aircraft carrier, how he witnessed the first flight of a British jet aircraft and discusses his post-war mission to Germany, including his interview with Hermann Goering. Capt Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, KCVSA, PhD Hon FRAeS, RN gave the RAeS FAA Yeovilton Branch Inaugural Brown Named Lecture on 29 July 2014. The audio version of the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

Lord Brabazon of Tara, the first man to hold a Royal Aero Club pilots’ licence and one of the great characters of the first 50 years of powered flight, gives a personal tribute to his contemporaries, Wilbur & Orville Wright. Lord Brabazon of Tara was giving an after-dinner speech at the Royal Aeronautical Society & the Royal Flying Club 50th Anniversary of Flight Dinner, 17 December 1953. The podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS and it was digitised thanks to a grant from the Royal Aeronautical Society Foundation.

Lord Brabazon of Tara, the first man to hold a Royal Aero Club pilots’ licence and one of the great characters of the first 50 years of powered flight, gives a masterclass on how to put together an after-dinner speech, all be it at the expense of his proposer and his hosts. Lord Brabazon of Tara was giving an after-dinner speech at his 80th Birthday Dinner organised by the Royal Aero Club, February 1964. The toast was proposed by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS and it was digitised thanks to a grant from the Royal Aeronautical Society Foundation.

The RAF’s pilots and the codebreakers of Bletchley Park have been heralded as saviours of the nation for their work during World War II, but how did the work of Bletchley and other sources of intelligence effect the air war? In his controversial lecture, Wg Cdr Stubbington argues that a significant amount of damage was caused by the Whitehall figures whose duty was to act as the conduit between the intelligence and air services, most notably to the reputation of Bomber Command. Wg Cdr John Stubbington addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 24 November 2011. The lecture was introduced by Dr Kit Mitchell FRAeS and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

The dangers of losing consciousness whilst flying has been a continual danger for airmen. ‘Spin Doctor’ Wg Cdr NicholasGreen gives a fascinating and entertaining history of G, G-protection and the medical and other uses of the centrifuge; a story that starts with Erasmus Darwin and Sir Harim Maxim, before moving onto the work of AVM Bill Stewart, the work of aviation medicine researchers at Farnborough and further afield and how centrifuges were used for pilot training, before making predictions for the future. Wg Cdr Nicholas Green MRAeS gave the Royal Aeronautical Society’s 2011 Stewart Memorial Lecture on 15 March 2011. The lecture was introduced by Air Cdre Richard Broadbridge FRAeS & AVM C. B. Morris and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. The material and information contained in this lecture are UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright 2011 and the recording is the copyright of the Royal Aeronautical Society 2011.

Test pilot and aero engineer David Lockspeiser designed and built a prototype multi-purpose aircraft that could be simply built and maintained in agricultural regions across the world; and all done on a shoestring. The Boxer’s removable payload module enabled easy conversion between tasks and its rear-mounted pusher engine meant it could fly at low speeds for transporting people, livestock and cargo, as well as being used for crop spraying. In this entertaining lecture, Lockspeiser discusses the design ethos behind his aircraft, before taking us step-by-step through the design, development and testing processes, as well as marketing, its first flight at Wisley in 1971 and the tragic ending of the project. The recording concludes with a question and answer session in which an experienced audience discuss many aspects of light aircraft design and development through the late twentieth century. David Lockspeiser FRAeS addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 2 February 2008. The lecture was introduced by Dr Kit Mitchell FRAeS and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.