Classic Lecture Series: UK aerospace – a personal view, by Sir George Edwards Hon FRAeS

Summary: One of the towering figures in post-war aeronautics, Sir George gives his views on the challenges and opportunities facing the British aerospace industry in the early 1970s, from his seat at the head of British Aircraft Corporation’s board. Starting off with a look at the growth of aviation and the state of British exports, Sir George turns to the advantages and disadvantages of international projects such as the SEPECAT Jaguar and Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde, discusses the BAC Intelsat IV satellite and concludes by giving his frank views on the impact that politicians played in the post-war aerospace industry. Sir George started off his career under Barnes Wallis at Vickers, before moving through the company. Amongst his roles at Vickers was to head aircraft projects including the design of the Vickers Viscount and Valiant. His last roles were to mould BAC, first as Managing Director and then as Chairman. The Lecture was the Sixth Tizard Memorial Lecture to the RAeS Boscombe Down Branch and was delivered on 29 February 1972. The podcast was edited by Mike Stanberry FRAeS and it was digitised thanks to a grant from the Royal Aeronautical Society Foundation.