Royal Aeronautical Society Podcast

AEROSPACE NOTAM - April 2023

In this new podcast series from the Royal Aeronautical Society's monthly AEROSPACE magazine, Editor in Chief Tim Robinson and Deputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the next edition of the magazine. Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

Rewind - The History of the SRN Series of Hovercraft by Ray Wheeler FRAeS

The SRN-1 was the world’s first amphibious hovercraft and it led to a series of craft designed and built on the Isle of Wight. Though most famous for civil uses, the SN series was adapted for military uses and models were sold across the world. There were also schemes to use hovercraft technology for other industrial uses.
Ray Wheeler gives an insider’s view of how and why the series evolved and how they overcame a host of technical and design challenges, from corrosion protection to structural problems caused by stiletto heels. He also explains the strengths and weaknesses of the different types and retells some fascinating stories along the way.
Ray Wheeler was in the perfect position to give this lecture as he was at the centre of the development of this series of hovercraft, from the 1950s to the early 1990s. He started as a stressman for Saro, before working up the newly amalgamated British Hovercraft Company with posts including Chief Designer, before retiring as Systems Support Director at the restructured Westlands Aerospace. The team’s achievements were even more remarkable as he and his fellow designers were also working on a great variety of other projects at the same time, from missiles to large domed roofs.
Ray Wheeler FRAeS gave his lecture to a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 21 July 2005. The lecture is introduced by Frank Armstrong FRAeS, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

International Women’s Day 2023: alta Mentoring Spotlight

Happy International Women’s day! As part of our celebrations this year we are showcasing our alta mentoring platform, a platform by women, for women. This podcast features Alessandra Badino FRAeS and Erika Ramos da Silva, a mentor and mentee on the platform, they discussed their experiences on the platform and with mentoring as a whole.

Greener by Design Group Debate: Aviation will not meet net zero by 2050

The Royal Aeronautical Society Greener by Design Group with the Young Persons Committee held a debate on this motion on Friday 9 December 2022 (https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/raes-greener-by-design-group-debate-aviation-will-not-meet-net-zero-by-2050/).
An informed and knowledgeable set of speakers introduced the arguments. Finlay Asher of Safe Landing proposed the motion, seconded by Matt Finch of Transport & Environment. The opposition was led by Jonathon Counsell, Group Head of Sustainability at IAG airlines group and seconded by Andy Jefferson, Programme Director of Sustainable Aviation. Click and listen to the debate’s recording now.

Classic Lecture: Flying the X-15 by Robert M. White

The North American X-15 was the record-breaking high-speed and high-altitude research aircraft that played an important part in the race to the moon. In this lecture the test pilot who pegged up most ‘firsts’ in the X-15 gives his British peers insights into the aircraft’s flight test programme, including the aircraft’s stability and control and handling qualities, and goes onto describe the cockpit set-up and the programme’s use of simulation. He also explored the aircraft’s and the programme’s early objectives and the challenges facing those working on the aircraft, such as those caused by aerodynamic heating.
Robert M. White addressed the Third Meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Test Pilots’ Group on 11 December 1964. The lecture was introduced by Bill Bedford FRAeS, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

Apprenticeship Lowdown

Find out more about becoming an apprentice from current apprentices in the aerospace and aviation industry.

Why Run an Apprenticeship

It’s #EmployerTuesday! Are you an employer interested in running an #apprenticeship? Or do you want to hear from those who hire them? Take a listen to our employer podcast with 2Excel Aviation and Marshall ADG

Rewind: Challenges in the age of hybrid warfare by ACM Sir Christopher Moran FRAeS

After a posting that included a role in the command and control for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan, the then recently appointed Commander-in-Chief Air Command, Royal Air Force, draws on his experiences to explore the challenges faced by the RAF in the age of hybrid warfare, including the threats posed by Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency (COIN). Towards the end of the lecture Sir Christopher also singles out the Expeditionary Air Wing concept and the RAF’s Reaper armed UAVs as examples of where the service had been proactive in dealing with new challenges.
ACM Sir Christopher Moran FRAeS gave the 2009 Sir Sydney Camm Lecture on 1 July 2009. The lecture was introduced by the then President, Dr Mike Steeden 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.

Classic Lecture: History of Supermarine by A.N. Clifton FRAeS

Supermarine had a proud design record headed by the Spitfire and Schneider Trophy aircraft. A.N. Clifton, who started as Mitchell’s structures man and ended up, forty years later, as its Chief Designer, gives us the insiders view of the aircraft designed and developed by the company from just before the First World War to the loss of the Supermarine name in 1960.
As well as discussing many of the aircraft types designed by the company, Clifton explores how Supermarine’s faced the challenges of the Second World War and the coming of the jet age. He also gives his first-hand assessment of those who played such a key role in the company’s development, most notably Chief Designers R.J. Mitchell and Joe Smith, and plays tribute to the work of the company’s test pilots.
A.N. Clifton FRAeS addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 23 January 1967. The lecture was introduced by J. L. Nayler FRAeS FAIAA, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

Rewind: Evolution of Air Sea Rescue around the Second World War by Gp. Capt. R. L. Flower

Spurred on by the desire to save lives, boost morale and preserve trained manpower, Air Sea Rescue was transformed during the Second World War. After a career in the service, the former high speed rescue launch captain explores how air sea rescue developed in the years before, during and just after the Second World War and reflects on how changes in people, technology, techniques, training and increases in manpower moved the service forward. He also gives us a flavour of what life was like using launches to rescue airmen who came down in the sea.
Gp. Capt. R. L. Flower addressed his lecture, Air Sea Rescue, to a meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 27 September 1977. The recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.