November 19
NASA's Artemis Moon Programme
John Thatcher CEng MRAeS
The Artemis programme is intended to reestablish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. A long-term goal of establishing a permanent base on the Moon to facilitate the feasibility of human missions to Mars.
Date, Venue & Details to be Arranged
Presentation of Loughborough University
MEng Final Year Aircraft Design Projects.
An annual event involving mini-lectures from groups of final year MEng studenys that describe the results obtained from their projects.
Page last updated 21 November 2024
January 14
Addressing the Skills Challenge of the Past and the Future
Steve Coleby MRAeS, Consultant
The current education system has created a bottleneck of motivated, and inspired future engineers and technicians to the aviation industry. Lack of exposure to the industry as a whole, vague and confused career guidance and messaging around qualifications, progress and opportunities combined with an academic focus on GCSE results in ‘core’ and narrowing ‘option' subjects hinder the quantity and calibre of young people so desperately needed in the industry. So with a problem so well known and understood, what are ‘we’ doing about it
February 25
Westland adopts, learns and perfects the art and science of rotary wing flight. Lucky happenstance or cunning plan?
Jeremy Graham FRAeS, Chief Engineer, AugustaWestland (Rtd)
Tracing the evolution of the rotary wing design, development and manufacturing capability of Westland Helicopters and its subsidiaries SARO and Fairey. The earliest Westland helicopters followed 1946 agreements with Sikorsky to anglicise US designs a later result of which would emerge as Sea King. SAROs light helicopters included Wasp and Scout while Westland’s light utility helicopter bcame Lynx. Sea KIng was eventually replaced by the Anglo-Italian EH101 (aka Merlin).
2024
October 15
Rotorcraft Propusion Strategy to Net Zero
Nick Earl & Dr Victoria Thomas, Safran Helicoper Engines
An overview of Safran Helicopter Engines and its current portfolio of gas turbines followed by a snapshot into the future of rotorcraft propulsion including enhancements to conventional technology, hybridisation, hydrogen fuel cells and the use of alternative fuels.
May 06
WINKLE - man, myth and magic
Paul Beaver, Book Author
Captain Eric (Winkle) Brown was probably the nation's greatest test pilot, having flown 487 types, carried out 2407 deck landings and 2271 catapult launches. Throughout his career he flew almost every Allied and Axis aeroplane and helicopter.
that reduces the merging of shockwaves. NASA is building a piloted, research aircraft called the X-59 to demonstrate this. After initial flight testing to ensure the aircraft performs as designed, NASA will begin a national campaign of supersonic flights over communities to collect data on how people perceive the sounds from this new design.
2025
Although all lectures are presented live at our usual venue they are also available online simultaneously via Microsoft Teams: use the Join button to access. ( Click here▼ for instructions on how to use the MIcrosoft Teams facility.)
May 14 (ONLINE via TEAMS ONLY at 7.30pm)
Branch Annual General Meeting
All are welcome to attend but only RAeS and
Branch members are entitled to vote.
April 15
Engineering of the Future
Jade McCready, BAE Systems
The engineering landscape is changing fast! From embracing new technologies and designing for sustainability, to responding to geopolitical instability and navigating changing workforce demographics and expectations, engineering organisations must respond to challenges, whilst delivering their customer commitments. This lecture will discuss the major challenges impacting the engineering landscape and what can be done to address them.
November 5 Elfyn Richards Prestige Lecture
Hydrogen & Aviation: Where do we Start?
Johannes Hien FRAeS, Head of Design and
Mark Kelk, Business Development Manager
Cranfield Aersopace Solutions Ltd
The lecture will consider the place of hydrogen fuel cells in aviation, hydrogen fuel cell electric propulsion concepts for aircraft and the associated engineering challenges, solutions and lessons for their practical implementation for Project FRESSON.
March 18
Electric Air Vehicles - BAE Systems
Neil Appleton and Sophie Harker, BAE Systems, Preston
An overview of advancements in electric air development as a "net zero" alternative to convention air travel.
December 17 - see Latest News>
February 11
NASA's Quesst Community Survey Campaign with the X-59 Aircraft Dr Jonathan Rathsam, Senior Research Engineer, NASA
For half a century, civilian aircraft have been required to fly subsonically over land to prevent sonic boom disturbance. However, boom levels may be lowered via new aircraft shaping