Lecture Programme 2019-20

Lectures held at 7.30 pm in the Montgomery Lecture Theatre, Joint Services Command and Staff College, Defence Academy, Shrivenham

Weds 4 Sep 19 - Martin Baker Aircaft Company Ltd - Philip Rowles BEng(hons) CEng FRAeS, Vice President of Engineering – Martin Baker

World leaders in the supply of aircrew escape systems, having supplied 53% of the ejection seats currently in service globally, and having saved over 7600 aircrew lives since 1949. The history and development of Martin-Baker ejection seats; a walk-through of the automated sequence of events during ejection and recovery from typical escape scenarios; the major technical challenges and solutions for modern aircrew escape systems employed in aircraft such as the F35.

Sat 14 Sep 19 - Branch visit to Williams F1 Heritage Centre at Grove

Wed 2 Oct 19 - Typhoon/Tempest – Mr Mark Bowman BSc (Eng.) FRAeS ACGI, BAE Systems Air, Director Flight Operations/Accountable Manager Airfield and Military Flying AM(MF)/Hd of Flying Presentation on BAE Systems Air structure/strategy for Typhoon replacement by Tempest to ensure the UK is positioned to lead a next generation acquisition programme and ensure the UK maintains the technological competence necessary to remain at the forefront of global Combat Air technology development and deliver a statement of government intent that the UK will remain a global leader in the Combat Air Sector.

Wed 6 Nov 19 - Faradair – Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA) - Mr Neil Cloughley – CEO Faradair

The development of aircraft powered by Hybrid-electric propulsion, that offer incredibly short- field performance – including the ability to operate from QE2 Class Aircraft Carriers - offer new capabilities for regional air mobility, together with a wide range of military applications. These include logistic resupply; Medevac - both manned and unmanned variant; Combat Search and Rescue; support of Special Forces’ operations. The BEHA exploits novel technologies to deliver a flexible, agile and cost-effective solution that is faster, quieter, more efficient, offers enhanced range and payload capability together lower maintenance and acquisition costs than helicopters.

Wed 4 Dec 19 - The Challenges and Complexity of organising RIAT - Mr Tim Prince CEO (Ret’d.) RIAT

Sqn Ldr Jack Currie DFC RAF, inspired a small team of volunteers to stage an air show at North Weald Aerodrome in 1971 in support of the RAFA. To underpin its profile in the UK they called the show the ‘Air Tattoo’. The energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers, motivated participating aircrews to deliver an exciting flying display with aircraft from far and wide to successfully entertain a large spectating public happy provide RAFA with nery notable income. Now in its 48th year and known as the ‘Royal International Air Tattoo’, it plays an important role for UK Defence Diplomacy and in STEM/Recruiting. RIAT is now staged in support of the RAF Charitable Trust. Tim Prince has been a part of the RIAT’s story since 1971, shares some of the background to this important annual gathering of the world’s military aviators.

Wed 8 Jan 20 - ‘H’ Bombs and Hula Skirts – Wg. Cdr (Ret’d) Paul Shepherd

Paul looks at the strategically important, and often controversial, history of developing UK’s offensive nuclear weapons programmes, including coverage of the tests that were conducted on and around Christmas Island in the late 1950s.

Wed 5 Feb 20 – AGM - AAC – Future Helicopter Force - Col Craig Sweeting OBE, BEng, MSc, MA, FIMechE, CEng, Chief Aircraft Engineer (Army)

A look at Army Air Corps’ new capability as it prepares to operate its new fleets of Apache AH64E and Wildcat Attack Helicopters.

Wed 4 Mar 20 - UltraFan – Next generation of aero engine - Mr Andy Geer - Chief Engineer and Head of Programme Rolls Royce UltraFan

Andy provides coverage of the key stages and top challenges encountered in taking a new architecture of Gas Turbine engine from a conceptual design on paper to a fully developed set of component designs to enable a fully engaged supply chain to manufacture component parts for a vital first test engine.

Wed 1 Apr 20 - The Annual Sir George Greenhill Lecture - Reaction Engines - Dr Robin Davies - Lead Systems Engineer

Current access to space relies on expensive, single-use rockets. What if you could simply climb into a re-useable aircraft, take off on a runway and fly into space? Well that dream is closer than you think. Reaction Engines, who have been working on the next generation of air-breathing rocket engine to make this a reality, revisit the Branch to update us on progress with the SABRE engine. Having undergone 30-years of development, the project has moved on to the exciting test phase of development at the Company’s facility near Oxford. The Company is now in partnership with the likes of Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, The UK Space Agency and DSTL and the MOD. This project will revolutionise space access and provide a path to hypersonic travel powered by clean hydrogen burning engines.

Wed 6 May 20 - Management of UK Airspace for the 2020s - Mr Roger Marsh - Deputy General Manager, Swanwick Operations, NATS

An examination of the restructuring of UK Airspace and its interface with the revised North Atlantic Track Structure by NATS to cope with air travel in the 2020s and beyond.

Jun 20 – Further Lecture or Visit TBC