AE December 2019 ROSPACE

HAVE SPACE SUIT – WILL TRAVEL CENTURY SERIES FIGHTERS REBORN

BRITISH AIRWAYS – THE NEXT 100 YEARS www.aerosociety.com December 2019

V olume 46 Number 12

FILLING IN THE GAP OCEANIC ADS-B – THE FIRST RESULTS Royal A eronautical Society

NATS Volume 46 Number 12 Suddenly I see Multirole life December 2019 How Aireon’s savers space-based A pioneering 14 ADS-B B is concept for multirole tracking aircraft 36 humanitarian drones flying across the in Africa. Atlantic. Contents Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback. analysis and comment. 58 The Last Word Airbus shows its stealth hand 10 Antenna Keith Hayward on the Howard Wheeldon reviews implications to the UK of Only a decade previously, it might have seemed that Germany was falling the prospects and future role the sale of Cobham to US of NATO. investors. behind in the stealth race. The UK, with experience in the Replica stealth demonstrator of the late 1990s and a partner on F-35, was developing its Taranis low-observable UCAV. Over in France, Dassault’s nEUROn was forging a similar path in testing a stealth platform. In Germany the Features only visible UCAV project at that time was the EADS Barracuda – which Pacific Spaceflight seemed by some to offer a lower stealth capability than its rivals. Today, 28 much has changed. Expensive strike UCAVs have now evolved into the need for cheaper ‘attritable’ loyal wingman or remote carriers that will act British Airways as force multipliers for crewed fighters. It is therefore no accident that 18 Germany (via AirbusDS) has chosen now to go public with a stealth project (see p 4) which it has been quietly working on over the past decade. Much like BAE Systems’ Replica, LOUT is a valuable showcase of German national capabilities in this extremely sensitive and critical area for the British Airways – the next Have spacesuit – will travel 100 years Franco/German/Spanish FCAS. With potential tricky negotiations about As humans increasingly With new aircraft and national workshare, Germany (and Airbus) have just turned over their cards work, live and play in orbit revamped interiors, BA looks – the emerging market for ahead to its next centenary. with an extremely strong hand as to their true capabilities. space suits. 22 A new era of training 32 Making money out The upcoming January edition of AEROSPACE at Gatwick of air Eagle-eyed readers may spot a few small changes in the next edition of CAE opens a new flight Analysing the economics of AEROSPACE – updating the look and content of the magazine to keep it simulation training centre in air taxi services. Crawley.

fresh, relevant and exciting for this fast-changing world. I would like to pay USAF

personal tribute to Howard Wheeldon, with his final ‘Antenna’ column in Russian MoD this month’s issue, for his incisive insight over the years. Look out for the 24 tweaks in the New Year! Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief 38 [email protected] Hypersonic weapons come of age 21st Century Boyd’s The new high-speed arms Can the USAF develop NEWS IN BRIEF race. fighters faster? Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2020 AEROSPACE subscription Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £180 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place Please send your order to: [email protected] London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis, RAeS, No.4 Hamilton +44 (0)20 7670 4300 Deputy Editor Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK. [email protected] 41 Afterburner Bill Read +44 (0)20 7670 4354 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com [email protected] [email protected] AEROSPACE is published by the Royal Any member not requiring a print 42 Message from our President Aeronautical Society (RAeS). version of this magazine, please Production Manager Message from our Chief Executive contact: [email protected] 43 Wayne J Davis Chief Executive +44 (0)20 7670 4354 Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS USA: Periodical postage paid at 44 Book Reviews [email protected] Advertising Champlain New York and additional 48 Library Additions Online +44 (0)20 7670 4346 offices. Publications Co-ordinator [email protected] 50 100 years of transatlantic Chris Male Postmaster: Send address changes Additional features and content are to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, flying +44 (0)20 7670 4352 Unless specifically attributed, no available to view online on Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. [email protected] material in AEROSPACE shall be taken 52 Diary www.aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight to represent the opinion of the RAeS. Including: Publications Executive ISSN 2052-451X 56 Elections Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this Century of transatlantic flying, Secret LOUT +44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the stealth demonstrator, Commercial Red Air in the [email protected] written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. 21st Century, UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft strategy, In the November issue of Book Review Editor Printed by Buxton Press Limited, AEROSPACE, The new hypersonics arms Brian Riddle Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire [email protected] SK17 6AE, UK race, The economics of air taxis, New Distributed by Royal Mail era of flight training at Gatwick. Front cover: Air traffic across the North Atlantic. (NATS)

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INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT

Diamonds are forever The 12m wingspan vehicle features a flat diamond-shaped planform, with low RCS intakes on the top surface. The diamond UCAV with a cockpit shape was whittled down from around 11 configurations that included B-2-esquese LOUT is unpiloted but features a notional flying wings. cockpit canopy to test various transparencies. Particular attention has been made to make the canopy non-reflective to radar waves. A key objective of LOUT has been its modular approach to allow different sub-components to be tested.

W DEFENCE LOUT of the Black In early November, Airbus Defence and Space revealed a diamond-shaped classified stealth demonstrator which the company has been developing for the past decade as a national German R&D project. The LOUT (Low Observable UAV Testbed), seen here in an anechoic test chamber in Manching, was designed as a holistic ground-based very low observable demonstrator to investigate the latest in stealth technology − particularly against emerging threats like low-frequency ‘counter-stealth’ radars. It is also optimised for low observability in IR, visual and acoustic bandwidths − as well as investigating emissions control for sensors and datalinks. Research from LOUT is expected to find its way into the pan-European FCAS combat aircraft project, as well as flow back into Eurofighter upgrades.

4 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 LOUT specifications Wingspan 12m Weight 4tonnes Smooth operator Speed Subsonic The demonstrator also features conformal embedded antennas – again with the emphasis on integrating these apertures closely into the outer skin of the aircraft to ensure no edges that could impact RCS. As well as conformal antennas and reducing gaps between openings, LOUT also includes surface wave attenuation and ‘further coatings’ to treat locally significant effects – stealth coatings which the company refused to elaborate further on.

Shielded exhaust The exhaust for the engine(s) exits through a flat, wide nozzle on the top of the aircraft and is shielded from the ground and sides. Airbus has also paid special attention to lowering the IR signature and cooling – noting how modern IR systems make jet engine exhausts stand out. Another technology that has been investigated is engine thrust vectoring control. Can you see me now? The multi-disciplinary approach to LOUT also extended to giving the vehicle (or operators) self-awareness of its own stealth signature.

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First news from DEFENCE Dubai Air Show First RAF P-8 Poseidon handed over Crown Copyright  Emirates has confirmed and increased a previous commitment from 30 to 50 Airbus A350-900s but removed 40 A330neos from its orginal order. Additionally, Emirates said it was converting and confirming an order for 40 787-10s to 30 787-9s. It has also shaved 24 aircraft from its 777X order, leaving it with 126 airframes still on order.  The UAE Air Force has announced plans to purchase two additional Saab Globaleye AEW aircraft and three additional Airbus A330MRTT tankers. It will also acquire 24 locally-developed Calidus B-250 light attack turboprops.  Kazakhstan low-cost carrier FlyArystan, a spin-off of Air Astana, has signed a letter-of-intent (LoI) for 30 On 29 October, Boeing delivered the first P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft Boeing 737 MAX 8s. to the RAF to begin crew training at US Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. Adapted  Air Arabia signed an order for 120 Airbus from the 737NG, nine P-8s are scheduled for delivery to the RAF by November 2021, A320neo family aircraft. with the fleet to be based at RAF Lossiemouth. AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT Bombardier sells off aerostructures Airlines extend 737 MAX and MRO arm to Spirit grounding to March

US carriers Southwest MAXs on order and had Airlines and American 34 delivered when the Airlines have removed the aircraft was grounded, grounded Boeing 737 had axed the MAX from its MAX airliner from their schedules until February. future flight schedules  Meanwhile, Boeing until at least the first week revealed that it was of March 2020 − almost a ‘possible’ deliveries to

Bombardier full year after the second customers could resume Bombardier has announced the sale of its aerostructures business to Spirit of two fatal crashes this month, with the jet AeroSystems for $500m. Spirit is to acquire Bombardier’s aerostructures activities and that killed 346 people. back in service in January, aftermarket services operations in Belfast and Morocco, together with its aerostructures Previously, Southwest, pending approval by the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Dallas. which still has over 200 FAA. NEWS IN BRIEF

Airbus A321XLRs. Of Viper fighters, as well as widebody, the 777X has Eviation Aircraft has these, 15 A321s are new a squadron of Russian The world’s first air taxi been pushed back until now completed the first orders and five converted Sukhoi Su-35s. Indonesia vertiport was unveiled on 21 early 2021. Emirates had prototype of its Alice from a previous order already operates 33 October at Marina Bay in previously expected to electric aircraft. With a for A321neos. The first F-16s, five Su-27s and 11 Singapore. A collaboration receive its first 777X in range of up to 650miles, aircraft is to be delivered in Su-30MKs. between German air taxi mid 2020. The company the nine-passenger aircraft 2023 while the deal also manufacturer Volocopter also revealed that it is to was developed in two includes the provision of The UK Space Agency has and vertiport developer slow 787 production rate years with the assistance two A320-family full flight confirmed £7m in funding Skyports, the VoloPort is from 14 a month to 12 of Dassault Systèmes’ simulators and training to develop Newquay intended as the first step in beginning in late 2020. 3DEXPERIENCE virtual services. Airport in Cornwall as a the establishment of an air engineering platform. horizontal launch spaceport taxi service in Singapore. US regional airline The Indonesian air force for Virgin Orbit. First operating group Trans State Vietnamese low-cost has announced plans to launches using Virgin In its latest third quarter Holdings has cancelled carrier Vietjet has acquire two squadrons Orbit's modified 747 and results, Boeing has an order for 50 88-seat announced an order of US-built Lockheed LauncherOne are expected announced that the first Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 for 20 extra long-range Martin F-16 Block 72 to commence in 2021. deliveries of its newest regional jets (formerly

6 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT Rolls-Royce teams up for Rocket Lab aims for hybrid-electric demonstrator Moon with Photon New Zealand’s start- to medium, geostationary up Rocket Lab has and lunar orbits with 30kg announced that its of payload to the Moon. Electron smallsat launcher Rocket Lab, which has will now be able to offer launched its Electron payload and satellite rocket nine times, says deliveries to the Moon that Photon has been and beyond using a new optimised for deep- Rolls-Royce Photon spacecraft. Photon, space missions, including Rolls-Royce is to work on a hybrid electrically-powered flight demonstrator based on its an extended version of radiation-tolerant avionics hybrid M250 propulsion system. The engine manufacturer is developing the demonstrator Electron’s final ‘kick stage’ and propulsion capable of in partnership with German aviation engineering company APUS and the Brandenburg for low Earth orbit will give multiple restarts in orbit. University of Technology (BTU) as part of a three-year project. The project will integrate the Rocket Lab the ability to Photon will be available for M250 with a high energy density battery system, electric generators, power converters and launch extended range customers as early as the an advanced power management and control system on an APUS i-5 aircraft. small satellite missions end of 2020. DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT UK F-35Bs deploy on Bumper 300-aircraft IndiGo order HMS Queen Elizabeth adds to A320neo backlog For the first time, UK and operated from QEC’s Lockheed Martin F-35Bs deck. The USMC is set from 617, 17(R) and 207 to deploy a squadron of Sqns have deployed on F-35Bs onto the QEC as HMS Queen Elizabeth in part of the carrier air wing

an exercise off the east when it sails on its first Airbus coast of North America. The operational deployment in Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has ordered an additional 300 Airbus A320neos, exercise, Westlant 19, is 2021. The milestone also A321neos and A321XLRs. IndiGo already operates 90 A320neos and seven A321neos set to last four months with saw QEs sister ship, HMS with a further 190 A320neos and 143 A321neos already on order. five weeks of air operations Prince of Wales, at sea  After a spate of in-flight shutdowns, India’s civil aviation regulator DGCA has issued a involving seven UK F-35Bs. simultaneously for the first directive requiring IndiGo and GoAir to replace the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines US Marine Corp F-35Bs time, conducting sea trials on their A320neos with an upgraded version by the end of January 2020. IndiGo is also joined the exercise off the coast of Scotland. reported to have already replaced 45% of its PW1100G engines.

known as the MRJ). KF-X completed a International Airport, to begin operations in Mitsubishi is reported to critical design review in Switzerland's Pilatus has China. The aircraft was September next year. be trying to interest the September. launched an upgraded airborne for one hour operator in the smaller version of its single-engine and 37 minutes. As the Lockheed Martin has 76-seat M100 which Amazon billionaire Jeff PC-12 turboprop at this fifth test aircraft to join finalised a $34bn will conform to scope Bezos has announced year's NBAA in Las Vegas. the fleet, Aircraft 105 will agreement with the US regulations restricting Blue Origin’s partners The new PC-12 NGX concentrate on testing Government's F-35 Joint feeder carriers from for its commercial Moon features an improved extreme temperatures Program Office for the operating aircraft with over lander for NASA’s Artemis engine, avionics and a and environment control production of 478 F-35 76 seats. programme. Lockheed redesigned cabin with systems. Lightning IIs for a price Martin will build the larger windows. of less than $80m per Korea Aerospace ascent stage, while New South Korean carrier aircraft. The deal covers Industries (KAI) has Northrop Grumman is set The fifth prototype of Air Premia is to lease five 291 F-35s for the US begun assembling the to provide the transfer Comac’s C919 single Boeing 787-9s from Air armed forces, 127 for first prototype of South stage. Meanwhile, Draper aisle airliner made its first Lease. The start-up airline, F-35 international partners Korea’s indigenous will supply the navigation test flight on 24 October which has already leased and 60 foreign military KF-X fighter. The and guidance. from Shanghai Pudong three other 787s, plans sales customers.

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DEFENCE GENERAL AVIATION Airbus proposes Gulfstream reveals newest flagship Typhoon EW variant G700 Airbus Defence and Space requirements for tactical has unveiled a concept EW platforms. Airbus for a dedicated electronic envisages the Typhoon warfare (EW) version of ECR being a twin-seat the Eurofighter Typhoon. aircraft, with jamming pods The Typhoon ECR would and armed with the MBDA take over the mission SPEAR EW munition. of the Luftwaffe’s aging  Meanwhile, Saab has Gulfstream has unveiled its newest bizjet – the ultra long-range, large cabin Tornado ECR in EW and announced it has just flown G700. The $75m G700 is aimed at competing directly with Bombardier’s SEAD (suppression of its new Electronic Attack Global 7500 bizjet and is based on a stretched G650ER. Final range is still enemy air defences) − as Jammer Pod (EAJP) on a unknown but is expected to be near 7,800-8,000nm. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl turbofans with first deliveries scheduled for 2022. well as other emerging Gripen D test aircraft. Gulfstream AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT

Leonardo has announced it is to invest as the main industrial partner into a Spanish- US start-up, Skydweller, that is aiming to convert the piloted record-breaking Solar Qantas trials ‘Project Impulse 2 aircraft into an ultra-persistent UAV with unlimited range. The Skydweller Sunrise long haul will be capable of carrying a payload of 800kg, with its first flight scheduled for 2021. ’ Unlike competing HAPS (high-altitude psuedo satellites), such as the Airbus Zephyr Qantas has flown a test crew and no cargo. and BAE Systems Phasa-35, the Skydweller will fly at medium altitudes. flight for its proposed Project The trial saw optimised Sunrise long-distance lighting and sleeping non-stop commercial patterns to reduce jet-lag, flights to Australia. The test as well as monitoring of flight on 18 October was crew alertness and in- conducted using a Boeing flight exercise classes for 787-9 Dreamliner flying for passengers. Qantas plans 19hours 16min from New to begin commercial long- York’s JFK airport to Sydney distance flights connecting in a 8,700nm flight. To Sydney with New York and Solar Impulse to return as ensure that the aircraft had Sydney to London from Leonardo-backed persistent UAV the necessary fuel, the 787 2022-23 using either Airbus carried 49 passengers and A350s or Boeing 777Xs. Leonardo NEWS IN BRIEF

in emergency medical demonstrated at Mach an eventual 18 upgraded An unmanned Cygnus services, tourism, aerial 5 conditions – cooling version of the Dassault On 11 November, SpaceX spacecraft cargo ship construction and flight airflow temperatures of Atlantique 2 (ATL2) launched 60 of its Starlink docked with the ISS on training. Delivery of the over 1,000°C in less than maritime patrol aircraft. mini-satellites using a 4 November after being new K-MAX is scheduled 1/20th second. Dassault Aviation and Falcon 9. The launch was launched on an Antares for December. Thales are due to deliver also the fourth flight of this rocket from Wallops Airline operator IAG is to an additional five upgraded Falcon 9 reusable booster Island, Virginia, on 2 The UK’s Reaction acquire Spanish operator, ATL2s between 2020- and the first use of the November. Engines’ has announced Air Europa, for €1bn. The 2023 while a further 11 rocket's refurbished nose that its precooler airline will be controlled will be upgraded by SIAé fairings. Kaman Aerospace has technology has passed by IAG’s existing Spanish aeronautical maintenance won a new order from Heli a critical validation operator Iberia. The deal is centre. The modifications Bristol-based Vertical Air-Swiss for its K-MAX ground test. The HTX expected to be completed include a new radar, Aerospace has announced heavy-lift helicopter. Heli tests – at the company’s in the first half of 2020. acoustic subsystem it has conducted the first Air-Swiss is part of Heli- facility in Colorado, and new navigation and flight of its Serpah three- Austria which operates US – saw the SABRE The French Navy has taken tactical display subsystem person (one pilot, two 35 aircraft specialising precooler successfully delivery of the first two of consoles. passengers) eVTOL.

8 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 SPACEFLIGHT

DEFENCE SPACEFLIGHT Tu-160s touch down in NASA and Virgin Galactic unveil South Africa new space suits and flightsuit NASA Two Russian Air Force their base at Engels-2 Tupolev Tu-160M2 via the Caspian, Arabian strategic bombers have Seas and Indian Ocean. visited Africa for the very Supporting the visit of the first time as guests of Tu-160s were an Antonov the South African Air An124 transport and an Force in a ‘military-military’ Ilyushin Il-62. The visit co-operation event. The of the bombers came as aircraft touched down Russian President Vladimir at Waterkloof Air Force Putin hosted a Russia- Base, South Africa, on 23 Africa summit in Sochi on October, having flown from the Black Sea.

GENERAL AVIATION The emergency ‘land-now’ button is here

Navigation and avionics by passengers in the specialists Garmin has event of the pilot being announced that the Cirrus incapacitated. It selects the Vison Jet and Piper M60 nearest suitable airport, wlll be the launch aircraft plots a flight plan before Galactic Virgin for its new emergency landing the aircraft safely Both NASA and Virgin Galactic have revealed new designs for space suits and flightsuits. autoland as part of their and stopping the engine. For its Artemis Moon programme, NASA unveiled a new Lunar EVA suit (right) that improves G3000 flightdecks − a While the G3000 suite will on the original Apollo suits with better flexibility and comfort, as well as a vehicle crew suit that first for GA aircraft. The be the first application, the astronauts will wear on launch. Meanwhile, commercial sub-orbital operator Virgin Galactic autoland capability is firm says it could also be revealed its flightsuit (left) for its space tourists, developed in conjunction with Under Armour. designed to be triggered retrofitted. (See ‘Have space suit will travel’ p 18). ON THE AEROSPACE MOVE INFOGRAPHIC: How 70% of aerospace R&D also Stan Deal is to replace spins off to benefit other sectors Kevin McAllister as CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

From 1 January, Antonio Carlos Garcia will be Embraer’s new CFO and Investor Relations Officer.

NASA has appointed Douglas Loverro as its new Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. Aerospace Technology Initiative Technology Aerospace

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 9 Global Outlook and Analysis with antenna: HOWARD WHEELDON NATO looks to more uncertain future with confidence

t was the first Secretary General of NATO, Lord While NATO continues to face external threats, Ismay who in 1952, using rather surprising few would have believed that it would today be faced language at that time, had voiced a belief that with internal threats to its very existence as well. With the Trans-Atlantic alliance was created to “keep the EU more determined than ever to further its own the Soviet Union out, the Americans in and the version of collective defence through the Common IGermans down.” Security and Defence Policy, often without recourse That NATO has achieved what it was established to NATO and, worse, with too many European NATO for can hardly be in doubt and, as I write this last members unwilling to properly fund their own defence ‘Antenna’ piece, I would love to believe that 30 years let alone to fully meet wider obligations to the alliance, from now, when NATO celebrates its first one hundred suffice to say that equally serious threats to the years, scholars of 20th and 21st century history will alliance remain. determine that NATO’s foremost success is that it has In a modern translation of the famous Ismay ensured one hundred years of European peace and words, Stephen Walt of Harvard University said that, as can surely be said today, it has remained the that NATO’s purpose is to “keep the Americans in most successful military alliance in history. charge, the Europeans compliant and the Brussels A strong NATO remains as vital to defending bureaucracy busy.” Across the pond in Europe, John western interests, freedom and democracy today as it Hulsman of the HCSS (Hague Centre for Strategic did on the day that the alliance was founded 70 years Studies) reinterpreted the words as needing to ago in April 1949. NATO has always faced challenges “keep the West in, Russians out and the isolationists of course and has been brilliant in demonstrating (especially in Europe) down.” adaptability to meet ever changing demands. That NATO is facing a new set of challenges Today NATO is facing up to a new set of dissimilar from those the alliance faced ten years ago challenges that could not have been imagined even can hardly be argued. A disgruntled US President ten years ago. The more protagonist views from a making ‘sometimes wild but understandable’ threats more inward-looking US transatlantic partner, one based around the US taking such a huge burden of whose President appears as determined as ever to financial responsibility not only for NATO itself but also put US advantage first, can hardly be ignored and for collective European defence combined with the then there are geopolitical issues, including what to unwillingness of some large European NATO member do about Turkey, importantly NATO’s second largest states to increase spending on defence has not military power and one that is proving to be less than surprisingly angered a more inward-looking America. prepared to toe the alliance line. The comparison figures between what US and Throwing Turkey out of NATO would present a gift European NATO members spend on defence speak that Russia’s Vladimir Putin would very much welcome for themselves and they make very poor reading. In and thus it is a least-preferred option. Then, just as the 2015 European members of NATO, including the UK, major military threat to NATO back in 1949 was the spent a total $253bn on defence. That compared Soviet Union, so it is today that the greatest security to the $618bn that the US spent on defence in the threat to NATO is still that of a resurgent Russia. same year. Translated, it means that 26 out of the The list of threats to NATO can probably be said then 28 non-North American members of NATO to have never been greater than they are today. Cyber were, in, 2015, spending just 30% of what the US security threats to the alliance have also become spent. No surprise then that the bottom line from a more frequent, complex, destructive and, indeed, US standpoint is that Europe needs to spend more coercive and the need for NATO to create a strategy on defence and that the US is no longer prepared to for space, one that would allow the alliance to combat carry such a high financial burden of European-based growing threats from China and Russia, will continue defence. to occupy the highest level of priority for NATO While issues such as NATO strategy, the ability of military chiefs. Much has been achieved but even the alliance to respond to crises fast enough and its more still needs to be done. ability to adapt have all been cited as areas of concern

10 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 NATO

from an internal NATO perspective, I suspect that Meeting of NATO worked hard to stand in the way of the EU creating creation of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Ministers of Defence on a European defence force. The negative position Policy (CSDP), together with that of the Permanent 24-25 October 2019 at is that the events of Brexit could be perceived as NATO Headquarters in Structured Cooperation (PESCO) mechanism could damaging Britain’s standing in the world and that it will Brussels. all potentially interfere with future NATO military take several years for a British government to rebuild planning and conduct capability. How these will fit its fences. Even so, the UK remains the largest and alongside NATO remains a big unknown and, while probably best equipped of Europe’s NATO members none of the above are aimed at damaging EU-NATO and its military still punches above its weight on co-operation, I suspect that creation of another large the global stage. Leaving the EU certainly does not and potentially unwieldy layer in European defence mean the UK turning its back on Europe and I am policy and practice could well have an impact on in no doubt that, through NATO and working closely NATO efficiency. together with our EU allies, the underlying relationship with the EU in respect of military alliance will not A vital transatlantic bond change. It is also reassuring that membership of the EU NATO today is not just about 29 member states and NATO is largely overlapping and that, post Brexit, being united in their commitment to the 1949 21 countries will remain members of both. Since the Washington Treaty, the purposes and principles of 2016 NATO Warsaw Summit the alliance and the the Charter of the United Nations and remaining as EU have been trying to work more closely together, a vital transatlantic bond. It is equally about seeing even allowing that the EU has been fostering its own NATO as an instrument that is always striving for A STRONG policies for future European-based defence. peace, security and stability across the whole of the NATO REMAINS Longer-term issues that NATO may need to look Euro-Atlantic area in defending freedom, security, at include the alliance having no formal obligation to common values, individual liberties and rules-based AS VITAL TO protect EU countries that are not members of the order for which NATO has no equal. DEFENDING alliance – these include Austria, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Concerns over EU policy on defence and how WESTERN and Sweden. Of these, Sweden has been reported to these may translate to the strengthening of future co- be planning to introduce a new ‘total defence’ plan in operation with NATO, the jury is also out on whether INTERESTS, order to defend itself against a military invasion. Brexit will either damage or strengthen NATO. Brexit FREEDOM AND Clearly the threat to non-NATO member states, will remain a sore point and one that no-one as yet DEMOCRACY particularly those in the Baltic region such as knows what the final answer will be. The hope is that, TODAY AS IT Finland and Sweden, from a resurgent Russia is real. because the UK is the largest European contributor to NATO should, in my view, take a lead in accepting NATO, the UK will enjoy ‘unequalled solidarity’ from all DID ON THE that threats to Baltic region allies are a NATO members states of the EU that are also members of DAY THAT THE responsibility, just as much as they may well be an EU NATO. ALLIANCE WAS responsibility as well. Equally important is that a Britain no longer in FOUNDED 70 In writing this last ‘Antenna’ view, can I thank all the EU can use its power of diplomacy to rebuild the those that have written to me personally during the fraught transatlantic relationship between the EU and YEARS AGO IN seven years that I have been producing these for the NATO. Until now and refusing to join itself, Britain has APRIL 1949 Society’s AEROSPACE magazine.

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LETTERS AND ONLINE

Pilot training Aerial taxis Uber Elevate The article on pilot training own selection procedures. by David Learmount in Resources were saved, the November edition of standards improved and AEROSPACE I found of most important, individual particular interest(1). In youngsters were not 1994 I wrote a short paper wasting large sums of f for the then Education money. To see that, after Gary (Garo) Vermaak & Training Committee 25 years, the problem still Anti aeromodellers? [On Making money out of the then Guild of Air RAF selection centre at exists in parts of the world of air(8)] Great article. Pilots & Air Navigators Cranwell I was able to is horrifying. Although no Jonathan Land [On (5) While UAM actually has (now the Honourable start a scheme whereby longer active in the role of dealing with drones .] been around since New Company) on the subject an appropriate battery of pilot selection and training, Why are all legitimate aero York Airways’ first air of preassessment and pilot aptitude tests was I do reflect on over 40 modellers being penalised taxi flight in 1953 (the aptitude testing for available for budding years of involvement. The for an alleged issue with a term air mobility was only prospective pilots. I was commercial pilots. Some scheme at Cranwell is still drone operation? For many coined by the USAF in most concerned at the training establishments operating, although at a of us, aeromodelling was the1960s and NASA only quality of some pilots after of the time were far reduced level with around our introduction to a career added the word urban in they had qualified, clearly from keen on the idea 25% of candidates found in aviation. How can we the 2000s), a key point having had considerable as they could see loss of to be unsuitable for pilot introduce young people into is that eVTOLs are only difficulty with the course, revenue. Training hopeless training and many more the hobby when we’re being a transition from turbine and also with the fact cases was very lucrative. are marginal. A one-to- demonised by the media? engines to (distributed) that so many set out on As time went by, the one debriefing enables electric propulsion, just the course in the first schools saw the wisdom the implications of an Flying VTOLs like the transition from place without any idea of aptitude testing and individual’s performance to piston engines to jet of their basic aptitude the culture changed with be discussed. Esaú Lopez Fraga [On (6) engines in the late ’40s and chances of success. the introduction by some Creating a new world .] A and early ’50s, which With the help of the establishments of their Clive Elton new world with the same PPL? No, I don’t believe it... creates opportunities for new designs (or rehashing 1920’s multi-copters and Don’t forget the X-59 1960’s tilt duct, rotor and wing aircraft) and new NASA I’ve been surprised that, in use cases. These new giving news on the Boom designs should be quieter Supersonic XB-1 project(2), and be cheaper to operate you’ve made no mention from an energy and of the ‘Low Boom’ aircraft i maintenance perspective. programme. The first eVTOL aircraft also face NASA X-59 QueSST is the same constraints as close to flight, and Boeing Developing fighters helicopters and the same has a ‘low boom’ prototype rules and regulations almost completed. These Steve Higgins [On From developed over 72 years projects are aimed at Sanger to Avangard(7).] of civilian helicopters Mach 3. A recent article on Excellent article. Incredible should apply, with the the X-59 was in Aviation to think that this concept exception of autorotation Week 30 September – NASA/Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST demonstrator. was first thought of 70+ capability, which still 13 October 2019. The years ago! needs to be addressed for programme is being designs without any glide handled by Lockheed’s issue(3), on our local Kent article. It was one of the Light aircraft design ability. Infrastructure is a Skunk Works and others Surrey Sussex service. most interesting articles major constraint, yet ‘Uber but the flying is from I had no knowledge of I’ve seen in AEROSPACE Tim Watkins [On RAeS Elevate also envisions a NASA Langley. Perhaps the detail, including the recently. The article on Light Aircraft Design future involving large-scale someone from RAeS availability of more than the international United conference] I can highly fleets of UAMs operating should arrange to go to one helicopter – three! Nor Nations emergency recommend this! There are between skyports which Langley and prepare an had I knowledge of details service(4) was also some excellent and highly could handle up to 1,000 article for AEROSPACE? such as the GoodSAM fascinating and made a qualified speakers lined landings per hour’ – when By the way, video streaming system. good companion article to up; if you have an interest realistically and safely, a congratulations on ‘The My wife supports AAKSS that on AAKSS. in the electrification of two take-off and landing airborne emergency but also was surprised aviation, this really is a key vertiport could handle 60 room’ in the October by the information in the Nigel Wood conference to attend. movements an hour.·

12 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Solar-powered UAV RAeS 2019 Greener by Design conference @mhmiranusa [On Airbus @giakroeff What a Leonardo investing in shift towards zero net Solar Impulse-derived carbon conversation in UAV] The problem with the Greener by Design solar-powered aircraft is Conference today. Well mostly low cruise speed (ie organised. wing loading) which comes from low available power and also its coupling with @GuyG_Boffin Greener Hybrid demonstrator wing area. Power-saving by Design @AeroSociety

Rolls-Royce systems (batteries, fuel #GBD19. Takeaway 1 – cells) low energy density is for the first time everybody another problem. is talking seriously about Concept image of Airbus E Fan-X hybrid-electric demonstrator. carbon removal from Bird of Prey at RAeS the environment as an @Light_Flight22 Great @MCarter_ Sustainable essential future technology. to see the E-Fan X being aviation fuel use is Takeaway 2 – We still @juanmab [On Rolls- profiled, an incredibly growing, aiming for 2% lack universally trusted Royce and German important global jet fuel use by 2025. entities to measure and partners team up @UKAeroInstitute-funded Is it enough? police carbon emissions for hybrid-electric project. reductions at all scales. demonstrator] OK, who With increasing use of ended up mating a @RAFEngineering RAF offsetting, this will become Myasishchev M-55 and a @AskHelios Helios Engineering isn’t just about increasingly needed. Tu-95? Director, Nick Boud is air operations today. Really Takeaway 3 – Carbon @IAtheron [On Airbus attending Greener by pleased to be offsets in aviation can Bird of Prey on display Design @AeroSociety @AeroSociety conference only be a short/medium- @MichaelJPryce Electric at RAeS Careers in today. ‘A compelling on sustainable aviation. term solution until the Argosy-minor! Nice. Aerospace LIVE!] Why the agenda on how and if Tomorrow’s engineers may rest of human activity is contra rotating props? aviation can not just still be in school but they decarbonised, unless it is achieve a 50% net will be leading this field in paying for carbon capture reduction in greenhouse 10/15 years. and storage. @rovSirhc Need one!!! 4th and final takeaway – Global workforce gas emissions by 2050 but achieve net zero.’ Present carbon targets, @asciiqwerty Great to Paris, CORSIA, etc, may Stealth demonstrator be totally inadequate

Airbus Defence hear from @piersforster @The_AEF Setting out at #GBD19 this morning to protect our planet. the scale of the aviation on ten years of climate Increasingly a target emissions challenge: by science in aerospace. Key of zero net emissions 2050, aviation will have take away – don’t mix CO by 2050 is looking like 2 the only way to prevent used 20bn tonnes of fuel and non-CO2 impacts, look and emitted 65bn tonnes into effective RF metric massive global damage. @epelgrino [On Hans Büthker, GKN CEO. of CO2 says and pay attention to time Airbus Defence unveils @CranfieldUni Ian Poll at basis of analysis. secret LOUT stealth #GBD19 @GKNAero: Yesterday, demonstrator(9)] Has Hans Büthker, it demonstrated its @GKNAero CEO, had the effectiveness in flight? pleasure of updating the Powered with what engine? 1. AEROSPACE, November 2019, p 22, Delivering tomorrow’s pilot training @AeroSociety (RAeS) 2. AEROSPACE, October 2019, p 32, Supersonic countdown about how our global 3. AEROSPACE, October 2019, p 14, The airbourne emergency room 4. AEROSPACE, October 2019, p 18, Flying to the rescue workforce continues @Al_Brock We were only 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/dealing-with-drones/ to drive #sustainability talking about the Horton 6. AEROSPACE, November 2019, p 26, Creating a new world 7. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/from-saenger-to-avangard-hypersonic-weapons-come-of-age/ and #innovation into the in the margins yesterday 8. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/making-money-out-of-air/ #aerospace industry. evening at our Cambridge 9. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/lout-of-the-black/ We appreciate all who RAeS lecture. Several attended, including Sir of us have seen it in the Brian Burridge, RAeS CEO. museum at Dulles. Online Additional features and content are available to view online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight

@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes f facebook.com/raes www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 13 AEROSPACE Air traffic management

It has now been over eight months since NATS and NAV Canada introduced Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service over the world’s busiest oceanic airspace,Suddenly the North Atlantic. DAVID LEARMOUNT I see reports on its progress. NATS

It has now been over eight months since NATS and NAV Canada introduced Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service over the world’s busiest oceanic airspace, the North Atlantic. DAVID LEARMOUNT reports on its progress.

ommunications technology aboard a Surveillance systems on new global constellation of 66 low- Earth-orbit smart satellites – launched On 4 February this year US company Aireon, during the last decade by Iridium responsible for setting up the satcom datalink relay Communications has enabled Canada network on the Iridium constellation, was able to Cand the UK to transform air traffic surveillance on announce that its space-based surveillance system the North Atlantic. had been switched on. Aireon’s system, the company Each satellite carries a device that relays aircraft claims, could now enable ATM surveillance ‘anywhere position and performance data via datalinks to on earth’, because Iridium’s 66-satellite constellation air traffic management (ATM) units, such as Nav covers the globe. Canada’s Gander and NATS’ Prestwick Oceanic NATS has had a 10% share in Aireon since 2018. Control Centres (OCC). Between them, the two NATS’ chief executive officer Martin Rolfe, says: “This centres control the vast majority of North Atlantic is a transformational technology that will deliver the air traffic. Aircraft-mounted ADS-B transmitters world’s first truly global air traffic control infrastructure, transmit information every few seconds about making flying even safer and more efficient. The each aircraft’s position, height and much more via North Atlantic is the busiest area of oceanic airspace the satellites to the OCCs. This enables air traffic in the world and the gateway to Europe but its control officers (ATCO) to track the aircraft as if in routes have now reached their limit of capacity with real time, with a radar-like update rate of 3-8sec. existing technology, so we are delighted now to have

14 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 a safe way to meet the ever growing demand.” transmitted via ADS-C (ADS – Contract) every 10- This technological response to the ATM capacity 14min using a FANS (future air navigation systems) challenge is a world first. datalink. FANS has become a misnomer NATS explains that live trials began – the system is no longer the future, on 29 March, about two months after though it may remain the present for the Aireon switch-on and says the early some time in other oceanic areas. results are promising. The trial involves Under the FANS system aircraft were Nav Canada overseeing the Gander carefully released into their pre-cleared, Oceanic Flight Information Region THIS IS A one-way oceanic tracks at specific (FIR) and the UK’s NATS on watch TRANSFOR- heights, time intervals, and speeds, so over the Shanwick FIR. These are the MATIONAL they would maintain separation vertically two contiguous sectors that carry very TECHNOLOGY and horizontally. Now, NATS explains, nearly all the traffic flying both ways THAT WILL position updates are rapid and frequent: between North America and Europe/ DELIVER THE ‘The changes we’ve made to our ATM Middle East. system have received a warm welcome The early results are looking very WORLD’S FIRST from our controllers, while our new Aireon positive, conferring safety validation for TRULY GLOBAL service has delivered 134m ADS-B smaller traffic separations and a hugely AIR TRAFFIC reports since the end of March, all of increased probability that aircraft will be CONTROL which arrived within the target update able to be cleared to fly at their chosen INFRA– rate of eight seconds, with most as low as It has now been over eight months since NATS and NAV Canada introduced speed and best height. 2-3 seconds. The average time taken for STRUCTURE, Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service over the world’s busiest oceanic Until now, aircraft flying between these reports to reach a controller was North American and Europe had MAKING FLYING just 0.19 seconds, well within our target airspace, the North Atlantic. DAVID LEARMOUNT reports on its progress. always been invisible to ATC once EVEN SAFER AND of two seconds or less.’ they were more than about 350km MORE EFFICIENT. The 14min position/performance off the coast on either side, because update rate provided by the old FANS at that distance from radar antennae Martin Rolfe system is an enhanced version of a well- they had disappeared over the radar Chief Executive tried voice ATM methodology known as horizon. ATCOs, however, still knew Officer, NATS procedural control and most of the world approximately where each aircraft will continue to control oceanic air traffic was because each aircraft reported procedurally for some years yet. In fact The Aireon its position, height and a time estimate for the next only 30% of the Earth’s surface has radar coverage environment reporting point every 14min or so. Once done by enabling aircraft surveillance for ATM purposes, voice, this information has more recently been and ADS-B is increasingly also used to cover large Aireon

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 15 AEROSPACE Air traffic management

wilderness areas in some countries like Australia efficiently cross the North Atlantic.” Of course, crews but at present they have ground-based, not satellite, will continue to choose the most efficient routes to data-link relay systems. minimise headwinds or take advantage of tailwinds On 28 March, less than two months after Aireon’s but the NATS area will gradually become free-routing switch-on, live ADS-B surveillance trials involving airspace. Nav Canada and UK NATS began on the busy North Smith explains: “Being able to reduce separation Atlantic (NAT) routes. The trials are endorsed by the standards and offer greater flexibility on routes, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). speeds and levels means 62% of traffic now doesn’t need to use the OTS at all, compared Increased aircraft trafficking with 50% in 2015. That’s a trend we will now see accelerate, as we continue to unlock all of the service Comparing NATS’ traffic in the period 28 March improvements available to us through Aireon and our and 31 August 2018 with the same this year, 4,400 deployment of our new standards. Over the coming more flights were assigned their requested level years, we estimate that 90% of airspace users will be and, by the end of the year, it is anticipated that 90% assigned their requested trajectories, something that of flights will get what they ask for. Over that same will support the progressive reduction and eventual period, explains NATS: ‘We were also able to assign removal of the OTS.” 3,419 more flights their (requested) route, while Resulting annual fuel savings on the North around 43,000 flights – over one third Atlantic at this stage of the trial are n reo of all eastbound traffic – were Ai expected to be 38,800 tonnes. As instructed to ‘Resume Normal experience with the system Speed’ for a total duration increases, and if validation of 2.2m minutes, or analyses continue to 37,000 flight hours. prove margins are safe, Flying at ‘normal’ further improvements speed allows crews may be gained. to fly at the speed that best suits Increased them, enabling safety flexibility to speed up, slow down The possession to meet their of radar-like Aireon’s space- schedules, or surveillance simply to fly at the capability improves based ADS-B most economical safety as well service. speed instead of the as efficiency, and totally fixed speed enables much more Left: Aireon we’ve had to operate for precise monitoring, promises eventual decades.’ recording and analysis of Global, To give an idea of the size traffic behaviour, enabling Pole-to-Pole of the annual task, the number the identification of risk and of of flights passing through the NATS- potential improvements in best practice. Coverage. controlled Shanwick OCA in 2018 was just over Previously, if an aircraft began to deviate 500,000 flights. from its cleared track because clearance details At present these flexible speed clearances – were misunderstood or entered incorrectly into the known as OWAFS (operations without fixed assigned flight control panel (FCP), it could take up to 14mins speed) – are still issued manually by ATCOs where before ATC got a position update revealing the error. they see opportunities and where workload permits Another benefit of the new datalink is that it goes but NATS says they will be automated by the first beyond providing aircraft position and speed, it can quarter of 2020. ATCO-pilot communications are indicate the crew’s intention by detecting pilot input normally by controller-pilot data-link communications to the FCP to change the aircraft’s flight level or (CPDLC) exchanging keyboard-generated heading. So if, for example, the flight level selected messages, although voice is available. is incorrect according to the aircraft’s clearance, the NATS’ Head of Strategic Oceanic Engagement, ATCO will receive a warning before the error has Andy Smith comments: “We’re seeing the beginning been actuated. of the end of the organised track structure (OTS). The Controllers managing the Shanwick Oceanic OTS was introduced decades ago, itself designed sector sit at a HMI (human/machine interface) to add additional oceanic capacity with a series of display which, to the unpractised eye, looks identical set routes designated each day, taking into account to those used by controllers working the Scottish the location of the jet stream, to permit aircraft to domestic sectors in the same operations room at

16 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 NATS’ Prestwick Centre, except the latter are using just replaced, based on ADS-C relayed via FANS secondary surveillance radar (SSR) input rather than datalinks, enabled by Inmarsat. ADS-B reports. The FAA’s long-term intentions for ADS-B in As Smith explains, the oceanic controllers are Oceanic areas are not yet defined. It does say, assisted by automation and, therefore, do not have however: ‘The Reduced Oceanic Separation (ROS) to monitor every aircraft return all the time, enabling – Advanced Surveillance Enhanced Procedural them to monitor larger numbers than they used to Separation (ASEPS) program will re-examine be able to handle safely. Clicking on any contact will current limitations to reducing oceanic separation provide information on the 12 closest aircraft. The standards by evaluating improved surveillance system provides automatic warning to the controller capabilities, including space-based ADS-B and of any emerging medium-term conflicts and – if more enhanced ADS-C with a faster update rate than than one conflict – they are prioritised. available today (a 3.2min update rate is planned)… At work the oceanic controllers are quiet most of the program is working towards a financial the time, occasionally checking a particular contact investment decision.’ that looks clear of traffic to see if it could be relieved When NATS, however, was reviewing enhanced of any restrictions to its clearance. If it proves clear, ADS-C as an upgrade option it found that, while it the controller taps into the datalink keyboard ‘resume provided the potential for smaller separations than normal speed’, or passes the crew a level change the non-enhanced variant, safety improvement clearance if it was being held down. At present the live trial in Gander and Shanwick Oceanic continues but all the signs are it is working to specification or beyond. Back in February 2019 Aireon CEO Don Thoma was able to boast that: “For the first time in history, we can surveil (sic) all ADS-B-equipped aircraft anywhere on Earth.” Not all the world’s ANSPs are ready for it yet, but those who are ready – in addition to Nav Canada and NATS – include the Irish Aviation Authority, Italy’s Enav and Denmark’s Naviair.

Aireon begins tracking the world

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also working with Aireon. It is in the early stages of trialling the provision – by Aireon – of space-based surveillance over the whole continent, with the ADS-B data relayed to Europe’s ANSPs. Thoma describes Aireon’s core product as “global surveillance as a service”. When and if that is approved in Europe, it will be another first: the provision of surveillance data to ANSPs by an NATS organisation that is a business, not an ANSP, nor the military. was limited by the fact that an ADS-C report takes Meanwhile, surveillance is not the same in the minutes to download, whereas ADS-B takes less US’s oceanic areas of responsibility, even where they than a second. The FAA’s decision will probably be border with Gander Oceanic. Although the Federal influenced by the simple fact of the lower traffic Aviation Administration (FAA) is thoroughly familiar density in its oceanic airspace. On both the USA’s with the use of ground-based ADS-B for surveillance, Atlantic and Pacific shores the airspace is indeed it has not deployed it for oceanic areas. The FAA’s busy but much less so than the North Atlantic Capital Investment Plan sets out the agency’s plans sectors that Nav Canada and the UK manage. to deploy ground-network-based ADS-B surveillance NATS summarises the project: ‘The North Atlantic gradually to replace SSR over land and in coastal is the busiest piece of oceanic airspace anywhere areas beginning in 2020 and it already uses it in the world, acting as Europe and North America’s extensively in the Gulf of Mexico for managing oil- transatlantic gateway. What we’ve developed here is support helicopter operations. important not just for the airlines that use it but for Bordering Gander Oceanic to its south is the the wider industry worldwide with our deployment of New York Oceanic FIR. It does not have the same new standards and transformational new technology capabilities for reduced separation that Nav Canada yielding safety, capacity and environmental and NATS offer in their oceanic FIRs. They have a performance improvements that we’re sharing with system similar to the one the latter two ANSPs have others.’

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 17 SPACEFLIGHT Space suit design Via author Have space suit – will travel As the second Space Age race moves towards placing professional, citizen astronauts and space tourists in orbit, DR CAMERON M SMITH of space suit start-up Pacific Spaceflight, considers the emerging requirements and future commercial market for space suits.

s the second Space Age, characterised team of technicians down on Earth. We need the ‘farm Above: Heavy duty space by reducing the cost of space access, pickup truck’ of space suits, so that going outside will suit concept for orbital flourishes, more people will be going be as routine as taking a ramble down a country road. construction work. to space. Each of them will require We are far from that now but the only way to get there at least one space suit and at a price is to start. And we have started. thatA encourages rather than discourages space activity. Such cost reduction has been the focus of More space suits = better and my research group, Pacific Spaceflight, since 2009. cheaper space suits Recently, as thousands of people came to see and touch some of our space suits at the Paris Air Show, Currently only a handful of companies make I had a chance to think over the future of space suits space suits. The technologies of space suit design, in general. And as I go forward in to the commercial fabrication, testing, delivery and training are highly space industry, I have three main observations. exotic, specialised and treated like the secrets of First, the number of space suits designed, built, rarefied guilds. This will all change as more space tested, and routinely used will increase radically in suits are needed. The older companies will probably the coming decades. This will result in a variety of continue to enjoy their decades-old relationships with space suit fabrication companies, with competition federal space agencies but there will be demand between them increasing space suit reliability and for many and varied space suits for the commercial reducing cost. Second, as more activities are carried space industry. Note that for each person trained to SpaceX’s latest space suit. out beyond Earth, a wide variety of space suit types will go to space and use a space suit, there will be the be needed. Finally, it is clear that space suit usability need for at least one training space suit. To supply and reliability will have to come on par with that of this emerging demand, space suit companies will comparable technology which we all take for granted appear. It is unlikely that they will result from personnel today, for example, cars and aircraft. The ultimate goal from the older companies splitting off to form new of space settlement will not work out if, each time we companies, as those employees are more likely under want to go outside, we have to plan it like a modern very strict non-compete contracts. Whatever the case, ISS spacewalk, using sensitive, expensive, exotic these companies will supply large numbers of space space suits, meticulous planning and live oversight by a suits. Just as natural selection favours the best-fit SpaceX

18 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 of a diversity of forms of living things, the process of notice any more than your regular daily clothing, that ‘technological selection’ will weed out poorer ideas, is, giving the body near-natural range of mobility. resulting in better designs in terms of function and This is the Holy Grail of space suit design and we reliability. are pursuing it with vigour. I imagine others are as well. IT IS CLEAR What counts as ‘better’ in terms of Other advances in space suit technologies will THAT SPACE function? result from the use of advanced materials. Currently SUIT USABILITY and foreseeably, space suits incorporate a variety Currently it is relatively easy to maintain suit of textiles and hard materials including metal for AND RELIABILITY pressure, dump or scrub exhaled CO2 and regulate fittings and polycarbonate for transparent elements WILL HAVE TO temperature – the essential space suit functions. such as visors. Keeping up with advances in textiles COME ON PAR The real challenge is mobility of the suit when alone is challenging and any fledgling space suit WITH THAT OF pressurised. Many visitors to our lab are shocked to company will be well-advised to systematically test discover the rigidity of a fully-pressurised space suit a wide variety of materials. New materials likely to COMPARABLE – it is something like wearing armour. It is entirely be used in forthcoming space suits include aerogel TECHNOLOGY possible to get accustomed to wearing pressurised (as insulation), hydrogenated boron nitride nanotube WHICH WE suits for hours at a time but it takes dedicated textiles for protection from galactic cosmic radiation, training. and ‘buckypaper’ an ultralightweight and tremendously ALL TAKE FOR We must do better to have ‘everyday wear’ puncture-resistant textile. GRANTED space suits. Dozens of approaches to increasing Whatever suit designs are evolved, competition TODAY, FOR mobility when pressurised have been invented for customers are likely to drive prices down radically. EXAMPLE, CARS and tested. Not all of the best designs, however, Currently, IVA suits (used inside spacecraft simply have ‘made it’ through federal space agency for trips to and from LEO) cost in the order of AND AIRCRAFT bureaucracies to space. Some worthy designs that $50,000-$100,000. They also weigh about 15lb, will improve mobility are sure to be resurrected costing $60,000-$150,000 just to get to LEO (at in the coming decades. These include the use of SpaceX’s and NASA current per-pound cost-to-LEO, skin-tight ‘mechanical’ compression suits (which respectively). My goal has been a $1,000 IVA suit make people look so great in the movies but weighing just 3kg. I currently have the materials cost remain in development), suits aided by exoskeleton and weight parameters in this range but fabrication technology and the use of modern materials such as cost remains in the low tens of thousands of dollars. composites to build uniquely-mobile joints. The ‘best’ These costs will come down as ingenuity is used to space suit, I feel, will be the one that you do not keep up with competition.

Right: Testing of a Pacific Spaceflight Mars EVA space suit. Pacific Spaceflight

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 19 SPACEFLIGHT Space suit design

More activities in space = orbit to keep a given company’s fleet of construction a diversity of space suits suits running well. I suspect this work, just like that of a helicopter mechanic, will be well-paid and highly- Construction suits regarded. Space construction suits will differ from The most likely developmental pathway for the current space station EVA suits in being more heavily second Space Age is the development of LEO built, perhaps with more protection for the visor, and infrastructure to service increasing space tourism will involve many specialised tools requiring excellent and space-based commerce. This infrastructure will glove dexterity and/or glove-replacing tool ‘hands’ include ‘construction stations’ for storing construction as seen on current underwater construction suits. Pacific Spaceflight training materials and housing workers, something like remote suit on dispaly at the 2019 One such space industry suit is already underway as oil rigs. These will be used to build space hotels for Paris Air Show. my company is currently building a training Space orbital tourists and fabrication and research facilities Construction Suit for Opifex, a Texas company for commercial entities. Even with some self-assembly focused on training ‘spacejacks’, space construction and robotic assembly, this infrastructure will be workers much like commercial divers. built largely by (and then maintained by) legions of space construction workers. They will need space Space tourism suits construction suits that can be used hundreds or It appears that Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle, and thousands of times, rather than retired from use (for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo are both designed maintenance) after a few years or as few as 25 uses, with pressurised cabins such that no space suit is as are the current NASA EMU and Russian Orlan needed. If there is a crew cabin pressure leak, it will suits. These suits will have to offer enough comfort have to be quickly overcome with increased gas to be used for long hours and they will have to be flow into the cabin while emergency procedures are easily maintained by non specialised personnel. initiated. Of course, a very rapid pressure loss could However, just as having ships necessitates having kill the crew in seconds, or make them unconscious in dry docks, there will be work for suit technicians in seconds, leading to suffocation shortly thereafter. For these reasons I suggest that at least the flight crew Boeing on such flights wear IVA suits, just as commercial airline passengers today have some recourse with a simple oxygen mask in case of cabin depressurisation. The pilot and co-pilot are equipped with superior masks and are meant to use them while taking the aircraft down to a safe altitude of approximately 10,000ft. Why do Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic opt out of space suits for their tourists? I suspect these companies perceive space suits to be expensive, heavy (leading to higher launch costs for their customers) and complex. As mentioned, I feel a new generation of very light, comfortable and simple-to- use IVA suits is just around the corner (a 3kg or 6lb IVA suit, at SpaceX’s current cost-to-LEO would add $24,000 to get to space, a smallish sum for someone paying a $250,000 for a suborbital hop … and who wouldn’t want their own space suit as a souvenir of the flight?). This may be changing: apparently Under Armour has been contracted to build some kind of garment for Virgin Galactic right here in Portland, Oregon – It is currently unclear whether these will be pressurised suits or simple flight coveralls. Many space tourists will be adventurous people who will eventually want to go outside of their spacecraft. This will require EVA suits for everyone or at least non federally-trained astronauts. I envision them being used for such varied activities as skydives from the ‘edge of space’, LEO sports, including, for example, 0g races, and even the exploration of the Moon, asteroids and Mars in the manner of modern Former space shuttle astronaut Chris Ferguson, mountaineers. Such space suits will be highly Boeing director of crew tailored for their various functions. The variety will be and mission systems, fantastically interesting as people decide just what it is models the Starliner suit. they want to do in space.

20 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Julian’s paint schemes, an exciting project to get people thinking about the possibilities of spacesuit beyond the usual technology / industry connotations of the past half century. I can’t emphasize enough that this is the ultimate goal; personal expression in use of some beautiful technology to expand humanity’s experiences of the universe.

[Picture: Kate Walz’s space suit at Paris Fashion Week, 2019. ]

Via author Space suits for the entire family!

The ultimate goal of the increased access to space, for many, is not just commerce or recreation for the wealthy but permanent settlement beyond our home planet. This prospect has many justifications, from vague concepts of ‘human progress’ to more specific ideas of ‘civilisation insurance’ in the case of an Earth catastrophe. Whatever the justification, space settlement means lots of space suits. Whether orbital colonies, Lagrangian-point settlements or Mars cities, lots of people will be required to build these habitats and maintain them of course. People of all walks of life will want to experience life beyond the habitat. Steven Hawking was so excited about the properties of the universe beyond Earth that he arranged to have a little taste of it by taking flights on the Vomit Designer space suits from Comet. In the same way, people of whatever disability New York-based fashion designer Kate Walz and will be accommodated by customised space suits her Querencia Studio. for whatever environment. The principles of suit construction are simple enough and so much can [Picture: Concept IVA suit with color scheme by artist Julian Smith] be done with simple textiles that can be contoured space suits should of course be customisable, just as to any human body, that there is no reason not to people customise what they wear every single day of accommodate anyone wanting to experience space. their lives. In the same way, I have commissioned my Space settlement means people of all ages. brother, an artist living in Europe, to design a variety Many people take their kids camping and hiking. Is of space suit colourways, he also provided a wide there any reason that parents would not take their variety of styles – ‘from mild to wild’ he told me – many children on a tour of the surface of Mars, or freely of which employ his abstracted graphics, which have floating above the Earth? I do not think so. The been used in modern swimwear. We are currently danger need not be any more than taking kids on building an IVA suit that will take one of Julian’s paint a busy highway in a car, which people do every day schemes, an exciting project to get people thinking without a thought. Once space suit technology has about the possibilities of space suit beyond the usual been made extremely reliable (more on that below), technology/industry connotations of the past half taking children into space will be done with no more century. thought than people give when taking kids on aircraft I cannot emphasise enough that this is the ultimate or roller coasters. So we should also anticipate space goal; personal expression in use of some beautiful suits for the young and indeed for the elderly. Suits technology to expand humanity’s experiences of the for the young, in particular, will have to be highly universe. size-adjustable for the rapid growth period leading to adult size stability some time after puberty. Space Inceased space suit useability and settlement is not about rockets and robots – those reliability are just tools. Space settlement is about normal families living out normal lives beyond our home Currently, US Air Force pressure garments (used in planet and that means lots of space suits … as varied high altitude flight, but functionally the same as IVA as our clothing today. space suits) are cared for by teams of technicians. While there will always be a need for such workers, Space style future space suits will have to be made even less precious, more reliable and easier to use than anything This brings up style and personal expression with available today. My approach to improving these clothing. Every culture has traditionally had a style of features is not to increase suit complexity, but rather ‘ethnic dress’ and there is no need for future space to make the garments simpler. What is the minimum suits to continue to be entirely utilitarian in their outer number of parts required for a functional suit? Can appearance. Recently we collaborated with New York- a cheaper material be used for a given component, based fashion designer Kate Walz and her Querencia rather than a more expensive one that has been used Studio to begin to show space suits used with cultural for decades simply because of unexamined tradition? aesthetics in mind. We provided Kate with a plain, What can we simplify that is unnecessarily complex? white, completely-functional IVA suit, to which she These are significant questions as we move into the applied her own surface modifications, beautifying second generation of space suits, which will eventually the garment with a sort of flowing cape. Don’t worry be as durable and reliable as some of the most about the safety issues just now, focus on the idea that common transportation on Earth – the private car.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 21 AIR TRANSPORT Pilot training A new era of training at Gatwick

On 1 October, CAE officially inaugurated its new flight simulation centre at Crawley, near Gatwick Airport, UK – with easyJet as its anchor tenant. TIM ROBINSON reports.

new CAE flight simulation centre for device which allows airlines to offload some pilot Gatwick will see easyJet pilots start training onto a cheaper simulator. Another 600XR is training using more representative and set to be deployed to the Milan centre. Finally, as well realistic scenarios, derived from actual as classrooms, briefing/debriefing rooms and pilot line operations, in one of the biggest lounge, the new facility will also include a 737NG advancesA in flight training in decades. cabin crew trainer. The new facility, aimed at type rating and recurrent training, once up and fully running will train Examining the evidence 13,000 pilots a year and joins CAE Manchester and CAE Milan as part of a European expansion of the At the time of AEROSPACE’s visit in September, the Canadian training and simulator specialist’s footprint. first evidence-based training (EBT) course was set CAE already run 300 simulators in 59 locations to begin for Easyjet pilots – introducing a new era worldwide and last year notched up the milestone of in flight training. This updates flight training for the one million hours of civil flight training. Globally the 21st century, replacing 1950s-style prescriptive tick- company trains some 135,000 pilots a year. box check tests with scenarios taken from today’s As the anchor tenant at Gatwick, easyJet operational line flights. These simulator tests, though signed a ten-year exclusive agreement with CAE in valuable in training aircrew to react and carry out November 2018 for the use of five Airbus A320ceo/ emergency procedures, have increasingly become neo simulators at the centre (and four others in divorced from real operations, as aircraft have Manchester and Milan) with pilots starting immediately reached levels of system reliability that would have Last year 15% of new training on these devices the very same day as the seemed impossible in the early years of air transport. pilots joining easyJet were inauguration. The other two FFS devices, an A330 As David Morgan, Interim CCO of easyJet notes, female. and A350, have already been in use by Virgin Atlantic in the budget carrier’s 24-year history, with millions of easyjet for two months prior to the facility’s officially opening. flight hours racked up, it has never once encountered Another brand-new FFS device – a Boeing an engine failure on take-off (a standard check-ride 787 – is set to be delivered direct from CAE, with test) – such is the reliability of modern powerplants. the company also set to move other simulators (two EBT swaps out these statistically ultra-rare incidents A320s, 757/767, 737NG and an Embraer E190) for more common training scenarios drawn from line from its existing Gatwick training centre to the new operations – (although CAE instructors note that, facility in 2020. These will support other customers, initially these will be delivered through mixed-EBT such as Air Europa, Norwegian, BA Cityflyer, LOT, implementation). West Atlantic, DHL, TUI and Titan Airways. These EBT scenarios may not even be technical Pilots at CAE’s Gatwick centre will also be the first failures on the aircraft but challenges, such as dealing

easyjet to use its newest fixed-base 600XR flight training with disruptive or drunk passengers, that potentially

22 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 easyjet The 7000XR simulators (which can be re-roled into either A320ceo or neo variants) feature the latest technology, such as the CAE Tropos 6000XR visual system and all-electric, instead of hydraulic motion legs – which is significantly quieter and INSIDE, THE draws less power. INSTRUCTOR’S Inside, the instructor’s station is state-of-the- STATION IS art, with the instructors praising it for its comfort during four-hour sim sessions and large touch- STATE-OF-THE- screen displays – with a 3D path of the aircraft and ART, WITH THE event markers. As well as the ability to change time INSTRUCTORS of day, weather etc, the instructor can also inject artificial intelligence (AI) aircraft into the synthetic PRAISING IT FOR environment, which then show up on TCAS (traffic ITS COMFORT collision avoidance system) and visually as well. DURING FOUR- The simulator also reflects the greater use of non- HOUR SIM verbal datalink communications for today’s airline pilots, with instructors able to send ACARS (aircraft SESSIONS AND communications addressing and reporting system) or LARGE TOUCH- CPDLC (controller–pilot data link communications) SCREEN DISPLAYS text messages from the control station to the FMS. – WITH A 3D PATH The next step for immersion and training, say CAE instructors, is an AI traffic air traffic control (ATC) OF THE AIRCRAFT ‘chatter’ module which will provide automatically- AND EVENT generated voice communications between AI aircraft MARKERS and ATM – adding to the realism of line-training might be a case for the aircraft needing to divert scenarios. alter flight plans and pilots being required to exercise command and CRM skills. Aiming for diversity Indeed, Morgan notes that introducing EBT would have been impossible prior to this new centre, where As well as training that incorporates ‘mixed-EBT’ these latest identically-configured A320 FFS devices and the new standards of upset recovery prevention, allow for the same training experience without the easyJet are pioneering changing the gender balance subtle minor differences between previous simulators. on its flightdeck, with a self-imposed target to increase In another sign of how the centre incorporates the its intake of female airline pilots to 20% by 2020 – a latest in-flight training technology, the CAE 7000XR goal that it now is on track to achieve, according to A320 family simulators also feature an extended CAE’s CEO, Marc Parent, opening the facility. In 2018, envelope data package from Airbus to support new its intake of new pilots was 15% female – up from the upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), now average of 5% of women pilots on the flightdeck in mandated by EASA after loss of control incidents world’s airlines. Through career programmes, such as (LOC-I), such as Air France AF477 and Colgan Air the Amy Johnson Initiative cadet scholarships which it 3407. In the full flight simulator device, this focuses launched in 2015, easyJet is making steady progress more on prevention and recognising unusual altitudes in increasing the number of women airline pilots. This rather than actual spins and recovery – with that phase is not corporate virtue signalling but a sign that the undertaken in real aerobatic aircraft during a pilot’s IR industry as a whole is now becoming increasingly (instrument rating) phase. This development, a long desperate to fill the 47,680 airliner flightdecks that time coming, represents a step change in enhancing Airbus, for example, predicts will be flying in 2038. As the manual flying skills of pilots on modern, highly CAE’s Parent notes, 50% of the airline pilots needed automated aircraft. just in the next decade have yet to begin training. easyjet Left: easyJet’s A320 full ‘Generation easyJet’ may be the tagline that the flight simulators lined low-cost airline uses to describe its young, travel- up and ready for action addicted passengers – but it could also be used for at CAE’s new London its new generation of pilots – more diverse, and better Gatwick training centre. able to handle the challenges of 21st century airline operations via the introduction of evidence-based training and loss-of-control prevention skills.

The Past, Present and Future of Flight Simulation Technology, Training and Regulatory Challenges 9-10 June 2020, RAeS HQ, London

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 23 DEFENCE Hypersonic glide vehicles

Hypersonic weapons DARPA come of age Over 70 years after it was first envisaged – has Eugen Sänger’s vision of an unstoppable suborbital glide bomber returned with Russia’s Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle? TIM ROBINSON assesses the new high-speed arms race.

oday, in hindsight, it is clear that the rockets to climb to an altitude of 90miles and then Nazi regime in WW2 was pushing using the upper atmosphere in a series of ‘skips’ to the boundaries of aerospace in the extend its range – reaching a top speed of Mach quest to develop ‘wonder weapons’ 17 during its flight. Once over its target, it would designed to alter the outcome of the have dropped a 8,800lb bomb, before continuing Twar. Jet fighters and ballistic missiles came as a on to land in Japanese Axis-held territory. Immune surprise to the Allies but were rapidly adopted by to countermeasures or interception, the Silbervogel the superpowers throughout the Cold War as key would have had a staggering range of 19- weapon systems. 24,000km. Fortunately for the Allies, this design for a spaceplane bomber was constrained by the Nazi suborbital bomber technology of the day, although its concept did go on to inform the US X-20 Dynasoar and Space However, one particular vision of future warfare Shuttle. (There is also speculation in some quarters has waited over 70 years for technology to that the USAF’s secretive X-37B spaceplane also catch up – that of a long-range hypersonic glide uses atmosphere ‘skipping’ to alter its trajectory vehicle. Originally conceived by Eugen Sänger, and confuse those attempting to track it). the Silbervogel (Silver Bird) was designed as an unstoppable ultra long-range suborbital bomber, Hypersonic projects today able to strike the US from Europe by ‘skipping’ in and out of the upper atmosphere. The Silbervogel Fast forward 70 plus years to 2019 and a mantra glider would have been launched from the ground in many defence research activity projects is by rocket-powered sled, before engaging its own ‘speed is the new stealth’ as a way to penetrate

24 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 DLR Meanwhile, in early 2018, Russia sent shockwaves around the world when President Putin unveiled to the world its strategic Avangard HGV. Previously known as Project 4202 or Yu-71, the arrow-like lifting body Avangard is launched by a SS-19 ICBM, before gliding at Mach 20-27. Designed to evade the latest US ABM defences, Avangard is speculated to use a ‘skip’ mission profile, similar to Sänger’s Silbervogel, to increase its range. Russia had conducted a number of test launches with Avangard – with the latest in December 2018. Dr Claus, describing Avangard as

Russian MoD a “ferocious piece of equipment,” speculated that the glider would likely also carry countermeasures Opposite page: DARPA’s and, when carried by the new Sarmat (SS-X- Falcon HTV-2, launched by a Minotaur rocket, reached 30) ICBM, could be launched in packs of four, Mach 22 in one flight. given the estimated dimensions of the air vehicle. Left above: Sänger’s Moscow now claims that Avangard is operational Silbervogel was aimed at – and plans to deploy two regiments worth of the creating a transcontinental weapons by 2025. bomber using the China, meanwhile, has followed its own opaque atmosphere to extend its path in HGVs, with Western analysts attempting range. to track progress of projects such as Starry Sky Left below: Russia’s Avangard HGV was 2 and the DF-ZF. The latter broke cover early in revealed by President Putin October when HGVs prominently marked with ‘DF- in 2018. 17’ appeared on launcher vehicles which took part in China’s 70th anniversary military parade. These HGVs appear to be non-nuclear conventional weapons (unlike Avangard) and are launched by ever more highly defended airspace and strike medium range ballistic missiles. They also travel at time-critical targets from long range. Hypersonic half the speed (Mach 10) of US/Russian HGVs – projects are now being fast-tracked around the possibly to ease heating requirements. world. Even the UK, faced with defence budget One interesting piece of research published in crises and post-Brexit uncertainty has realised the a Chinese journal in 2019 saw a hypersonic shape need to join this race and has committed £10m to very much like the US HTV-2 investigated via CFD investigate advanced hypersonic projects. – with the Chinese using US failures to advance Missiles or powered vehicles (either scramjets their own HGV technology. That said, Claus or rockets from Mach 5+ flight) are one strand explained that China boasts a robust infrastructure of development – but another is hypersonic glide to support hypersonic research. vehicles (HGV) – where the initial energy from a powered ballistic launch is converted into high- Hypersonics – the advantages speed cruise glide by the vehicle pitching back into the atmosphere. Some might well ask – in a world where In a RAeS HQ lecture on 15 October, Dr superpowers already have access to long-range Malcolm Claus, Course Director – Astronautics cruise missiles and ICBMs – what is driving this and Space Technology, Kingston University, gave new interest in HGVs? a fascinating overview of the technology itself and HGVs can use three mission profiles – a purely the various programmes underway around the ballistic one, a glide or a skip profile. Ballistic – world in the US, Russia and China. (as used by missiles since the V2) gives least The US, for example, had two main HGV time within the atmosphere – but also has the projects running from 2003-2014 – the Mach highest thermal heating (albeit for the shortest 20 Falcon HTV-2 and the US Army’s Advanced period of time). A glide profile, meanwhile, sees Hypersonic Weapon (AHW). Three out of four flight a long period of time in the atmosphere but a tests were unsuccessful, with both flight tests of lower comparative level of heating for a longer, the HTV-2 failing at the nine-minute mark. Last sustained flight period of time. It also allows the year saw the US redouble its hypersonic efforts – vehicle to manoeuvre. Finally the skip profile sees with Lockheed Martin selected to develop a new flight within and outside the atmosphere. This Mach 20 HGV – the ARRW (Air-launched Rapid allows for extended range and by ‘skipping’ out of Response Weapon) or AGM-183A. Other powered the atmosphere the vehicle can also temporarily hypersonic missiles are also in development. reduce heating – making it more difficult to

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 25 DEFENCE Hypersonic glide vehicles

track by IR sensors. A skip flight profile can also Qinglin at el, Chinese Journal of Aeronautics manoeuvre. As well as long-range and ultra-high speed (Mach 20) another key advantage for military planners is the ability of the HGV to manoeuvre. This means its flight path to the target can be unpredictable, avoiding ABM defences which rely on careful placement to intercept incoming ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles, which launch their warheads on a predictable trajectory are thus increasingly vulnerable to interception by the latest anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems – made more capable today by 21st century computers, sensors and radars. Another advantage, noted Claus, is that HGVs are difficult to track – with current over-the-horizon early warning radars being optimised for incoming ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, while infra-red missile warning satellites in GEO are optimised to detect the large plume of rocket launches and missiles during the boost phase, they have more difficulty tracking HGVs once in the glide phase where they Washington DC, for example, would be airborne for Above: CFD flow are lower in the atmosphere. just 19mins.) modelling around a HTV-2 Finally, although the heating of the vehicle is Another challenge, noted Claus, was in control configuration HGV. Bottom left: In 2019, still a major challenge, it is still lower than ballistic of the HGV, which could be via control surfaces Raytheon revealed this (or orbital re-entry). (flaps or tabs), rocket/reaction control motors or concept, SkyFire, for a even magnetic hydrodynamics (MDI) manipulating counter-HGV interceptor Challenges of HGVs the high-speed plasma field to control the missile. flight path. Control at these speeds though has As might be expected – HGVs bring their own its own additional challenges – as even tiny challenges – including structural, thermodynamics, imbalances could cause aerodynamic instability control and communications. Three out of four and destruction of the vehicle. Flaps or tabs, for HGV test flights (at least in the ‘white’ unclassified example, will have gaps that could disrupt the flow, world) by the US have ended in failure. It remains while jet/rocket thrusters (used in some SAMs for unknown how many failures Russian and China terminal thrust control) might also interact with have encountered along the way. airflow in unanticipated ways. An obvious one is how to manage the Finally, there is the challenge of controlling thermodynamic structural challenges of extended or commanding this vehicle. At Mach 20, a HGV high-speed flight in the atmosphere. This may travelling through the Earth’s atmosphere will require exotic materials such as ceramic matrix create its own ‘plasma’ shield – creating a barrier composites (CMC), metal matrix composites to transmissions similar to the ‘radio silence’ (MMC) or ultra-high temperature (up to 3,000°C) encountered by astronauts re-entering the Earth’s ceramics. (However, it is important to note that atmosphere. This means the selection of radio given the high speeds of HGVs, these are still frequencies will need to be carefully optimised. short periods compared to even supersonic flight. A Mach 20 HGV launched from Moscow to Counter hypersonics – a new SDI?

The interest in the potential of these weapons has thus kick-started an equal effort in ways to defend Raytheon against them – with a number of alternatives being proposed. In 2017 the US MDA (Missile Defense Agency) launched its hypersonic defence programme, focused on adapting ABMs for point defence against hypersonic threats. This year also saw the US Space Development Agency (SDA) stand up, which focuses on new and emerging space threats that include HGVs. However, part of the challenge will be detecting and tracking these high-speed targets that fly inside Earth’s atmosphere. This, predicts

26 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Claus, will require a large number (perhaps coast in just 10 minutes – reducing warning and Above: DARPA illustration even up to 1,000), of satellites in LEO to detect response times of defenders to frighteningly short for its ‘Glide Breaker’ and track HGVs – a critical task given the short times. counter-HGV programme. warning that hypersonics give. Given the need for Just as a close-in weapon system (CIWS) the number of satellites, could the new generation onboard a warship is entirely computer-controlled of commercial LEO mega-constellations such as because no human has the nano-second reflexes OneWeb and SpaceXs Starlink be co-opted by the to be able to track and destroy incoming anti- US military to provide this sort of hypersonic threat ship missiles – will counter-hypersonic defences sensor layer? also need to be automated? If so, what does Once detected, the next challenge will be to that mean for deterrence or ambiguous launch intercept and destroy the incoming HGVs. This warnings – particularly for conventionally-armed challenge, put forward by DARPA in its Glide HGV launched by ICBMs? In 1983 Russian air Breaker counter-hypersonics programme and defence Colonel Stanislav Petrov ignored what an MDA efforts has already sparked a wide range of early warning system had identified as a US ICBM potential solutions, including interceptor missiles heading for the USSR – thereby preventing a (SkyFire – Raytheon, Valkyrie – Lockheed Martin), retaliatory response and nuclear Armageddon. For hypervelocity projectiles (General Atomics/ strategic hypersonic defence, what safeguards will Boeing/BAE Systems), laser guns (Boeing), EW need to be in place to allow humans to make the and electronic attack (Northrop Grumman/L3). final call – even when they may have just minutes Indeed, the effort now put into counter- to decide? hypersonics research prompted Claus to ask whether this was a ‘return to SDI’ – the Reagan- Summary era Strategic Defence Initiative that aimed to provide a missile shield against ballistic missiles. Some 70+ years on after it was originally conceived, a concept for a sub-orbital long- Command and control at Mach 20 range glide bomber has returned from the past – with modern materials and technologies. Finally, there is one other consideration to take into Hypersonic glide vehicles, which keep an ICBM’s account for warfare in the hypersonic age – that speed but duck into the atmosphere to evade of the compressed reaction times that are ever so detection, extend their range and manoeuvre to gradually moving armed forces in the direction of outwit existing defences, represent a new era of embracing AI for missile defence. Flying at Mach hypersonic warfare that is accelerating a new arms 20, an HGV could cross the entire US coast to race around the globe.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 27 AIR TRANSPORT British Airways British Airways the next 100 years British Airways

2019 has seen British Airways celebrating its 100th birthday with aircraft painted in liveries of its predecessors to an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery on future flight. MARTYN CARTLEDGE looks forward to the next 100 years to see what might be available to BA’s customers by its second centenary in 2119.

n 27 July BA was already looking to second aircraft. Toronto, Tel Aviv and Bangalore the future, as it took delivery of the will follow, with BA aiming to have four in service first of 18 new Airbus A350-1000s, before the end of the year. with a further three to be in service Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director before the end of the year. BA says of Brand and Customer Experience, said this of Othat new aircraft will benefit passengers with the new type: “We first started talking about this reduced noise levels, ambient lighting and higher aircraft three years ago. Since then, many British levels of humidity, as well as offering environmental Airways colleagues have spent days, weeks and benefits with 25% lower fuel burn reducing CO² months designing, testing and re-testing. Add to emissions. that the logistics, the service standards, safety, Introduction of the A350-1000 is being done route planning and many other features.” in phases. Phase one came immediately after The A350s are just part of the airline’s fleet delivery with the aircraft performing Madrid sectors renewal plans. As part of a £6.5bn investment, BA to allow crews to perfect their customer service will, over the next five years, acquire 73 more fuel- delivery and familiarise themselves with the aircraft efficient, quieter aircraft, including A350s, 787s, layout. 777-9s, A320neos and A321neos, while retiring or September saw Phase two with the aircraft standing down some of the older B747s, B777s, flying initially to Dubai and with the arrival of the A319s and A320s.

28 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 British Airways aircraft, it is more about service received: “We don’t believe in showers onboard, we don’t believe our customers are requesting that, particularly when you look at our network and where we fly to and the length of our flights. We do know that our customers are looking for privacy, storage space and certain types of food. We must be there to respond to a demand for luxury services, so we are very much committed to do it.” BA Change and Development Manager Jonathan Foster concurs: “Anybody that has

British Airways flown British Airways in First before will notice that everything has changed, apart from our Refreshing Business Class salt and pepper.” This complete change in service, equipment and menus needs to be done As well as replacing ageing 747s slated for seamlessly, as with a first class seat costing retirement between 2020 and 2023, the new around £5,000 on the lucrative LHR – JFK A350s will offer British Airways’ new Business route “It’s an expensive part of the aircraft to Class, the Club Suite with 56 seats set into a fly in, therefore we need to deliver to their [the 1-2-1 herringbone configuration. This will offer passengers’] levels of expectation”. customers direct aisle access, a tailored fully-flat One of the, perhaps not so noticeable, changes bed, a personal door to create greater privacy, has been to introduce full size dinner service to faster Wi-Fi and enhanced IFE with 18.5in in-flight catering, not something that has been touchscreens. Says Martinoli: “The Club Suite the norm in the past. Says BA’s Foster: “Airline which is organised in a new 1-2-1 configuration catering equipment has, in the past, been designed includes direct aisle access for every customer Above: The new A350s will to fit into the small space that are the galleys. So (with) a new door for the option of increased offer British Airways’ new our challenge has been, ‘how can we put full-size privacy – everything you see has been designed Business Class, the Club dinner service on board within the space that we with the customer in mind and was developed Suite with 56 seats set have’, and we have done that.” With the use of this and informed by the feedback they have given into a 1-2-1 herringbone new crockery the airline is ‘Trying to bring a bit of configuration. us. The seat will also boast 40% more storage, theatre back into the cabin.’ more personal space and comfort, Wi-Fi and high While the A350 is at the forefront of current definition gate-to-gate IFE.” fleet renewal for BA, there are another new 73 The new suite follows a trend set by the likes aircraft on order with the new Club World suites of Qatar with its QSuite and Delta One suite where not only being installed on all new aircraft but the level of equipment and comfort starts knocking being retrofitted to the existing fleet during on the door of a lot of first class offerings. planned maintenance. While the seats in first class are not being replaced, the services and products on offer are Cartledge Martyn being upgraded to compete with premium cabin services offered by other airlines. Says Martinoli of the future for BA’s First Class product: “Our First cabin offers customers a different experience to Club World with a dine-on demand service, fine wines, a larger seat, super- A self-driving GPS- soft pyjamas and access to a number of exclusive enabled electric vehicle lounges. We’ve been investing in First too as used to load and unload we’re set to deliver significant changes to the aircraft. onboard product and service as part of our £6.5bn investment for customers. The new look and feel includes new luxurious bedding, amenities and Electric vehicles menus that would not look out of place in a five- star British hotel.” BA has been innovating since the first AT&T flight It is no secret that BA has, in recent years, took off from a muddy field in Hounslow, from fallen behind its competitors in the lucrative in-flight movies to supersonic transport. However, premium cabin stakes and the lack of investment not all of the recent innovations are something was beginning to show, something they are now the airline’s customers are likely to easily see. keen to reverse. That said, Alex Cruz, Chairman For example, currently being trialled around the and CEO says the carrier is not aiming to duplicate apron are automated baggage dollies. Using GPS all the types of facilities seen on some competitors’ technology, these self-driving electric vehicles

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 29 AIR TRANSPORT British Airways

Nick Morrish/British Airways Nick Morrish/British British Airways BA2119 Flight of The Future event in collaboration with the Royal College of Art at the Saatchi Gallery in London on 30 July 2019.

are intended to increase the speed of loading would be prepared to pay more or travel slower and unloading luggage. Once ready to depart, BA if this was the more environmentally-friendly way. aircraft are pushed back by 25 Mototok remote Meanwhile, electrification and other emerging control electric tugs – the only airline for which sustainable energy sources, such as waste-to-jet these are currently in use. BA is also using a fuel, will soon offer new possibilities for powering fleet of electric London taxis as part of its fleet of flights. Interestingly, despite the acceptance of chauffeur-driven executive vehicles. slower and more environmentally friendly flights, the advances in jet propulsion technology also Looking to the future makes the resurgence of supersonic air travel a British Airways will be real possibility. bringing First customers Looking further into the future, BA commissioned a 3D cinema in the skies through virtual reality a report entitled BA2119: Flight of the Future Passenger use of technology headsets on select flights, which looks at what air travel might look like in ten, photographed at London 20, 50 or even 100 years into the future. Technology is set to change the whole passenger Heathrow on 25 July 2019. BA’s Chairman and CEO Alex Cruz explains: “Our Flight of the Future report brings together the Airways Nick Morrish/British results of one of the largest global consumer travel surveys of its kind, exploring new technological, scientific and socioeconomic drivers of change, culminating with a vision of the flight of the future. The findings are fascinating – from the possibility of 3D printing of food, to super slow air cruises and organisms that collect water from outside the aircraft.” Virtual reality was a big topic with large numbers of customers around the globe being ‘excited’ about what this might offer. However, while two thirds of those consulted would will bewilling to try out an AI assistant, three quarters would still require a real person to talk to. Environmental concerns were also evident, with just under half those surveyed saying that they

30 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 travel experience. Manchester Airport is supplements to make jet lag a thing of the past. developing an app which will guide passengers Chip implants will be able to interface with various to a parking spot, have their pre-ordered duty- muscle groups to combat stiffness and strain. free goods ready for them and ensure that they arrive at the correct gate at the right time. Greener aircraft Growth in consumer spending is what is driving this hyper-personalisation and will also find its Current technology is also being brought into the way on board as well, with augmented reality aviation world, including solar panels on aircraft to allowing windowless aircraft and virtual worlds provide a constant source of energy while flying, as within the cabin. Some basic functions could also well as onboard carbon capture facilities which can be automated via the use of holographic flight pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. attendants, allowing for a more attentive and There is also talk about the use of the cabin personalised service by the remaining human staff. for areas other than just seating, such as onboard The potential use of LiFi, which can deliver zones for different activities like immersive speeds of 8GB via lightwaves, is something that entertainment, language lessons and destination could be used to transform in-flight experience, information or even health-driven facilities allowing allowing for content streaming, enhanced passengers to feel better at the end of the journey than the beginning. Only time will tell whether Nick Morrish/British Airways Nick Morrish/British these ideas will fare any better than previous ideas

like casinos and shops! Morrish/BritishNick Airways

New forms of transport

One scenario even talks about how demand for faster travel might bring together all parts of the passengers’ journey. One such idea is an integrated hyperloop style transit system with customers sitting on an allocated train seat which is then loaded onto an aeroplane for onward travel or VTOL drones flying in groups at times transporting people directly to their destination from their homes. Most aircraft designed for rapid intercontinental travel will be equipped with engines of a hypersonic hybrid air breathing design. capabilities to work and even remote customs Looking further in the future, flying may be and immigration verification. Companies are also enhanced by the accessibility of space and low already looking into biometric identity devices Eaaarth orbit, pioneered by vehicles currently in which will be able to deliver instant passenger development by companies such as Virgin Galactic recognition. and SpaceX. Virtual reality is also likely to find its way Another development currently under into aircraft cabins, going beyond personalised consideration which almost begs the statement entertainment headsets and games to executing ‘beam me up Scotty’ are ‘space elevators’ which traditional cabin crew functions. would involve a carbon nanotube construction enabling individuals to reach low-Earth orbit Personal wellbeing without the use of spacecraft, from which they can then easily travel to other destinations. Health in the air is already being improved with the new generation of airliners being pressurised The future is now to mimic a lower altitude, mood lighting to assist with jet lag and better filtration and humidity Some of these visions are already being realised. systems. This is likely to be taken to new levels Earlier this year, BA started a trial of 3D virtual with systems built into the aircraft’s very fabric. reality headsets showing programmes in 2D, 3D One system under development uses low voltage or 360° formats for customers travelling on select moisture that bursts into electrostatic, atomised flights in first class from London Heathrow to New particles to continually deodorise the air around a York JFK. Meanwhile, IAG, British Airways’ parent passenger’s seat. This system also rids the air and company, is to invest $400m over the next 20 surfaces of viruses, allergens and bacteria years on alternative sustainable fuel development. Further into the future, 3D printing will BA is the first airline in Europe to invest in building assemble any meal the passenger requires, as a plant which converts organic household waste well as providing pills with melatonin and other into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 31 Workhorse Group 32 out ofair Making money passenger-carrying eVTOLs. eVTOLs. passenger-carrying urban airmobilitymarket, BILLREAD FRAeS examinestheeconomicsof of citytransportbutwillthey make money? InPart 2ofareport onthe taxisare predictedFleets ofelectricflying torevolutionise thefuture cities. cities. passenger drones willbeoperatinginaround100 of Transportation ) estimatesthat,by2050,98,000 Berger (UrbanAirMobility–TheRiseofa NewMode will bethelimit.Astudyfromconsultancy Roland routes in2025andlargescaleoperations by2030. flights couldstartby2023,followed byinitialpublic Oliver Wyman predictsthatthefirst UAM commercial operations inurbanperipheriesby2026.Consultancy by thefirstcommercialoperationsin2024and initial UAM operationaltestingin2021,followed flights areonlya few yearsaway. NASA envisions revolutionise urbanairmobility(UAM). AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 /DECEMBER AEROSPACE W After that,accordingtosomeforecasts,thesky According tosomesources,thefirstoperational Urban AirMobility AVIATION GENERAL based transport systems will based transportsystemswill alternative toexisting ground- of eVTOL electrictaxisasan predicted thattheintroduction thenext decade,itis ithin these designsare onlysketches anddreams– only developers face a numberofchallenges. “Many of into commercialpassenger-carrying service,UAM designs underdevelopment.Before beingintroduced The firstissueisthepracticalityofmultipleeVTOL Survival ofthefittest taxi operators? more importantly, willtheymake moneyfortheirair carrying farepayingpassengersovercityscapes?Even service andhowlongwillitbebeforetheyareseen designs arelikelytoactuallymakeitintopublic this century?HowmanyofthesehundredseVTOL predicted torevolutionisetheairtaximarketearlier the samewayasverylightjet(VLJ)which was go skies soonbefilledwithflyingtaxisorwillthey Just howrealisticarethesepredictions?Will thecity Reality check eVTOL design. Above: Workhorse Surefly around ten are serious players,” declares Guillaume made it much it much easier for small companies to Thibault from consultancy Oliver Wyman. develop new prototype designs, such techniques may not be so suitable for producing hundreds or such Safety and control vehicles for a mass market The next challenge is that of safety. While UAM Environment designers may be able to conduct successful test flights in sunny, calm and unrestricted airspace, how One of the most important factors about air taxis is will they cope with operating in unsettled weather, that, if they are to operate as part of a public transport between tall buildings and sharing airspace with service, they will need the creation of a completely new multiple other users? infrastructure to operate in, as well as new regulations, “Safety is a vital factor,” states Anthony di Nota air traffic control systems and public acceptance. An from Oliver Wyman. “Competent authorities will not overview of these challenges was presented in Part 1 certificate an aircraft that they do not consider to of this article ‘Creating a new world’ in the November be safe carrying passengers. It would only take one issue of AEROSPACE.. accident to ground an entire city UAM service”. Because of the need to convince regulators Development costs that eVTOLS are safe for passenger transport, it is expected that the initial aircraft will be fitted with The fourth problem is that development timescales hybrid-electric rather than all-electric engines. Some and costs for eVTOLS may be far higher than OEMs are also planning to fit all-vehicle parachutes, manufacturers realise. “If UAM developers experience as are already fitted to some GA light aircraft. Seats similar development and certification costs as those in UAM vehicles may also have to be fitted with faced by OEM helicopter manufacturers, then helicopter-style impact-resistant seats. development will take around six years and cost £2bn,” Safety regulators are also expected to require cautions Anthony di Nota. “UAM manufacturers will that the first UAMs will have pilots but the longer- need to be well funded by backers who are willing to term aim of UAM designers is that air taxis will be take a long-term view before realising their investment. flown autonomously without the need for a human They will have to rely on more than just optimism but controller – operating effectively as large passenger- also be able to understand all the other factors that will carrying UAVs. “As confidence builds up over time, be needed to achieve flight certification.” then autonomous vehicles can start to be introduced which will increase safety and enable larger number of UAM monopoly? vehicles to fly,” says Guillaume Thibault. Once it is up and running, how would a UAM service Scalability be owned and operated? Present predictions suggest that the eVTOL air taxi fleet will most likely be The Volocopter is described by the German The second issue is that of scalability. While the controlled by a single operator using a single type company as the first advent of new design software and composite and from one manufacturer while vertiports may be owned manned, fully electric and 3D printing manufacturing and design techniques has and operated by state or commercial organisations. safe VTOL in the world. Volocopter

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 33 However, while the actual flights will be faster, while the actual flights will be faster, However, Once at the skyport location, passengers will will need Passengers will also be a factor. Weight Once at the destination skyport, passengers However, not all experts think that UAM will UAM think that not all experts However, Time is money Time promotional video will tell you, the every eVTOL As it will betwo key elements of using an air taxi is that to fly across a city in an autonomous eVTOL quicker than using a land-based taxi or public transport. much there are questions to be asked as to how end oftime will be taken up at the beginning and Having pre-booked flights, their eVTOL a journey. passengers will need to get to their departure located close these should be skyport. Ideally, safety, to airports or city centres but security, andtown planning, air traffic management, noise environmental regulations may dictate otherwise. may involve need to get to the departure area, which ascending in a lift to the top of a tall building. Once there, it is likely that they have to go through some form of security procedure. “Security is likely to be an issue,” cautioned Anthony di Nota. “Security agencies are likely to want to know the background UAM.” who is flying in a to be weighed before they fly – as will their luggage. be done discreetly – passengers for could This helicopter flights are already weighed before they fly. with luggage may find that there passengers Those means which is no room for it on a small eVTOL will “Luggage that it will need to be sent separately. “To be a big issue,” remarked Guillaume Thibault. carry large amounts of luggage will mean giving flight, as the actual eVTOL up a payload seat.” For with long-distance air travel, there may be departure congestion, security delays due to bad weather, issues or unforeseen emergencies. may have to board another lift to take them down they may still have an to ground level, after which from UAM manufacturers and skyport operators hintmanufacturers and skyport from UAM thousands ofof flying vehicles transporting at swarms Someaerial passengers. GUAS speakers at the recent the introduction of predicted that 2019 conference could have the power to systems large scale UAM look and operate in the sametransform the way cities by railways and roads.way that they were transformed involving large-scale fleetsUber Air envisions a future could skyports which operating between of UAMs per hour. handle up to 1,000 landings like an service. “It’s become a mass transportation says Anthony di Nota.eyedropper in an ocean,” replace ground transport are unlikely to “UAMs carry four people. The as long as they can only could make a real impact on only way that UAMs of themurban transport is if there were many more or they could carry many more people. However, are larger vehicles would be like helicopters which to own and operate.” expensive

Embraer Another question is how large will the eventual Premium or mass transport?Premium Where will the demand for UAM services come Willfrom? customers use UAMs as an alternative to land transport or will there be a completely new induced demand for using a service that didn’t exist before – as has already occurred and with UAVs phones? mobile concept art demand be for using air taxis? Futuristic to test its Elevate Cloud Services systems (ECS) platform which it plans to use future for UAM services. The Uber Copter helicopter taxi service, which links downtown Manhattan city in New York with JFK airport, is currently testing UAM systems on background the in operating mode’ ‘shadow in an existing approved route.Uber is also using the helicopter service to test a number apps of which will also be used for urban air mobility systems. Because the UAM concept is so business new, models are still being worked out. The closest equivalent to air taxi services currently available is from flying operators helicopter of experience the inner cities to airports. Uber is using helicopters Economics Another crucial issue will be that economics. of Like any business, UAM operators will need their air taxi service to make money. So also will skyport support and providers, vehicle operators, ATM maintenance staff and all the other stakeholders in the UAM service. “The introduction UAM of is not just about generating business for the platform manufacturerbut is alsolargea economicgenerator for manyother sectors, such as infrastructure and service providers,” comments Guillaume Thibault. helicopters? Better than

GENERAL AVIATION Urban Air Mobility

Embraer X eVTOL. AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 34 Urban Air Ports Uber Uber Elevate

additional land journey to reach their final destination How much to use that eVTOL? (and be reunited with their luggage). However, even if the time savings using UAMs Given the huge investment costs in both vehicles are marginal, some experts do not believe that and infrastructure needed to create a UAM service, Choice and this is a vital factor. “Speed is only one competitive plus the daily operating costs, logic would suggest design of airports, element, the others being more passenger choice, that the cost of flying in an air taxi will not be cheap. landing decks convenience and reliability,” says Simon Whalley from At its third Uber Elevate conference in June, Eric or skyports will Skyports. “Not all transport users base their decision Allison from Uber Air said that prices for using an on the theoretical speed of their planned journey but air taxi would initially cost $5.73 per passenger mile be essential in whether they can reach their journey destination at (which is less than using a helicopter) but would ensuring that the stated arrival time, even if that’s slightly later.” reduce over time to, first, $1.68 per mile and then air taxis deliver eventually down to $0.44 per mile, at which point it promised time Utilising your assets would be cheaper to fly in an eVTOL than using a car. saving and As any low-cost airline operator will tell you, the Given these initial high entry prices, this could convenience. way to make money is to make the best use of your lead to problems not just recouping money invested assets to earn revenue – which is why LCCs use but also of public acceptance. City dwellers are less their aircraft on as many flights as possible with likely to approve of a system which (like helicopter minimum turnaround times. However, this approach travel) only caters for the well off. However, Bob is not so practical for an eVTOL operator, as current Pearce from NASA thinks that this situation may battery technology means that the vehicles will have change over time: “All forms of UAM will start with to spend some time between flights not earning the rich but, when it gets scaleable, it will be for all.” money while they have their batteries recharged or replaced. Demand for air taxi flights may vary during Flying into the future the day both in quantity and routes which means that an eVTOL may sit out of use waiting for a request or In conclusion, there are many challenges – have to fly an ‘empty leg’ journey to another skyport technical, regulatory, financial and social – which where it will need to be recharged all over again. still need to be overcome before the vision of mass Another issue is that of payload. Current eVTOL urban air mobility becomes a reality. However, designs are looking at two to four-seat designs. although some of the initial timescales may be Obviously, the more passengers that are carried on somewhat optimistic, flying taxi services seem likely a journey, the more money the operator will make. to evolve over a longer period. Current forecasts Uber Air, in particular, is keen on the idea of shared predict that the first flying taxi services will start in flights, so the ideal passenger load would be four Asia and the Far East and then, if they are seen to people all wanting to go in the same direction who be popular and successful, will spread to other parts don’t mind sharing a vehicle. However, in practice, of the world. “The market potential for UAM is huge on less busy routes, the air taxis may have to but we don’t yet know when it’s coming and we don’t operate with fewer passengers onboard. know the scale,” says Clive Lewis from the ADS There is also the problem of additional weight. UAM Group Achieving the Difference. UAM operators may be required to install additional “We will get there eventually but the companies equipment into their eVTOLs, such as all vehicle which succeed will be the ones with deep pockets parachutes, heater or air conditioning for passenger and a long-term vision,” adds Anthony di Nota. comfort or additional batteries or motors – all of “Within ten years, UAMs are unlikely to transform which reduces revenue-generating payload. cities. Within 30 years, then yes, they will.”

A longer version of this article is available at: aerosociety.com. eVTOL Conference – RAeS UAM Conference 2020 24-25 March 2020 – RAeS HQ, London

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 35 AEROSPACE UAVs Multirole lifesavers A new approach to humanitarian drones

TIM ROBINSON reports on a UK company pioneering an innovative concept for multirole humanitarian drones in Africa that has the potential to open up new areas to lifesaving services.

y now, many readers will be familiar with Enter UAVAid the concept of using UAVs to provide urgent medical supplies such as blood or However, a UK company has now come up with a medicines to remote communities in the breakthrough that has the potential to open up far developing world. By using cheap drones, more communities and transform the provision of Bthese initiatives are able to save lives in areas where humanitarian aid with multirole UAVs, able to drop road or ground infrastructure are limited or non- medical supplies and carry out other missions, and existent at a fraction of the price of a helicopter or thus expand the business case and rationale far more. fixed wing medical supply. In Rwanda and now Ghana, Formed in 2014, UAVAid is the brainchild THE AESA for example, ZIPline has pioneered medical deliveries of brothers Daniel and James Ronen who were by UAVs with over 23,000 deliveries to date. Drones motivated to examine the problem of urgent resupply CERTIFICATION have also been used to deliver blood, vaccines and of medicine and how to reduce the amount of NOW OPENS urgent medicine in Bhutan and New Guinea, as well wastage of temperature sensitive vaccines in areas THE DOOR TO as in Switzerland. such as Sierra Leone – which frequently expire OPERATING THE Urgent medicines or aid delivered by drone is also before they reach the point of use. Having talked to HANSARD UAV gaining ground in disaster or emergency scenarios various stakeholders, they also found a need from where existing infrastructure has been destroyed and other emergency response and relief agencies who AROUND THE communities have been cut off. were interested in drones, however, this time for WORLD WITH AN However, despite the huge benefit of these mapping. Others, meanwhile, such as wildlife rangers, INTERNATION- ‘drones for good’ initiatives, they are still limited wanted live video. ALLY by the range and footprint of these small UAVs Recalls Daniel Ronen: “At that point we came and therefore how many clinics, hospitals and up with the concept of the multirole drone simply RECOGNISED communities they can connect with to make a viable because what we needed to do was satisfy multiple ‘SAFETY CASE’ network. Despite the lower cost of UAVs compared markets on one platform. We did the very British ALREADY IN to crewed aircraft or helicopters, this means that thing of building a multifunction bit of kit, whereas the PLACE TO for more dispersed villages and communities which industry to that date (and to the best part now), has are further apart. The price of a dedicated medicine focused on specialist single-purpose drones.” SUPPORT delivery UAV service may be still be too much to They hit on the idea of a multirole ‘tactical-sized’ LOCAL FLIGHT make it viable. civil UAV – which would be able to operate in remote APPROVALS

36 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 areas with minimal infrastructure but still provide UAVAid was determined that this trial would a highly capable platform able to rapidly switch actually help the local community, rather than just functions based on the evolving needs of the local be a proving ground for a British company with an context. innovative UAV. Says Ronen: “We wanted to ensure UAVAid’s latest model, the Hansard V, is a that our project would be of genuine benefit to the multirole fixed-wing UAV with a 300km round trip people of Malawi. How can we do that? Well – let’s cargo delivery range. It is powered by an internal actually support these guys to help them with anti- combustion engine able to use locally available fuel, poaching. Let’s not just simulate doing a medical such as petrol, to ease logistics when operating in the delivery but actually do it. What do you guys in developing world. It also features automated take-off UNICEF want from mapping, you tell us where you and landing with a rugged landing gear that is able to need mapped and we’ll do that for you.” operate from unprepared roads and rural airstrips. This led to what is believed to be a world The UAV features an air-dropped delivery first – a single UAV being directly integrated into package capability of up to 10kg of cargo on the three separate public services as part of one short underside and a nose-mounted sensor turret. The deployment (in fact this was achieved all in one day). multi-purpose bay allows for swapping the parachute This included directly integrating into Malawi’s medical drop canister for a high-resolution camera module supply chain – with local stakeholders engaging in to achieve the mapping functionality, or even an the trial. The UAV was also used for ground mapping additional fuel tank for longer endurance. The for UNICEF development purposes and performing mapping unit can take 10,000 images at 2.3cm per survey functions hoovering up high-resolution imagery pixel resolution with 90% overlap in under two hours that could be used for agriculture, infrastructure and – making it suitable for rapid 2D and 3D mapping. development projects. Thirdly, it was integrated with These missions are obviously beyond visual the Malawi ranger service for anti-poaching patrols. line of sight (BVLOS), which is less of a challenge This saw rangers posted in the control station, for deconfliction with other air traffic in the quieter controlling the aerial surveillance camera to monitor skies of Africa. UAVAid use a layered approach for endangered species and spot any illegal hunting. communication with short and long range radios In operation, urgent medical resupply will typically and satellite communications. This allows the drone take priority but the UAV is capable of taking on to switch seamlessly between radios and the more additional tasks on the same flight. Ronen explains expensive satellite communication at longer ranges “The beauty of the system is that it allows us to do only when necessary. more than one thing at the same time. With low At the end of 2018, the Hansard UAV operating costs and long endurance, we could, for was awarded a Certificate of Airworthiness for example, support an area with anti-poaching, pop over Experimental Flight by Spain’s AESA, the first believed to do a quick delivery, then on the way back carry on to ever be awarded to a humanitarian multipurpose with the anti-poaching for a number of hours. We have drone in Europe. Over 30Gb of data was submitted to an incredible amount of flexibility.” support the technical submission. Ronen remarked: Summary “This was an enormous achievement because it meant obviously having to go through an extensive After this successful trial, UAVAid is aiming to expand and robust certification process. We needed to on this innovative idea further to other areas and even prepare stress tests, operations procedures, air flow other missions – such as pipeline or infrastructure modelling, computer generated models and more.” patrol, fisheries protection, environmental This effort though is set to pay off as the AESA management, deforestation and pollution monitoring certification now opens the door to operating the etc – as well as disaster response. Ronen says on Hansard UAV around the world with an internationally this game-changing idea: “The multirole capability recognised ‘safety case’ already in place to support fundamentally changes the economics and therefore local flight approvals. the business model of operating drones in these remote areas – because you are not constrained by Flight trials in Malawi catering for just a single market.” Ironically, Ronen believes that Africa and other parts Earlier this year, as part of the UK Department of the developing world, where airspace restrictions are for International Development (DFID) Frontier fewer and the issue of social acceptance and privacy Technology Livestreaming project, UAVAid deployed arising from drones are lower priorities than in the three of its Hansard V multirole UAVs to Malawi to West, will pioneer this emerging new field of multirole, perform humanitarian missions as part of a trial that highly affordable drone services. “The developing world was locally facilitated by UNICEF. “We owe a huge will see this high technology solution implemented debt of gratitude and acknowledgement to UNICEF before the developed world. We’re going to see drones Malawi for their work in facilitating the local aspects making routine flights in parts of Africa far before we of this project,” said Ronen. see them flying over Chiswick.”

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 37 DEFENCE US fighter procurement 21st Century Boyd’s

The USAF has revealed it is aiming to go back to a 1950’s Century-style rapid development and fielding of fighters – with a goal of placing a new type into service in just five years. Can this radically rapid approach to acquisition really work? Dr MICHAEL J PRYCE assesses the feasibility of crash fighter development programmes in the 21st century.

n the 2 October 2019 the United you buy’ prototyping approach. Speaking after his States Air Force opened its new appearance at the recent Air Force Association Program Executive Office for event Roper said in an interview: Advanced Aircraft at Wright- “When you can prototype something instead Patterson Air Force Base. The of studying it for years you get out of the starting Ooffice is set to implement the vision of the head gates faster, you learn quicker, you retire risk of the United States Air Force’s acquisition faster. If your concept is flawed, you get rid of it. programmes, Dr Will Roper, who has set out There is something about contact with industry a dramatic vision for future fighter aircraft and building metal early that leads to common development. Instead of spending decades sense in the acquisition program.” developing the ‘100%’ solution, the service will work with industry to deliver a new fighter every A digital Century Series five years. In remarks that echoed the story of the development of the F-16 almost half a Faster, better, cheaper are long held aspirations in century ago, Roper aims to follow a ‘fly before developing future fighters. Oddly, however, Roper USAF

38 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 RAeS/NAL cites the expensive, flawed Century Series of 1950’s fighters as the model to emulate but with added modern, digital technology, it is hoped to avoid their pitfalls. His so called ‘Digital Century Series’ looks to avoid the mistakes of the past by using modern computer hardware and software. Perhaps, like Marty McFly, correcting the mistakes of the past may lead to a better future. Then again, Roper’s new approach may repeat, at greater cost and slower speed, the failings of the original Century Series fighters. Developed as part of the transformation of combat aircraft development led by General Bernard Schriever, later the ‘father’ of the Lockheed Martin strategic ballistic missile program, the Century Series embodied the then novel concept of the ‘weapons system’. Integrating electronics with ever faster aircraft speeds and new types of missiles, the marvels of modern weapons system management and technology were meant to create a new generation of specialised, advanced fighters. Intended to both counter the developing Soviet threat and to displace old, worn-out aircraft from the USAF inventory, what resulted was an air force that featured an expensive morass of maintenance, missed operational performance and inappropriate technology-driven tactics that led to many American failings in the skies of Vietnam. Schriever had hoped that new aircraft would replace old ones quickly, so the high maintenance costs of obsolete aircraft would not be an issue. never been used by the USAF for air dominance. Above top: The Lockheed Ballooning development costs and timescales Are they now willing to accept a simpler, perhaps F-104 was developed soon put paid to that. Force structures became more vulnerable aircraft in that role? or to change rapidly as a result of lessons from the first jet air torn between the need for numbers, reliability their position on minimal losses in combat, combat in Korea. and quality that proved impossible to reconcile. perhaps sacrificing fleets of pilotless ‘Loyal Above lower: The F-16 Despite their operational and cost failures, the Wingmen’ instead? The search for increased was initially conceptualised USAF was stuck with the Century Series for combat mass may simply result in expensive as a simple, cheap day longer than expected. decoys to support inadequate numbers of piloted fighter, without even a aircraft. No air combat ‘drone’ has yet entered radar, to increase numbers Cutting through the Gordian Knot service: the complexities of transonic airflow are fielded. not amenable to easy automation. Main image left: Digital Having stayed with complex, high-end aircraft for It could be argued that the F-16’s successor, design tools failed to the air superiority role in the shape of the F-15 the F-35, has had low cost and simplicity designed substantially reduce the overall cost of the and F-22, designed to ensure air dominance as out of it by adopting some of the complex Lockheed Martin F-35. a prerequisite for all other missions, the simpler technologies of the F-22. Whatever the benefits in F-16 was the sword intended to cut through the terms of mission performance, this does seem to Gordian Knot begotten by Schriever to increase result in much lower levels of mission readiness. the size of the combat fleet. With technology Will Roper has professed surprise at discovering displaced by tactics and piloting skill, a move that 70% of the USAF’s budget is spent on led by John Boyd’s ‘Fighter Mafia’, a simpler, maintenance but that is the result of both complex cheaper, more reliable aeroplane was seen as the technologies and an over-simplification of the answer. approach taken to procure them. The speed of the F-16 programme’s execution and fielding makes it a better analogy for Roper’s Affordable stealth ambition to focus on time as the key metric in acquisition than the Century Series. However, The Joint Strike Fighter programme was intended the F-16, despite its fame as a dogfighter, has to produce low-cost, high-quality aircraft by using

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 39 DEFENCE US fighter procurement

a single key metric, cost, to guide decisions. By allowing industry to use its own approaches and standards in development and design it was also hoped to allow new design freedoms for contractors. This did not work. In the case of the F-35, vast costs were baked in instead: one key 1990’s decision on the flight control system may have added over $100bn in through-life costs. This was brought about by replacing design judgements made by experienced people in the services and industry in favour of explicit, if simple, processes. Commercial logic was supposed to overcome technical challenges. Will Roper hopes to bring new, more commercial approaches and firms into combat aircraft acquisition but this again is a return to old approaches that did not work as planned. The reasons for these failures have not gone away: indeed Roper’s approach may amplify them. Digital design tools and data science were used in the Joint Strike Fighter programme and have been pursued by DARPA in its META initiative of

a decade ago. META slunk off into the shadows US Lab Air Force Research without slashing development costs or timescales. Faith in digital answers to hard technical and operational matters, as well as the inevitable Above: US Air Force from maintenance. Huge maintenance costs politics of defence spending, has yet to deliver a Research Lab concept for have been the result. Roper’s second new idea, a next generation fighter. major breakthrough in fighter development. Many alongside his new advanced aircraft office, is to of the aerodynamic and structural challenges are Below: The Convair F-102 save maintenance money to release funds for Delta Dagger was replaced not amenable to simple, digital analysis. They need by another Century Series development. This is laudable but his mechanism people to make informed, uncertain decisions, not fighter – the F-106 – which for doing so, a new, but still separate, logistics algorithms to arrive at a notional optimum. remained in service until organisation that aims to harness innovation, Since Schriever’s time development has the late 1980s with the US may not be the answer. Sound, integrated design been run by a separate part of the Air Force Air National Guard. that understands maintenance requires all those concerned with making and operating fighters to RAeS/NAL be in one room. Such an approach will need a more nuanced understanding of the past, of technical possibilities and of the consequences of allowing programmes to deliberately fail, as Roper appears to want to. The century may have changed, but the complexities of designing fighter aircraft have not. Experience counts and is easily lost or diluted.

Summary

With companies and nations across the globe looking at new fighters, many will watch the American experiment with interest. If it is finally possible, after 60 years of failure, to translate approaches that work in the development of digital systems into the less predictable environment of aircraft design, then the US will have changed the game. If they drop the ball, however, there may be others waiting in the wings to pick it up and run in a different direction. Roper’s vision may lead to something new, or it may end up like Schriever’s and Boyd’s: broken by the operational and political realities of designing fighters, still one of the most complex technical objects that humans create.

40 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

Diary 2 December WW2 Fighter Aircraft Piston Engines – How British Management Excellence Succeeded Calum Eric Douglas, Director, Scorpion Dynamics Historical Group Lecture

A Rolls-Royce Merlin production line. By the end of WW2 178,000 Merlins had been produced in the UK and US. Rolls-Royce.

42 Message from RAeS 44 Book Reviews 52 Diary – President The Royal Air Force, The Man who Built the Find out when and where around the world the Swordfish, Taking to the Air and Routledge Book of latest Society aeronautical and aerospace lectures “I was also able to attend the Greener by Design Air Power. and events are happening. conference which considered aviation and the net zero emissions challenge and attracted a large and vocal audience. All of these events are good examples of 48 Library Additions 54 Trustee Talk how the Society can lead and generate discussions on Books submitted to the National Aerospace Library. The Board of Trustees approves the Society’s various technical and wider aviation issues.” budget for 2020. 50 A Century of Transatlantic – Chief Executive Flying 54 Memorial Service “November’s Council meeting saw the election of It has been announced that there will be a memorial Peter Round as President-Elect and confirmation Mick Oakey from the RAeS Historical Group service for Sir Michael Marshall at Ely Cathedral on of Howard Nye’s advancement to President in May reports on its seminar held earlier this year to Thursday, 16 January 2020, at 11.30am. 2020: many congratulations to them both.” commemorate 100 years of transatlantic flying.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 41 Afterburner Message from RAeS OUR PRESIDENT

Prof Jonathan Cooper The highlight of the month for me was to host the conference. I was also able to attend the Greener lunch that is held for Hardingham Sword winners. by Design conference which considered aviation This award is given annually to those who have and the net zero emissions challenge and attracted made a major and long-term contribution to the a large and vocal audience. All of these events are Society. It was a pleasure to be able to spend time good examples of how the Society can lead and talking with the previous awardees, some of whom generate discussions on various technical and wider are previous Presidents, about the current status of aviation issues. the Society and the aerospace/aviation community Following on with this theme, I am pleased to be in general and to report on the progress on moving able to announce that the President’s Conference towards delivering the new mission, vision and is going to be held on 31 March 2020 at Society strategic aims that I wrote about last month. The HQ. The title of the day is ‘Digital Technologies to Hardingham Sword is the only Society honour Enable the Future Aerospace Industry’ and the aim FOLLOWING that is solely in the gift of the President to bestow. is to get universities, industry, the Catapults and ON WITH THIS However, you will have to wait until the Wilbur and other interested bodies together to discuss current Orville Wright dinner in December to find out who I developments, applications and future needs for THEME, I AM have given this year’s award to. technologies such as artificial intelligence and PLEASED TO I was also pleased to recently attend a number machine learning across the aerospace and aviation BE ABLE TO of conferences organised by some of the Society’s communities. We already have speakers from ANNOUNCE THAT Specialist Groups, including Digital Twins, organised Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Digital Catapult, Aerospace by the Structures and Materials SG, and the Technology Institute, UK Space Agency and THE PRESIDENT’S annual Aerodynamics Conference, focusing on Eurocontrol confirmed, with more to follow. It CONFERENCE Aerodynamics Tools and Methods in Aircraft Design, promises to be an exciting and informative day, so IS GOING TO organised by the Aerodynamics SG. Both meetings please pencil in the date in your diaries. covered topics of timely relevance to our community, Finally, as we approach the end of the year, I BE HELD ON 31 attracting an audience drawn from across industry would like to take this opportunity to wish you all MARCH 2020 AT and academia, including several high-level speakers and your families a restful Christmas Season and all SOCIETY HQ from NASA and the USAF at the aerodynamics the very best for the New Year.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2020 Would you like to help guide the Society?

The Society would like to hear from we need members of Council from every part of members who are interested in standing for the aeronautical community and this is where you the Council in the 2020 elections to be held come in. next spring. Only by having a good number Please give serious thought to whether you of candidates from all sectors of the aviation could serve the Society in this most important role. and space community can the Council If you are interested, or require further information, benefit from a variety of backgrounds and please visit our website at experience. www.aerosociety.com/councilelection or NOMINATIONS As members will be aware, the Council now contact Nigel Dingley, the Society’s Governance and FOR THE 2020 concentrates on the outward facing aspects of the Compliance Manager, on +44 (0)20 7670 4311 or RAeS COUNCIL Society’s global activities. Indeed, as the Society [email protected] ELECTIONS becomes ever more global, it is critically important that our offerings to members, to Corporate Please note that all nominations must be ARE NOW Partners and especially to the public are of the submitted no later than OPEN highest quality. To lead output of the highest quality 31 January 2020 at 23.59 GMT.

42 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Sir Brian Burridge ● November’s Council meeting saw the election of Place to see what was on offer from 31 potential Peter Round as President-Elect and confirmation employers. It was striking this year that we were of Howard Nye’s advancement to President in successful in covering a wider spectrum of May 2020: many congratulations to them both. aviation and aerospace careers than has been Coming-up close behind is the Council election, the norm. There was certainly no lack of interest so I would encourage interested Fellows and and enthusiasm among the participants and Members to submit their applications well before congratulations are due to Roz Azouzi and her the deadline of 31 January 2020 via nigel. team for their energy, organisational skills and [email protected]. To be effective, the fortitude in carrying-off such a successful event. Council needs a diverse membership, given its ● I know that last month’s article reporting on the vital role in ensuring that your Society maintains Global UAM summit was met with scepticism its relevance, generates learned output and by some. But just to drive home the reality, the represents the interests of the wider membership. German air taxi developer Lilium (strapline: ● Also in November, we held our two-day Global Enabling a world where anyone can fly anywhere, Megatrends and Aviation Forum. We had anytime) has just achieved transition between senior participants here at Hamilton Place from the vertical take-off phase and forward flight across the world ranging from North America phase of its jet-powered air taxi which uses 36 through Europe and Africa to India and China. ducted fans as its power source. Its software HQ We were privileged to be able to host such a is located here in London. Meanwhile, another distinguished and knowledgeable cohort who, German company, Volocopter, demonstrated its together, developed a range of possible visions VoloDrone which is an unmanned, electrically- for the future of aviation out to 2040. The powered, heavy-lift drone capable of carrying a Society will now use the considerable output to 200kg load. develop globally relevant scenarios and pursue ● Next year’s programme of Corporate Partner specific areas of already identified concern, high briefings is taking shape. On 21 January we among which was the potential fragmentation of have Dame Angela McLean, the Chief Scientific regulation. We will publish an intermediate review Adviser at the MoD, followed on 11 February for Society members in the New Year. by Neil Robertson, the Group CSR and Future ● The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Airspace Director at Manchester Airports Group MEANWHILE, Space Museum Library has been in touch about to focus on airport growth and sustainability. our National Aerospace Library Sound Archive In March, Sir Charlie Bean, a former Deputy ANOTHER podcasts of historic Royal Aeronautical Society Governor of the Bank of England and now in the GERMAN lectures and interviews. The initiative was funded Office of Budget Responsibility, will take a post- COMPANY, by the Society’s Foundation and the message Brexit look at the economy. VOLOCOPTER, reads: ‘Every one of these lectures I have listened ● Finally, as you start planning for the year ahead, to are just wonderful experiences to hear. This please do keep No.4 Hamilton Place in mind for DEMONSTRATED is such a fine contribution to aviation history that any meetings and events that you might have ITS VOLODRONE you and your staff have taken on to preserve coming up in 2020. We have several different- WHICH IS AN these rare sound recordings. Believe me, what sized rooms available for hire, including our UNMANNED, you are doing in this regard is truly motivating fantastic Bill Boeing Suite which is ideal for us to get back to work on preserving unique conferences, or our Argyll Room and Terrace ELECTRICALLY- recordings held by our library’. Praise indeed from which is popular for summer receptions and POWERED, one of the world’s most prominent libraries but dinners. Our Corporate Partners receive a 20% HEAVY-LIFT judge for yourself at www.aerosociety.com/ discount on room hire and Members receive a podcast. DRONE CAPABLE 10% discount, making us an affordable Mayfair ● In November, the Society held its annual Careers venue. Our onsite team are happy to help so OF CARRYING A in Aerospace and Aviation LIVE event. More than please do get in touch with them on hello@4hp. 200KG LOAD 750 young people passed through Hamilton org.uk to discuss your events in further detail.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 43 Afterburner Book Reviews THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

The first one hundred years By J Buckley and P Beaver

Oxford University Press, Oxford. 2018. xvi; 259pp. Illustrated. ISBN 978-0-19-879803-3.

Conceived in the midst of war through the 1917 Air Force (Constitution) Act, the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 1 April 1918 – through the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) – created “arguably the largest air force then in existence” (p 26) though the authors’ opening chapter concludes “in reality ... the Great War did a great deal more for air power than air power did for the war” (p 28) rather overlooking the personal sacrifice of the thousands of airmen who lost their lives in WW1. This sets for the tone for this revisionist Above: Short S25 Sunderland Coningham among others) supported by the Chain reassessment of the capabilities and effectiveness GRV, SZ589. Initially, the Home radar, Royal Observer Corps, Air Transport RAF struggled to hit a moving of the RAF during its first century, it being noted target at sea in WW2. Auxiliary and the massive acceleration in aircraft that it has “ ... only existed in an era of diminishing RAeS (NAL). production and aircrew training. national wealth and declining relative global Post-1945, as the RAF entered the jet age the power” (p 6). Post-WW1 the legacy of Trenchard analysis (96pp) focuses more on the technological and Salmond ensured the RAF’s survival through capabilities of the RAF’s fleet – over 70 aircraft its cost-effective Imperial policing of British types are mentioned “... a host of new designs, some colonies and areas of administration, particularly excellent, and a few mediocre” (p 156) – and their in Mesopotamia/Iraq/Persia, underlining how weapon systems, perhaps reflecting the specialisms long Britain has played a key role in this region (a of the two co-authors. Operations in Suez, Aden, fascinating interwar period for which the reader Malayan Insurgency, Kenyan Mau-Mau Emergency, should consult C Bowyer RAF Operations 1918- Falklands, the Gulf Wars, Kosovo, Afghanistan, 1938 [William Kimber. 1988]; V Flintham Truculent Libya through to the Tornado air strikes against Tribes Turbulent Skies [Air-Britain. 2015] and B Syria in April 2018 among others are described, Renfrew Wings of Empire [The History Press. 2015] as the narrative flows back and forth – sometimes to learn more). confusingly – across the decades (supported by The central core of the book (77 pages) is informative maps which show the geographical occupied by a penetrating review of air operations strategic importance of Malta, Singapore, Cyprus of WW2 – based partly on the statistical analysis and the Ascension Islands) as “the RAF’s fortunes undertaken by Operational Research – in which ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of the nation” both the failings (on a number of occasions the (p 180). Many of these operations took place in the RAF’s initial inability to hit a moving target at sea shadow of the Cold War, epitomised in the creation is recorded) and accomplishments are noted, of the nuclear V-Force bomber capability, RAF reflecting the authors’ perspective that “the Germany and the deployment of the Douglas Thor RAF’s role in the Second World War is pivotal to In conclusion IRBM. understanding the air force’s standing in society” The book ends with a balanced assessment (p 4). Particularly revealing is the chapter on the this compact of the impacts of the seemingly endless cycle of operations of Bomber Command and its raids on volume is political defence reviews (seven are separately Dresden, Cologne and Hamburg among others. not a book to recorded between 1990-2010), the ‘future “No other element of the RAF’s history has been so be skimmed proofing’ of the RAF symbolised in the anticipated controversial, so mired in deeply held myths, and so deployment in 2021 of the Protector long- fogged by ill-informed pontification” (p 94) – which through but endurance UAV and the launch in January 2018 of ultimately cost the lives of around 55,000 serving deserves to be the RAF Carbonite-2 reconnaissance satellite as personnel. In addition to personal sacrifice ultimately closely read for the militarisation of outer space evolves. The lack of Britain was not overrun through a co-ordinated the insightful resources against demands is apparent throughout, combination of organisation within the RAF and as aircraft types have to serve longer than originally the individual capabilities of its High Commanders commentary it planned for – for example the Chinook “... is likely (Dowding, Portal, Tedder, Harris, Joubert de la Ferté, contains to serve for seven decades, as there is no true

44 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 replacement on the horizon” (p 233) – a revealing statement recording: “Aircraft not in regular RAF operation earn extra revenue as passenger transport for package holidaymakers” (pp 233-234), surely a role that its founder Trenchard did not envisage for the RAF’s fleet. In conclusion this compact volume is not a book to be skimmed through but deserves to be closely read for the insightful commentary it contains on the challenges which the RAF has faced during its first century of existence.

Brian Riddle Affiliate

RAF Chinook helicopters from18 (B) Squadron practising desert operations during Exercise Vortex Warrior. Could the Chinook see 70 years’ service in the RAF? MoD/Crown copyright (2019).

THE MAN WHO BUILT THE SWORDFISH The Life of Sir Richard Fairey technology; with war in prospect, he obtained large orders for planes like the Fairey Swordfish and the By A Smith Fairey Battle. The Swordfish, as a canvas-covered, open cockpit biplane, was already obsolete by WW2 I B Tauris & Co Ltd, 6 Salem Road, London W2 but, because of its durability and outstanding crews, 4BU, UK. 2018. xxii; 455pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN it gained many successes against enemy shipping 978-1-78831-336-0. until 1942 when a whole squadron was annihilated, while the Fairey Battle light bomber was always too Adrian Smith’s biography of Richard Fairey marks an slow and vulnerable to succeed. For all that, through important addition to accounts about the colourful a combination of shrewd company reconstructions, and enduring entrepreneurs from the early days successful investments and his assiduity “in cultivating of British aircraft construction. Fairey’s 40-year contacts at every level of Government and the Armed working relationship with the Royal Navy richly merits Forces,” Fairey himself surmounted the economic comparison with other long-standing pioneers like Sir Richard Fairey, blizzards of the time to become an increasingly rich Tommy Sopwith, Geoffrey de Havilland, Frederick 1887-1956. RAeS (NAL). man. Handley Page (whose own biography is still to be Fairey spent the war in Washington heading the written) and the Short Brothers. Adrian Smith’s British Air Commission concerned with the supply of Smith rapidly introduces his readers to someone aircraft from America, for which he was awarded a of large stature (Fairey was over 6 feet 6 inches biography Knighthood. By now a sick man he returned to Fairey tall) with a strong early interest in aviation and a of Richard to help oversee its Delta 2 supersonic fighter and the determination never to be poor. We learn that Fairey Fairey marks Rotodyne, a large compound helicopter, whose costly acquired his theoretical knowledge of engineering development after his death, led Fairey Aviation to be the hard way through evening classes at Finsbury an important subsumed by Westland. As for the Delta 2, although Technical College – a flagship establishment for addition to capturing the World Speed record, it was never as vocational education – while working full-time. His accounts about easy to fly – nor such a good weapons platform as aviation career was launched when winning a national the colourful the English Electric Lightning – which resulted in its model aircraft competition held at Crystal Palace cancellation. following which he straightway sold his innovative and enduring While Smith’s wide ranging and acute biography design to Gamages, the famous London store. He entrepreneurs fully recognises Fairey’s ferocious right-wing bias, then, in 1911, commenced work with designer J W from the financial ruthlessness and sedulous courting of the Dunne developing his experimental aircraft before early days of powerful, he also has no doubt that – unlike others joining the Short Brothers at their aeroplane factory – he never fell for Fascist propaganda and never on the Isle of Sheppey. Within 30 months he had British aircraft ceased to believe that Britain would have to fight progressed to become Works Manager and Chief construction Germany again. Engineer. Even so, in spite of his undoubted achievements, In 1915 Fairey formed his own company the reader has the distinct impression that Fairey’s constructing aircraft for the Royal Navy, during the enterprises never reached the highest levels of 1920s and early 1930s producing cutting-edge Peter Reese Sopwith’s Hawker Company nor matched the seaplanes. However, not all were of advanced- AMRAeS repeated inventive triumphs of Geoffrey de Havilland.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 45 Afterburner Book Reviews TAKING TO THE AIR An Illustrated History of Flight By L Ford

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK. 2018. 224pp. Illustrated £25. ISBN 978- 0-7123-5261-1.

Britannia Must Rule the Air ... Issued under the auspices of the Aerial League of Great Britain ... This Song May be Sung in Public Without Fee or Licence’ (published c.1913 and a chorus to rally round in these uncertain troubled times) is just of the many delights to be found turning the pages of this visual celebration of how the spectacle of aviation has pervaded the artistic imagination and popular culture from prehistory magazine covers (which are beautifully reproduced through to the glamour of jet age and Dan Dare in this volume), films and air displays of the time as “ ... a Biggles-type figure who reiterated narratives of aircraft flew further, faster and higher. Endurance imperial expansion and defence in outer space just as flights – where the pilot and technological advances in the nation’s empire on Earth was falling away” (p 191). aircraft design were pushed to their limits – attracted The dream of flight – the conquest of the air – a wide range of pilots who became household names, haunted successive generations for centuries; the Lindbergh’s 1927 solo transatlantic flight identified as “... the decisive moment of the transfiguration of flight mythological tale of Icarus falling to his death after from a war-tainted technology to a technology of the the Sun melted the wax which held together his future” (p 141), the growing menace of air power first wing-like structure and the fatalities of early tower experienced in the Great War to be soon relived in jumpers symbolic of the dangers which aviation has WW2. experienced throughout its history. Top: Salon Aeronautique at Although the book is international in coverage, it Over the centuries various designs for flying the Grand Palais, Paris, in is noted “the story of flight told here is a British one” machines were recorded on paper, models were September 1909. Above: The front cover of (p 8), concluding with the observation that, by the made, but it was not until the late-18th century during Automobilia and Flight, April late 1960s, British companies “continued to make the Enlightenment pursuit of scientific knowledge that 1909, VI, (45). engines and components for aeroplanes, but without Man gained the ability to travel through the air – by Both RAeS (NAL). the generous investment of post-war research and balloon. The balloon was born in France in 1783, the development, could no longer make new aircraft” experiences of the pioneering aeronauts captured in (p 206). numerous prints, engravings, fashion accessories and Lily Ford’s astute supporting narrative contains published accounts that fuelled a ‘balloonmania’ to a subtext as she aims “... to make a start at bringing sweep the continent. women into the history of flight, which seems Man was to travel by balloon – and later by airship traditionally to have been told by men to men and – for more than 120 years before the first aeroplane boys”, rather overlooking the 100s of articles and left the ground and the era of powered flight began. growing library of books that have been published on Nevertheless, reproductions of such futuristic designs women and aviation over the years. as W S Henson’s Aerial Steam Carriage shaped A few lapses – mainly spellings – were noted; the heavier-than-air flying machine in the public The 1920s and the pioneering air shows at Doncaster and Blackpool imagination. were held in October 1909 (not 1911), Ernest Following the Wright brothers pivotal 1903 flight 1930s witnessed Montaut (not Monteaux) was the French artist who and the subsequent first powered flights in Europe, a ‘golden age’ of designed the Reims 1909 ‘La Grande Semaine seemingly overnight an extensive aircraft industry flying as major d’Aviation de la Champagne’ poster, D F McIntyre (not arose with a host of aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, advances in air Macintyre) flew over Mount Everest in 1933 and Bert specialist journals and the beginning of aeronautical (not Burt) Smallways witnessed ‘The War in the Air’ by trade exhibitions. Thereafter aviation spread rapidly travel and in the H G Wells. over the face of the globe and Man had truly joined design of aircraft Nevertheless, this informative text deserves to be the birds in the conquest of the air. brought aviation added to the bibliography of notable books on aviation The 1920s and 1930s witnessed a ‘golden age’ to the forefront history which concludes the volume. of flying as major advances in air travel and in the design of aircraft brought aviation to the forefront of of the public Brian Riddle the public imagination, reflected in the posters, book/ imagination Affiliate

46 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF AIR POWER Edited by J A Olsen

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. 2018. xix; 405pp. £175. ISBN 978-1-138-63260-8. RAeS members can access an e-Book edition of this title online via the National Aerospace Library’s e-Book service www.aerosociety.com/ebooks

John Andreas Olsen’s objective of increasing our understanding of air power has been magnificently achieved in this single volume. He assembled some of the leading air power scholars around the world but also added scholars who understand the value of air power in a wider strategic context. Above: A Royal Australian integrating them into a NATO dominated alliance As John Olsen reminds us in his introduction, air Air Force Lockheed Martin structure. This was particularly the case with Arab power is not just about aircraft, weapon systems or C-130J Hercules provides transport to the South states but it also affected Sweden. Sanu Kainikara’s even attack. Air power is often at its most effective Australian fire fighting chapter, meanwhile, gives the reader an analytical when not delivering kinetic effect. However, one of the deployment against the recent overview of Indian air power since its inception, most important contributions made by this edited work bush fires.Commonwealth of showing how the Indian Air Force (IAF), in particular, is the light it sheds on leadership, training, education Australia, Department of Defence. has developed into an instrument of power projection. and the factors which influence the conduct of air The chapter brings the reader’s attention to a little- operations, such as Rules of Engagement (ROE) and known conflict between Pakistan and India in 1999 the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC). One of the best which caused a radical change in how India viewed its chapters is by Ben Lambeth in his discussion of air conventional deterrence. The so-called Kargil War of power in irregular warfare scenarios. He makes the 1999 is not widely known in the West, mainly because point that it is all too easy to claim that air power has it occurred at the same time as the Kosovo campaign. been less effective in counter-insurgency or irregular A major Pakistani infiltration across the Indo-Pakistani warfare compared with state-on-state conflict and border was reversed by the IAF and Pakistan has reminds readers that the modern COIN campaign been reluctant to engage in any major adventurism could do little without aerial surveillance or air mobility. since. India sees the IAF as a major deterrent to Coupled with a rigorous targeting process and China, short of a nuclear exchange. Meanwhile, Igor precision weapons, air power in such scenarios has Sutyagin’s chapter on Russian air power provides saved lives, not squandered them. both reassurance and disquiet for NATO. While the Several other authors, including Robert Owen Russian Air Force has lacked the type of investment it and Gjert Dyndal, also explore the non-kinetic roles may have wished for, it has resuscitated its long-range for air power. Owen’s work on air mobility is unique, bomber capability and it is clear that involvement in in that it investigates the importance of air mobility Syria has proved useful as a testing arena for the in any strategic context, but it also sheds light on latest tactics and weapons. Russia also remains the importance of air mobility for smaller nations, a world leader in ground-based air defence and such as New Zealand. One of the flaws of recent continues to supply several, potentially hostile, nations air power discourse is that it tends to focus on the with Russian systems. major powers, especially the US, UK and France, Owen’s work on This edited work has filled a sizeable gap in and the value of air power as a force multiplier for air mobility is the literature and is comprehensive in its coverage. smaller nations is rarely addressed. Gjert Dyndal also unique, in that Some chapters do not do full justice to their subjects underscores the cost-saving and force multiplying (such as the one devoted to Air-Sea Integration, effects of aerial surveillance and air-derived it investigates for example, which focuses on carrier operations intelligence. the importance and misses significant land-based maritime Among the other stand-out chapters are those of air mobility strike experience, both during WW2 and since). by Christian Anrig, Igor Sutyagin and Sanu Kainikara. in any strategic Nonetheless, John Olsen has performed a great These chapters provide unique insights into non- service to modern security studies by compiling this NATO air power in the 21st century. Christian context, but work. Anrig explores the positive and negative aspects of it also sheds operating in large coalition and alliance settings and light on the Dr Christina Goulter the issues which can arise over interoperability and importance of FRAeS intelligence sharing, in particular. In the Libyan air Co-Director Sir Michael Howard Centre for the campaign of 2011 several non-NATO partners were air mobility for History of War and Head, King’s College Air Power involved to good effect but there were difficulties smaller nations Studies Research Group

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 47 Afterburner Library Additions BOOKS

AIR LAW PA 19310, USA. 2019. 2018. 280pp. Illustrated. rocket and how it was A very detailed well- Distributed by Gazelle Book £27.95. ISBN 978-1-91080- applied to research aircraft illustrated history of the Services Ltd, White Cross Mills, 926-6. programmes including the structural design evolution Hightown, Lancaster, LA1 Messerschmitt Me163, Bell of the round-shaped airship 4XS, UK. 192pp. Illustrated. Me 210/410 Zerstorer X-1/X-2, Douglas D-558-II hangar at Dresden designed £38.99. ISBN 978-0-7643- Units. Combat Aircraft Skyrocket and North American by Ernst Meier and originally 5679-7. 131 series. R Forsyth. Osprey X-15 in the pioneering years constructed in 1913 which, Publishing, Kemp House, of supersonic flight. with its double-curvature Design of Guidance and Chawley Park, Cumnor revolving clamshell door, was Control Systems for Hill, Oxford OX2 9PH, UK. Nimrod’s Genesis: RAF to become an archetypal Tactical Missiles. Q Zaikang 2019.96pp. Illustrated. £14.99. Maritime Patrol Projects design for all subsequent and L Defu. CRC Press, Taylor ISBN 978-14728-2910-8. and Weapons since 1945. streamlined airship hangars, & Francis Group, 6000 Broken Illustrated by numerous C Gibson. Hikoki Publications, including at Liegnitz and Sound Parkway NW, Suite contemporary photographs Manchester. 2010. 224pp. Poznan/Posen. Meier’s design 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487- and colour markings diagrams, Illustrated. ISBN 978-1- was later adapted by Karl 2742, USA. 2019. Distributed a detailed history of the 90210947-3. Arnstein for the Goodyear- by Taylor & Francis Group, evolution of the Messerschmitt A detailed history – Zeppelin Corporation 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Me210 and its successor the including numerous unbuilt Airdock at Akron, OH, the Fundamentals of Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. xiii; Me410 and how they were proposed project designs – of largest airship hangar ever International Aviation Law 239pp. £111. [20% discount deployed by the Luftwaffe the evolution of RAF Coastal constructed which was and Policy. B I Scott and available to RAeS members during WW2. and Strike Command aircraft originally built in under seven A Trimarchi. Routledge, 2 Park via www.crcpress.com using during the post-WW2 years, months in 1929 for the ZRS-4 Square, Milton Park, Abingdon AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN DH9 from Ruin to concluding with the Nimrod (USS Akron) and ZRS-5 (USS OX14 4RN, UK. 2019. xxix; 978-0-367-26041-5. Restoration: the MRA4. Macon) airships and was at 297pp. Illustrated. £32.99. Extraordinary Story of the time the world’s largest [20% discount available to HISTORICAL the Discovery in India & HUMAN FACTORS structure without internal RAeS members via www. Return to Flight of a Rare support. The book concludes crcpress.com using AKQ07 WW1 Bomber. G Black. Pilot Selection: with an architectural survey promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- Grub Street, 4 Rainham Close, Psychological Principles history of other airship hangars 138-58880-6. London SW11 6SS, UK. 2019. and Practice. Edited by around the world, concluding 206pp. Illustrated. £20. ISBN R Bor et al. CRC Press, with the CargoLifter project AIR TRANSPORT 978-1-908117-33-5. Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 and a summary compilation Illustrated throughout with Broken Sound Parkway NW, of concise biographies of key Hunting the Wind: Pan numerous colour photographs, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL personalities involved. American World Airways’ a history of the DH9 WW1 33487-2742, USA. 2019. Epic Flying Boat Era, 1929- bomber and how the fuselages Distributed by Taylor & Francis 1946. Edited by T Webber and of two surviving examples Group, 2 Park Square, Milton J Dodson. Schiffer Publishing, (D5649 and E8894) were Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, 4880 Lower Valley Road, located in India – to where UK. xv; 430pp. £88.99. [20% Atglen, PA 19310, USA. 2018. they had been presented discount available to RAeS Distributed by Gazelle Book as part of the Imperial Gift members via www.crcpress. Services Ltd, White Cross Mills, Scheme – and subsequently com using AKQ07 promotion Hightown, Lancaster LA1 4XS, brought back to Britain to be code]. ISBN 978-1-138- UK. 176pp. Illustrated. £33.99. restored to flying condition. 58873-8. ISBN 978-0-7643-5541-7. Incorporating concise Wings of their Dreams: Shadow Factories: Human Factors in Aircraft biographies and recollections Purdue in Flight – Second Britain’s Production Maintenance. D Yiannakides of many who were involved, a edition. J Norberg. Purdue Facilities during the and C Sergiou. CRC Press, well-illustrated history of the University Press, Stewart Second World War. Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Pan Am flying boat services Center, 504 W. State Street, D Rogers. Helion & Company Broken Sound Parkway NW, describing the air routes, West Lafayette, IN 49707- Limited, Solihull. 2016. 315pp. Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL passenger experiences and 2058, USA. 2019. xviii; 501pp. Illustrated. ISBN 978-1- 33487-2742, USA. 2019. terminal/cabin décor, including Illustrated. $29.95. [30% 910294-46-8. Distributed by Taylor & Francis an account of the marathon discount available to RAeS Incorporating the texts of Group, 2 Park Square, Milton flight of a Pan American members via www.press. contemporary correspondence Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, The Aeronauts: Travels in Airways Boeing 314 flying purdue.edu using PURDUE30 from a number of those UK. xix; 119pp. £66.99. [20% the Air. J Glaisher. Melville boat NC18602 California promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- involved, a detailed history and discount available to RAeS House Publishing, 46 John Clipper which, unable to 55753-873-4. analysis of the organisation of members via www.crcpress. Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, continue its journey over the The key role which aircraft and engine production com using AKQ07 promotion USA. 2019. xii; 131pp. ISBN Pacific Ocean due to the Purdue University and Purdue in Britain during WW2 and code]. ISBN 978-0-367- 978-1-61219-796-8. outbreak of the war with Japan Airport in Indiana has played how – through outsourcing 23011-1. A new paperback on 7 December 1941, was in the evolution of American production to various factories edition of James Glaisher’s forced to return to return to aviation and its aerospace – the rate of production was LIGHTER-THAN-AIR ‘Aerial Travels of J Glaisher’ the US via a westwards route industry is related through this accelerated in response to extracted from the classic involving a flight of 31,500 compilation of biographies of wartime requirements. Dresdens Tor zum Himmel: work Travels in the Air miles spread over six weeks. A leading pilots and numerous Die erste aerodynamisch (Richard Bentley.1871) by concluding appendix records astronauts who have either Rocket Planes: From geformte Luftschiffhalle Glaisher, Camille Flammarion, the individual aircraft histories studied or taught at Purdue Sound Barrier to Heat und ihr Einfluss auf die Wilfrid de Fonvielle and of the Sikorsky S-38/S-40/ including James Clifford Turpin Barrier. D Baker. Mortons Baugeschichte (Dresden’s Gaston Tissandier, recording S-42, Martin M-130, (a student pilot of the Wright Media Group Ltd, Horncastle. gateway to the skies: the his personal accounts of Consolidated Commodore and brothers), Amelia Earhart, 2015. 130pp. Illustrated. ISBN world’s first streamlined his balloon ascents from Boeing 314 flying boats which Eugene Cernan, Virgil ‘Gus’ 978-1-909128-72-9. airship hangar and its Wolverhampton, Crystal were operated. Grissom and Neil Armstrong. Illustrated throughout with influence on architectural Palace, Windsor and numerous photographs and history). R Fuhrmann. Thelem London between 1862- GUIDED FLIGHT Scooter!: the Douglas A-4 other diagrams, an informative Universitatsverlag und 1865 including his famous Skyhawk Story – Revised history of the evolution of Buchhandlung GmbH and Co high-altitude ascent into Rockets and Missiles of edition. T H Thomason. Crécy rocket engine technology from KG Dresden (www.thelem. the stratosphere with Henry Vandenberg AFB. J T Page. Publishing, 1a Ringway Trading the work of William Congreve, de). 2019. 534pp. Illustrated. Coxwell over Wolverhampton Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Estate, Shawdowmoss Road, Robert H Goddard and the €79.80. ISBN 978-3-95908- on 5 September 1862 during Lower Valley Road, Atglen, Manchester M22 5LH, UK. development of A-4/V-2 482-6. which they ascended over

48 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 30,000ft without oxygen photographs and informative Illustrated. ISBN 978-1- SPACE and diagrams, a detailed equipment. Includes Foreword maps/diagrams, a detailed 90694-071-3. chronological year-by-year by Professor Liz Bentley, history of the aerial war A compilation of concise history of the evolution of the Chief Executive, Royal between the US and Japan well-illustrated articles Soviet Union’s exploration Meteorological Society. over the South Pacific reviewing the history of of the Moon spread over 59 Solomon Islands during 617 Squadron to present separate space missions MANAGEMENT December 1942 and February times, Barnes Wallis and the culminating in a proposed 1943 – focusing on the battle Upkeep bouncing bomb, the manned Moon landing, for control of Henderson Field effectiveness of Operation focusing on the Luna 1-24 and on Guadalcanal island – during Chastise tasked to destroy the Zond series of space probes the Pacific theatre of WW2. Ruhr dams and the aftermath and LK lunar lander. of one of the most famous air South Pacific Air War Vol operations of WW2. Includes Methods of Orbital 3: Coral Sea & Aftermath Forewords by Air Chief Maneuvering. Progress May-June 1942. Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton in Aeronautics and M Claringbould and P Ingman. and Wg Cdr D S Arthurton. Astronautics series Vol Avonmore Books, Kent 261. M DiPrinzio. American Town, South Australia. 2019. The Dam Busters: Institute of Aeronautics and Distributed by Casemate, Breaking the Great Dams Astronautics, Reston, VA. xiv; 106-108 Cowley Road, of Germany, 16-17 May 1238pp. 2019. Illustrated. Oxford OX4 IJE, UK. 247pp. 1943. J Falconer. Haynes Manned Lunar Landing Distributed by Transatlantic Illustrated. £35.95. ISBN 978- Publishing, Sparkford. 2010. and Return: Project Publishers Group, 97 0-9945889-7-5. 240pp. Illustrated. ISBN 978- MALLAR – a Forgotten Greenham Road London N10 Illustrated throughout 1-84425-867-3. Story of Apollo. R Godwin. 1LN, UK. £131 [20% discount with numerous contemporary Numerous black-and- Apogee Books, Burlington, available to RAeS members photographs, maps and artist’s white and colour photographs ON. 2019. Distributed by on request; E mark.chaloner@ impressions and aircraft illustrate this history of the Gazelle Book Services Ltd, tpgltd.co.uk ]. ISBN 978-1- The Aerospace Business: markings diagrams of the key famous Operation Chastise White Cross Mills, Hightown, 62410-582-1. Management and aircraft types involved, a very to destroy the Ruhr dams and Lancaster LA1 4XS, UK. Technology. W Spreen. detailed account of the air the subsequent making of The 131pp. Illustrated. £21.99. STRUCTURES AND Routledge, 2 Park Square, operations of two months of Dam Busters film during 1953- ISBN 978-1-926837-42-0. MATERIALS Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 the Pacific air war during WW2 1954. Appendices record 4RN, UK. 2019. xiv; 372pp. which incorporated the Battle individual histories of all the Methods of Orbital Fatigue Analysis Tools of Illustrated. £44.99. [20% of the Coral Sea. 133 aircrew involved, of whom Maneuvering. Progress Aerostructures. D Debski discount available to RAeS 77 survived the raid. in Aeronautics and et al. Institute of Aviation members via www.crcpress.com No Better Place to Die: the Astronautics series Vol Scientific Publications Division, using AKQ07 promotion code]. Battle for La Fiere Bridge. R Dambusters: Operation 261. M DiPrinzio. American Aleja Krakowska 110/144, ISBN 978-0-367-28058-1. M Murphy. Casemate Publishers, Chastise 1943. D C Dildy. Institute of Aeronautics and 02-256 Warsaw, Poland. 2019. 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford Osprey Publishing, Oxford. Astronautics, Reston, VA. xiv; 165pp. Illustrated. ISBN 978- SERVICE AVIATION OX4 IJE, UK. 2019. xiv; 268pp. 2010. 80pp. Illustrated. ISBN 1238pp. 2019. Illustrated. 83-63539-46-7. Illustrated. £13.99. ISBN 978- 978-1-84603-934-8. Distributed by Transatlantic Following a comparison “They’re Killing My Boys!”: 1-61200-800-4. Incorporating informative Publishers Group, 97 and analysis of current the History of Hickam Originally published diagrams of the Mohne, Sorpe Greenham Road London N10 methods for assessing the Field and the Attacks of 7 in 2009, a detailed history and Eder dams, a concise 1LN, UK. £131 [20% discount fatigue strength of aircraft December 1941. J M Wenger – incorporating personal history of the of the famous available to RAeS members support structures, based on et al. Naval Institute Press, recollections of those involved WW2 air operation to destroy on request; E mark.chaloner@ the authors’ fuselage tests 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, and numerous contemporary the Ruhr dams, a concluding tpgltd.co.uk ]. ISBN 978-1- of the PZL I-22 Iryda combat MD 21402, USA. 2019. xxi; photographs and maps – of appendix recording the 62410-582-1. aircraft and DEKO 9 Magic 274pp. Illustrated. $42. ISBN the operations of the 505th individual crew members of aerobatic aircraft, a number 978-168247-458-7. Parachute Infantry Regimental each 617 Squadron Lancaster of new hypotheses regarding A companion volume Combat Team of the 82nd bomber involved in the the fatigue strength of to the authors’ “This is No Airborne Division which was operation. materials and structures are Drill”: the History of NAS Pearl assigned to protect Utah outlined for the continuous Harbor and the Japanese Beach in the immediate days The Dam Busters: a British assessment of the fatigue Attacks of 7 December 1941 following the momentous Film Guide. J Ramsden. wear of aeronautical structures (Naval Institute Press. 2018), Allied D-Day landings in I B Tauris & Co Ltd, London. and increasing the fatigue life a very detailed history of the Normandy of 6 June 1944. 2003. 128pp. Illustrated. ISBN through an innovative solution Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 1-86064-636-0. for joining structural elements air attack on Hickam Field – Bomber Command 1939- A history of the making of of the load-bearing structure one of two major United States 1940: the War Before the The Dam Busters film and its using composite nodes, Army Air Force (USAAF) War. G Thorburn. Pen & Sword critical and popular reception concluding with an estimation airfields on the Hawaiian island Aviation, Pen & Sword Books, following its release in 1955 of cumulative fatigue damage. of O’ahu – which followed the 47 Church Street, Barnsley, S and the subsequent role major assault on the nearby Yorkshire S70 2AS, UK. 2013. the film played in the public Pearl Harbor Navy Yard during vii; 173pp. Illustrated. ISBN perception of Britain’s bombing one of the most pivotal days in 978-1-78159-277-9. campaigns during WW2. the history of WW2. A history of the RAF Bomber Command air First Blitz: the Secret The Soviet Space Guadalcanal 1942-43: operations of the ‘Phoney War’ German Plan to Raze Program: the Lunar Japan’s bid to knock out during the first few months London to the Ground Mission Years 1959-1976. Henderson Field and the of WW2 and, in particular, the in 1918. N Hanson. Corgi E Reichl. Schiffer Publishing, Cactus Air Force. operations at Brunsbuttel, Books, London. 2009. 591pp. 4880 Lower Valley Road, M Stille. Osprey Publishing, Wilhelmshaven and over Illustrated. ISBN 978-0-55- Atglen, PA 19310, USA. 2019. Kemp House, Chawley Park, Heligoland and Norway. 215548-9. Distributed by Gazelle Book For further information Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9PH, A detailed history of the Services Ltd, White Cross Mills, contact the National UK. 2019. 96pp. Illustrated. The Dambusters – German bombing campaign Hightown, Lancaster LA1 4XS, Aerospace Library. £14.99. ISBN 978-14728- 617 Squadron: 70th against Britain during WW1, its UK. 159pp. Illustrated. £19.99. T +44 (0)1252 701038 3551-2. Anniversary. Edited by B impact on the British populace ISBN 978-0-7643-5675-9. Illustrated throughout Davies. Newsdesk Media, and the country’s air defence Illustrated throughout with or 701060 with numerous contemporary London. 2013. 82pp. system. numerous colour photographs E [email protected]

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 49 Afterburner Society News HISTORICAL GROUP SEMINAR

A Century of Transatlantic Flying

MICK OAKEY from the RAeS Historical Group Above: Take-off from war, commerce and cultural exchange spanning ‘The reports on a seminar held earlier this year Newfoundland of Alcock and Pond’ helped drive development of aircraft, engines, to commemorate 100 years of transatlantic Brown’s Vickers Vimy for the first direct Atlantic flight, 14 navigation, meteorology and logistics; and to explore flying which covered a variety of subjects June 1919. RAeS (NAL). some lesser-known aspects of ten transatlantic from the first crossings in 1919, through WW2 decades of flight. ferry flights, to the development of Concorde and the Boeing 747. The 1919 transatlantic race

“This is a great trip. No ships or stars or anything. Fame or obscurity are often down to luck, as the first Have a sandwich?” – Flight Lieutenant Arthur speaker – Historical Group chairman and former RAF Whitten Brown, in a pencilled note passed to Museum Head of Archives Peter Elliott – pointed out Captain Jack Alcock, 15 June 1919, about half-way in his discussion of Alcock and Brown’s rivals for the between Newfoundland and Ireland. Daily Mail’s £10,000 Atlantic prize. But for a speck of Thus did navigational uncertainty, weary humour dust in a carburettor, the Vimy pair may never have – and hunger born of boredom – mark the first-ever become famous, engine reliability being paramount non-stop transatlantic flight. One hundred years on such a long overwater flight. later, apart from the navigational uncertainty, nothing As well describing as the three other competing much has changed . . . aircraft and teams which made it to the starting- Well, nothing and yet everything – as was line – the Sopwith Atlantic, Handley Page V/1500 compellingly illustrated in six lectures and some lively and Martinsyde Raymor, Peter mentioned the ones Q&A at the RAeS Historical Group’s June seminar, that didn’t even get that far, including the Alliance marking the centenary of Alcock and Brown’s epic Seabird and the twin-engined Boulton & Paul P.8. flight in their twin-engined Vickers Vimy biplane. The He also placed the Daily Mail prize attempts in the seminar also celebrated other notable transatlantic context of the separate transatlantic crossing of anniversaries: 100 years since the R34 airship’s two- the same period, by the US Navy’s Curtiss NC-4 way crossing soon after the Vimy flight, and 50 years flying-boat; it was not entered for the prize, as it since the maiden flights of two airline stalwarts of the THIS IS A GREAT included stops in the Azores and Portugal and was route, the Boeing 747 and Concorde. TRIP. NO SHIPS not completed within the specified 72hr. Under the chairmanship of Historical Group OR STARS OR Deputy Chairman Peter Davison, former Assistant ANYTHING. The R34 double crossing Curator of Aeronautics at the Science Museum, 46 participants gathered to enjoy the day. The talks HAVE A A different mode of air travel featured in the next were chosen to demonstrate how the demands of SANDWICH? presentation, by psychologist Wendy Pritchard,

50 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 whose grandfather Maj Jack Pritchard was technical observer and photographer aboard the R34’s double Atlantic voyage a couple of weeks after the Vimy’s flight. Pritchard became the very first person to arrive by air in the US at the end of the airship’s first (east-to-west) crossing, which took just over four days. How come he was the first, given that the 643ft-long dirigible had 30 crew (actually 31 including a stowaway, plus a kitten)? On arrival over Mineola, Long Island, NY, given the lack of an experienced large-airship-handling crew on the ground, he swapped his flying overalls for his uniform and parachuted out to make the touchdown arrangements in person. Wendy’s lecture provided a vivid impression of the challenges of airship flying, and its compensations (there was even limited dancing to Above: Boeing 747-123, on 4 October 1958, the true route to transatlantic a gramophone – the first in-flight entertainment N9662, of American. success was to strip away all glamour and as much system?), enhanced by images from her Below: The crew of the cost as possible. grandfather’s personal photograph album. first Comet 4 (G-APDC) service to New York on 4 October 1958. Captain J WW2 military ferry flights The development of Concorde B Linton (extreme left front row), Captain Roy Millichap Very aptly for this seminar, the final two speakers (centre front row) and Capt Next up, aviation historian and Historical Group were from the US. First came Dr Bill Harris, Deputy committee member Tony Buttler presented a I J Monk (front row right). Also: E/O Kingston (with Director, History & Museums for the USAF, based diametric contrast in subject – an account of camera), E/O F T Durkin, N/O at The Pentagon, talking about transatlantic military the design and development of Concorde, from D Thompson, Stewardess T aircraft ferry operationsw during World War Two. conception to service entry. He surveyed its UK Mullis, E/O L W R McLaren, Despite major problems with winter weather and beginnings, with early Bristol and Hawker projects R/O A M Ruthven, Steward E A Johnson, Steward I N command-and-control, a colossal total of 31,359 and the BAC 223, which looked a lot like the Flanagan and Steward R L aircraft was delivered on the ferry route from North final Concorde; and the French side, with Super- Dunkley. RAeS (NAL). America, with only 717 lost en route. Caravelle designs from Dassault, Nord and Sud- Aviation. The Boeing 747 A little-noticed detail of the project, Tony pointed out, is that the “Sud-Sim” at Toulouse represented a Rounding off an absorbing and varied day, Dr major advance in flight simulators. He also provided Bob van der Linden, Curator of Air Transportation a splendid illustration of the Mach 2 airliner’s ability at the Smithsonian National Air and Space to shrink the world: on 17 June 1974, a Concorde Museum, traced the Boeing 747’s 50-year history. took off on a Boston-Paris flight, at the same time Designed in an astonishing 29 months, the Jumbo as an Air France Boeing 747 took off going Paris- represented an existential risk for Boeing just while Boston. The Concorde landed in Paris for an hour, it was grappling with its ultimately stillborn SST then returned to Boston, arriving 11min before the project – but in the end it achieved its goal with 747! worldbeating success: opening up transatlantic air travel for all. Lowered the cost of transatlantic flights From Vimy to supersonic flight Offering a characteristically political and sometimes provocative perspective, the next speaker was As one of – I think – relatively few people in the Professor Keith Hayward, former RAeS Head of room who had flown from London to New York Research and now an independent writer. Keith’s aboard Concorde and flown in a Vickers Vimy subject was ‘Jets Over the Atlantic: Britain’s Losing (although, sadly, I haven’t crossed the Atlantic in a Struggle for the Blue Riband’. “Normally my role is to Vimy), I have experienced both ends of the speed pour cold economic water over any romantic views spectrum in terms of transatlantic aircraft types. I of aircraft such as Concorde”, he said, “but today I mention this not to boast (well, perhaps a bit), but am going to take you back to the glamour days”. He to lead into saying that the seminar showed us both then proceeded to demonstrate how, despite the ends of the historical spectrum, as well as many of UK’s ‘secret weapon’ (the jet engine) allowing the the key points along the way. And half-way through de Havilland Comet to fly the first Atlantic jet service it, just like Alcock and Brown, we all had a sandwich.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 51 Afterburner Diary

EVENTS www.aerosociety/events LECTURES www.aerosociety/events

2 December WW2 Fighter Aircraft Piston Engines – How British Management Excellence Succeeded Calum Douglas, Director, Scorpion Dynamics Ltd Historical Group Lecture

10 December Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture: Building, Testing and Developing a Private Spaceline: Virgin Galactic and Commercial Space David Mackay FRAeS, Chief Pilot, Virgin Galactic Named Lecture

11 December From Clinic to Cockpit Aerospace Medicine Grand Round Conference

Virgin Atlantic Virgin 11 December 50th Stewart Lecture: A golden anniversary, aerospace medicine – golden opportunities David Gradwell FRAeS, Professor of Aerospace Medicine, Handley Page Hampden, P1344, was recovered from a crash site in the Arctic Circle and has been King’s College undergoing a lengthy restoration by the RAF Museum. Darren Priday will discuss the restoration Aerospace Medicine Group Named Lecture work being carried out by the RAF Museum on 11 December at Hatfield.RAF Museum Cosford.

BEDFORD 12 February — Flexible and Robert Carroll, Britannia ARA Sports and Social Club, payload bay design (or Aircraft Preservation Trust. Aircraft Research Association, making a lot of noise for Manton Lane, Bedford. 7pm. future weapons bays). Phil COVENTRY 11 December — Flying Astley-Jones, Technical Lecture Theatre ECG26, business jets. Paul Catanach, Manager, Structures R&T, Engineering & Computing Line Training Captain, TAG BAE Systems. Building, Coventry University, Aviation (UK). Coventry. 7.30pm. Janet Owen CAMBRIDGE T +44 (0)2476464079. BIRMINGHAM, Lecture Theatre ‘O’, Cambridge 4 December — Airbus WOLVERHAMPTON AND University Engineering Dept. electric-engined BAe146

COSFORD 7.30pm. Jin-Hyun Yu, T +44 programme. Riona Armesmith, Crown copyright Crown 7 January National Cold War Museum, (0)1223 373129. Rolls-Royce E-Fan X UK Laser Directed Energy Weapon Research RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal. 19 December — Airborne Programme Director. Ben Maddison, Energy Weapons Team Leader, Dstl 7pm. Chris Hughes, T +44 electronic warfare – the Cold 22 January — The return Lecture (0)1902 844523. War legacy. Gordon Slater. of the DH88 Comet. Roger 12 December — From Mulled wine and mince pies Bailey, Chief Test Pilot, The Comet to Dreamliner: a after lecture. Shuttleworth Collection. 17-18 March history of aircraft fatigue. Dr 6 February — 20th Sir Arthur 20 February — Meggitt The Aircraft Commander in the 21st Century: Managing the Andrew Halfpenny, Director of Marshall Lecture. Aeromedical Lecture. Brandon Hall Hotel, flight deck in an ever-changing environment Technology, HBM Prenscia – experience in Afghanistan – Brandon, Coventry. 7pm. Flight Operations Group Conference nCode Products Division. Leaving Camp Bastion. Air 16 January — Hawk at Cdre Maria Byford. Wolfson CRANWELL 24-25 March 40+. Stephen Blee, Chief Hall, Churchill College, Storey’s Daedalus Officers’ Mess, RAF RAeS Urban Air Mobility Conference 2020 Airworthiness Engineer, Brough. Way, Cambridge. 6pm. Cranwell. 7.30pm. Please Conference 20 February — For your allow enough time to visit the freedom and ours – the Polish CARDIFF Guardroom for your pass. 31 March Air Force in the West. Richard Cardiff & Vale College, ICAT, 9 December — Christmas Digital Technologies to Enable the Future Aerospace Industry Kornicki. Cardiff Airport. 7pm. event and RAF Presentation President’s Conference 15 January — Atmospheric Team. BOSCOMBE DOWN research flying in the UK. 3 February — Whittle 21 May Lecture Theatre, MoD Dr Guy Gratton. University Lecture. UAV training: military RAeS AGM and Annual Banquet Boscombe Down, Salisbury. of South Wales, Treforest vs civilian. Sion Roberts. Joint 5.15pm. Visitors please register Campus, Pontypridd. lecture with IET and IMechE. 9-10 June at least four days in advance 26 February — C-17 global The Past, Present and Future of Flight Simulation – Technology, (name and car registration operations. Flt Lt Andy DERBY Training and Regulatory Challenges required) E secretary@ McDowell, RAF. Nightingale Hall, Moor Lane, Flight Simulation Group Conference BoscombeDownRAeS.org Derby. 5.30pm. Chris Sheaf, 10 December — Giant CHESTER T +44 (0)1332 269368. 16 June Typhoon and Typhoon Room 017, University of 15 January — Ice crystal Sopwith Lecture Restoration. Noon. Chester, Beswick Building, icing and its impact on engine Dirk Hoke, CEO, Airbus Defence & Space 4 February — Affinity – University of Chester, Parkgate certification. Martin Maltby, Named Lecture supporting UK MFTS. Ian Road, Chester. 7.30pm. Keith former Chief Powerplant Chalmers, Managing Director. Housely, T +44 (0)151 348 Engineer, BAe Regional Aircraft; 18 June 4480. and Geoff Jones, Engine Aerospace Golf Day 2020 BROUGH 11 December — The Large Environmental Protection Frilford Heath Golf Club Cottingham Parks Golf Club, Model (Aircraft) Association Technologist, Rolls-Royce. Woodhill Way, Cottingham, and UK Small Unmanned 12 February — Geoff Wilde Hull. Ben Groves, T +44 Aircraft Regulation. Rob Lecture: When Lightning (0)1482 663938. Buckley, Secretary, Large strikes twice (F-35 Lightning All lectures start at 18.00 unless otherwise stated. 8 January — A lighter view of Model Association. II). Dave Gordon, RR Director Conference proceedings are available at the Light Blue – Shackleton 8 January — The preservation Defence. Rolls-Royce Learning www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings years. Kenneth Moore, RAF of Britannia Charlie Fox at and Career Development Ret’d. Speke. Alan Pennington Centre, Derby.

52 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Virgin Atlantic operations. DavidMorgan. 22 January—easyJetflight Museum. DarrenPriday. Conservation attheRAF 11 December— University ofHertfordshire. Lindop BuildingA166, HATFIELD Hamburg andVDI. HAW- lecture withDGLR, & ChiefEngineer, Airbus.Joint TechnicalBelugaXL Director 21st century. Veronique Roca, – oversizetransportforthe 23 January—BelugaXL Hamburg andVDI. HAW- lecture withDGLR, Airbus Operations.Joint Senior AerodynamicsExpert, Airbus. Dr-IngGerdHeller, 9 January—winglets@ 6pm. (Neubau), 20099Hamburg. Hörsaal 01.13BerlinerTor 5 Wissenschaften Hamburg, Hochschule fürAngewandte HAMBURG Airways Ret’d. John Hutchinson, British – the20thcenturyicon.Capt Evening andBuffet: Concorde 18 February —Partners & Programme Lead, Leonardo. Active RotorStudiesTechnical improvement. SimonStacey, leap inrotorperformance Blade –The next great 21 January—ActiveRotor Targett, Electro-flight. Project andRoger ACCEL Matthew Parr, Rolls-Royce Electrification ofFlight. Project –Acceleratingthe 17 December—The ACCEL 7.30pm. off DownHatherleyLane. Restaurant Conference Room, Safran LandingSystems, CHELTENHAM AND GLOUCESTER Harker,Sophie BAeSystems. – anewclassofpropulsion. 11 December—SABRE 1150 [email protected] Don Bates,T+44(0)208654 Gatwick.CAA 6.30pm. SARG GATWICK required. Officer. 7pm.Pre-registration Weeks, ChiefTechnology Technology Institute.Simon Lecture. The Aerospace 18 February —Templer Philpot, Getmapping. and itsapplications.David 14 January—Aerialmapping Portsmouth University. Professor ofAppliedEthics, remote airwarfare.Peter Lee, – thehumandimensionof Reaperforce Lecture. RAF 10 December—Green (0)1252 614618. 7.30pm. DrMikePhilpot,T+44 AerospaceCentre. Farnborough BAE SystemsPark Centre, FARNBOROUGH Find uson Twitter Finduson LinkedInFindus onFacebook www.aerosociety.com i McKnight. speed recordforBritain. Nigel – regainingworldwater 11 February —Quicksilver Manchester. Engineering, Universityof Smith, Lecturer inAerospace mission architectures. DrKate enabling technologies fornovel 21 January—Nanosatellites: ATC. Adam Spink,London Heathrow even undercrashconditions. system at99%capacity– Heathrow airtrafficcontrol 10 December—The T +44(0)1509239962. Building. 7.30pm.ColinMoss, Building, Loughborough Room U020,Brockington LOUGHBOROUGH CEO. Brian Burridge,RAeS and Known Unknowns.Sir of Aerospace:Known Knowns 13 February —The Future Consultant. Bauer, IndependentAviation service. LinusBenjamin Qantas’ Perth-London operations: evidencefrom viability ofultralong-haul 9 January—The commercial Systems Air. Flight ControlSystems,BAE Harker, SeniorEngineer class ofpropulsion.Sophie Fairey Lecture. Sabre–anew 13 December—Richard or T+44(0)7936392799. E [email protected] Please contactWilliam Li, two daysprior)isrequired. advance registration(atleast 6.15pm. For securitypasses, Theatre, Harmondsworth. WatersideBritish AirwaysHQ HEATHROW Peter Thomas. avian flightmechanics. Dr understanding andmimicking birdbiology: of borrowing 19 February —The business Chester on11December. at SmallUnmannedAircraftRegulationwillbediscussedbyRobBuckley and UK A flyingmodeloftheMilesM39BLibellula. The LargeModel(Aircraft)Association f The LargeModelAssociation. Catanach. 10 February —Biziets.Paul Bocker. Chris CowpeandBrendan heavy, alife incivilaviation. 13 January—From lightto Jones. fifties andsixties. Tony Merton- independent airlinesofthe 12 December—British T +44(0)1655750270. Airport. 7.30pm.JohnWragg, Terminal Building,Prestwick The Aviator Suite,1stFloor, PRESTWICK service. 11 December—F-35into T +44(0)199561470. 6.30pm. AlanMatthews, Centre, BAESystems,Warton. Personnel andConference PRESTON Alan Prichard. aircraft: apracticalapproach. electric/hybrid commercial 21 January—Electricand Science Park, Oxford.7pm. The MagdalenCentre,Oxford OXFORD Past President.RAeS of view. AirCdreBillTyack, Shackleton: aNavigator’s point 19 February —The 377973. Heaps, T+44(0)1634 Way, Rochester. 7pm.Robin Systems (Rochester), Marconi Conference Room1,BAE MEDWAY Hollingworth. – ColdWar warrior. CaptIan 5 December—Lightning University ofManchester. 7pm. Room D7,RenoldBuilding, MANCHESTER Test, Ret’d. Smith, BAESystemsFlight testing andflightsafety. Terry 25 February —Highalpha and hulagirls.Wg CdrPaul 8 January—H-bombs small beginnings.Tim Prince. International AirTattoo –from 4 December—The Royal 7.30pm. Road, Shrivenham,Swindon. United Kingdom,Faringdon The Defence Academyofthe The MontgomeryTheatre, SWINDON in thebush.CaptBryanPill. art ofbushflying–apilot’s life pilot’s –the unofficialnotebook 21 January—Tales froma Bar andBeyondSG12UA. Quizmas ChristmasQuizEvent. 3 December—Merry E [email protected] 2DA. 6pm. SG1 MBDA STEVENAGE Mike Pugh-Davies, Ret’d. inWorldU-boat War 2.SqnLdr 11 February —Aircraftv Author. 707. CharlesKennedy, Aviation 14 January—The Boeing (0)20 79293400. Airport. 8pm.SeanCorr, T+44 The HolidayInn,Southend SOUTHEND 4pm. CEMAST, Lee-on-the-Solent. Branch. Fareham College– Air AccidentsInvestigation Air Accidents(Engineering), Darlington, SeniorInspectorof accident investigation.Afandi 11 December—Aircraft NATS. Innovation DeliveryManager, and tomorrow’. ChrisTaylor, both today traffic control operational worldofair Control… Demystified:‘The 2 December—AirTraffic 6.30pm. Southampton. Highfield Campus, University ofSouthampton Building 35,Room1001, SOLENT Stringfellow Lecture. 27 February —Hensonand RAeS. Burridge, CEO, strategic planning.SirBrian differences inUSandUK 6 January—GulfWar the Ticket only. lecture. ReactionEngines. Santa –afamilyChristmas 12 December—Hypersonic leonardocompany.com McCallum, Edavid.mccallum@ Yeovil. 6.30pm.David 1A, Leonardo Helicopters, Dallas Conference Room YEOVIL lecture withIMechE. Joint formerly Thales UK. in WW2.Prof SimonWatts, maritime surveillanceradar 26 February —Airborne 50s and60s. airshowsofthe Farnborough – ‘Back totheFuture’ 15 January—Filmshow Gate entrance.6.45pm. Brooklands Museum,Campbell WEYBRIDGE Royce Ultrafan–TBC. Greer, ChiefEngineerRolls- Rolls-Royce Ultrafan.Andy Mini-Lecture Competitionand 11 February —Rolls-Royce Group GeneralCounsel. Toulouse Branch andAirbus John Harrison,President RAeS in relationtoaviationsafety. Corps Lecture. Aviation law 14 January—29thGordon Colomiers. de l’Herbaudière,31770 of Toulouse (IST), 2,Allée R&T. InternationalSchool Scientist, AirbusCentral Phillips, Electromagnetism really frightening?Rhys lightning –arethey and Thunderbolts Christmas Lecture. 10 December—Family goo.gl/WbiKtV toregister. Blagnac. 6pm.Contact:http:// B01, AirbusCampus1, Symposium Room,Building TOULOUSE Sweeting. force forthefuture.ColCraig followed byAAC –Helicopter 5 February —Branch AGM Shepherd Ret’d. 2 December. of AEROSPACE is for thenext issue Copy date DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 53 Afterburner Society News TRUSTEE TALK

One of the key duties of the Board of Trustees is to The Chief Executive and Finance Director have review, challenge and approve the annual budget for scrutinised each cost-centre’s bid from bottom-up each financial year. At the recent Trustees meeting and regard the consolidated submission to be taut Sir Brian presented the Budget for 2020. Next and realistic in the face of the current context in year’s budget is an investment budget aimed at which the Society operates. solving six issues facing the Society. As ever, there are areas of risk.

● Pull-though to full membership non-paying ● Post-Brexit corporate adjustment. individuals under 25. ● Recruiting and retention of members (in common ● Delivery of Continuing Professional Development. with other PEIs) as the needs of the coming ● Consolidate and professionalise sponsorship. generations change. ● Enhance the current conference delivery process. ● The revised conference model using in-house ● Meeting the demand for our services for domain expertise rather than full reliance on apprenticeship End Point Assessment. Specialist Groups may not overcome the barriers ● Strengthen project and programme management. to individual attendance. ● The competitive market in venue hire and the associated catering could continue to make it difficult to meet the budgeted revenues.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SIR MICHAEL MARSHALL

Sir Michael Marshall CBE HonFRAeS, who was a long-term and high-profile champion of the Society, passed away earlier this year. In 1989, following his father’s retirement, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Limited. At the beginning of 2012 Sir Michael handed over his responsibilities as Group Chief Executive to his son, Robert, and in 2016 was appointed President after standing down as Chairman. See AEROSPACE, September 2019, p 54. A memorial service for Sir Michael will be held in Ely Cathedral on Thursday, 16 January 2020, at 11.30am. Those wishing to attend should apply for tickets in writing, by 24 December please, to Mrs Teresa Ranson, Marshall of Cambridge, The Airport, Cambridge CB5 8RX, UK, or by email to memorial@ marcamb.co.uk. Please include the names of anyone wishing to attend, and your postal address. Seating cards and further information will be posted out on 6 January to those who are attending.

50 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP

Last month Christopher Taylor was accidently omitted from the list of members who reached 50 years of membership during 2018. We apologise for any confusion caused.

54 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019

Afterburner Elections

FELLOWS James Davies Connor Hill Sophie Dawson David Keszthelyi SOCIETY OFFICERS Kevin Adkins Ivan de Oliveira Willem Kotzee Andrea Alexander Peter Deakin Hing Leung President: Prof Jonathan Cooper Babar Ali Alastair Dorsett Ian Mui President-Elect: Howard Nye Dominic Allen Jose Javier Espla Coya Andrew Patfield Andrew Baker Jonathan Faiers Raj Ranavaya BOARD CHAIRMEN Jeffrey Bell Glen Gallagher David Bradshaw Andrew Garner E-ASSOCIATES Learned Society Chairman: Robert Commander John Harry Air Cdre Peter Round Shumit Das Alex Hayward Qasim Alhaji Membership Services Chairman: John Doherty Lee Hooper Ben Dawson Philip Spiers William Hamilton James Innes Marc Dranginis Professional Standards Chairman: Michael Harrigan Khushbeg Singh Jattana Han Shing Ng Hilary Barton David Head Natalee Johnston Christos Triantafyllou Maurice James Linas Karaveckas DIVISION PRESIDENTS Julia Jiggins Josef Khan AFFILIATES Simon Joy Daljit Lalli Australia: AVM Mark Skidmore David Kerr Partha Mahanta Jaikumar Durairaj New Zealand: Des Ashton Tino La Spina Alistair Mant Jay Hamilton Pakistan: AM Salim Arshad Tony Martin Nuno Minhoto Jonathan Kaley-Isley South African: Marié Botha Duncan McKechnie Neall Moore Siddhansh Narang Murtaza Nusrat Jonas Moreno Yolandi Oosthuizen Jean Page Hernandez Gemarl Perry Syed Tauqeer Rizvi Olaribigbe Ogunyannwo James Poss Allison Spicer Christopher Read WITH REGRET Ernest Tai Nicholas Rogers STUDENT AFFILIATES Regine Vadrot Pieter Rossouw The RAeS announces with regret the deaths of the Scott Vaughan Nicholas Selmes Taahir Bhaiyat following members: Pranay Sinha William Charlton MEMBERS Paul Stevens Davy Chigali Professor Bin Cheng HonFRAeS 98 Oliver Taylor Alirio De Araujo Derek James Hardy MRAeS 97 David Anderson Eoin Wylie Seshni Govender Bryan Bates Uma Krige Professor David John Johns CBE CEng FRAeS 88 Marta Benedek Ji Hong Leng ASSOCIATE Terence Fleming Jones AMRAeS 84 Michael Benton MEMBERS Azola Mabinza Gurcharan Bhoday Lethabo Mahlangu Simon Ng ARAeS 48 Simon Bridges Andrei Enescu Nothando Mkhabela Victor William Page IEng AMRAeS 92 David Brogan Konstantinos Mosa Molefi Matthew Burleigh Malandrakis Thilisha Moodley Captain Neal Martin Peterson FRAeS 69 Matthew Caswell Makopye Mathekga Ntsuseko Revaldo Francis Edward Rhodes CEng MRAeS 86 Matthew Chamberlain Samuel Mlangeni Nkwinika Paul Clare Tiago Serodio Dr Donald Wilfred Richardson HonFRAeS 92 Timothy Clark Nihal Simha ASSOCIATES John Ernest Walford CEng MRAeS 94 Alan Clayton Francois Stevens Laura Cruz Garcia Melissa Bong Divek Surujhlal David Frederick John Worth Affiliate 81

CORPORATE PARTNER EVENTS

Please note: Attendance at Corporate Partner events is Professor Sir Charles Bean, London School of Economics & strictly exclusive to staff of RAeS Corporate Partners. Office for Budget Responsibility

Tuesday 21 January 2020 / London Wednesday 6 May 2020 / London Corporate Partner Briefing Corporate Partner Briefing Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS, Chief Scientific David Oxley, Director of Business Growth, Highlands & Islands Adviser, Ministry of Defence Enterprise

Tuesday 11 February 2020 / London Further Corporate Partner Briefing dates to be advised Neil Robinson, Manchester Airports Group www.aerosociety.com/events Monday 23 March 2020 / London For further information, please contact Gail Ward Corporate Partner Briefing E [email protected] or T +44 (0)1491 629912

56 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 Join us as a THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER Corporate Partner IN THE 21ST CENTURY RAeS Corporate Partners are organisations, both large and small, across civil Managing the flight deck in an ever-changing environment and defence, from the breadth of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors. We provide a high-level commitment to professional recognition, continuous LONDON / 17 - 18 MARCH 2020 professional development, networking and knowledge sharing. The 2020 RAeS Flight Operations Group Conference will provide a unique opportunity to hear about recent training updates, engage with industry leaders, discuss the key issues and how we can resolve them. Key questions this conference will answer:

- What must the coming generation of aircraft commanders possess in their personal tool kits? 4 Exclusive Corporate Partner briefings - How should they be selected and The conference programme will reflect 4 Access to our global network of Branches prepared for the responsibilities they will many nuances with influential and 4 Free access to AEROSPACE and The Aeronautical Journal be expected to undertake? experienced speakers from regulatory 4 Discounted conference rates - How will they remain motivated to develop bodies, OEM’s, training providers, air 4 Free accreditation costs in the face of technology and automation? traffic services and academia. 4 Discounted individual member joining fees 4 Free meeting room and discounted room hire at RAeS HQ www.aerosociety.com/ FlightOps20 4 Use of the RAeS Corporate Partner logo Sponsorship and Exhibition Sponsorship opportunities are available for all conferences and is open to all organisations eager to be a part of the history of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s events. More information can be found by contacting [email protected]

Find out more about corporate membership: [email protected] www.aerosociety.com/corporate +44 (0)20 7670 4300 @aerosociety

Royal Aeronautical Society Membership

If you’re already a member of the Society you might be interested to learn more about the following

RAeS Briefings at your company Membership Recommendations Support with Professional Support awareness within If you’re a Member or Fellow of the Registration your company and organise a Society, then you can nominate Are you an engineer working briefing. We will talk about the your peers and colleagues for towards Professional Society, membership benefits membership. Just get in touch for a Registration? You may want a bit and Professional Registration for link to the nomination form. of support or advice and we are engineers. always ready to help!

Get in touch [email protected] /+44 (0)20 7670 4384 / 4400 The Last Word COMMENTARY FROM Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

Cobham goes west ...or at least its ownership does

he £4bn takeover of Cobham by The swings and roundabouts of the US private equity group, Advent foreign investment International, raises fundamental questions about the extent to which There are many active foreign-owned UK aerospace critical elements of the UK aerospace and defence firms and there is no inevitability about Tand defence industrial base can, or should be loss of national ownership leading to departure. subject to foreign ownership. For decades, successive British governments have The company, founded by Sir Alan Cobham welcomed the injection of foreign capital in the in 1934, was a pioneer in in-flight refuelling. This UK and the competition it has brought to the UK remains a core business but Cobham has since defence market. The UK has one of the most open gone on to diversify into a range of high technology markets for sales and investment. systems and equipment supply to OEMs in the US But other countries are more careful how they and Europe. Crucially, it was one of the first UK let foreigners into security-related markets. The US firms to establish an investment foothold inside the has strict controls over who can invest in critical American market, especially the defence sector. In American industries and determines exactly how making this move, Cobham joined a swathe of UK overseas-owned companies can operate in the US firms investing in the US, which has made the UK a and the difference between many of our European key player in US defence and aerospace. neighbours and British practice is immediate. EU competition policy has begun to chip away at Not the first some of the more egregious protective barriers to national defence markets but there is still a large Worries about the long-term future of Cobham gap between UK and other nations in this area. as a foreign-owned company follows the Melrose Industries takeover of GKN Aerospace in 2018 But beware the gradual erosion of and the subsequent closure of a factory despite national assets assurances that UK-based interests would be protected. Similar assurances have been made To some extent, being open to foreigners bolsters in respect of Cobham. Cobham has evolved into our position as an overseas investor but only to an an aerospace/defence transnational with more extent. Changes to OEMs such as Rolls-Royce and employees overseas and over half of its sales in BAE Systems, would be something else entirely. the US, with less than 5% to the UK Government. However, if the UK defence market did begin to The company has struggled in recent years but suffer a decline or Brexit increases the overheads was beginning to recover. It remains a world leader of doing business in the UK, the situation might in air-to-air refuelling and is a major F-35 supplier. change rapidly, with pressure developing to relax Investment in electronic warfare technology put controls and lower barriers to relocation. it in a good place to win future business. The This would be an entirely different prospect overall strength of its American business also for high-value employment and technological rendered it, to a degree, immune from Brexit autonomy. Even in a world of global firms, national related uncertainty. Cobham’s penetration of the origins, ownership and location still matters US market was clearly one of the attractions when decisions about investment are made. The that fired Advent’s interest and, at the same time, Government has indicated that it has no objections could intensify the feeling that the UK arm is to the merger following assurances from the dispensable. buyers. Let’s hope that these are copper-bottomed.

DECEMBER 2019 31 2020 ANNUAL BANQUET

Thursday 21 May 2020 / London

Established as a key event in the social Guest of Honour calendar of the aviation and aerospace ACM Michael Wigston CBE ADC community, the Royal Aeronautical Society Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force Annual Banquet attracts high-level industry Venue attendance and offers the ideal opportunity The InterContinental London Park Lane, for networking and corporate entertainment. One Hamilton Place, London W1J 7QY, UK

Programme Individual tickets and corporate tables are available with discounted rates for RAeS Reception: 19.15 hrs Dinner: 20.00 hrs members and Corporate Partners. What’s included? This black tie event includes a pre-dinner networking reception followed by an exquisite four-course meal with fine wines, coffee and an after-dinner drink.

Enquiries to: Gail Ward, Events Manager – Corporate & Society Royal Aeronautical Society T +44 (0)1491 629 912 / E [email protected] www.aerosociety.com/banquet Your parts have a destination We know the way

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