AE April 2019 ROSPACE

RUSSIAN HYPERSONICS THE TURBOPROP REVIVAL THE RISE OF COMMERCIAL NEWSPACE www.aerosociety.com A pril 2019

V olume 46 Number 4

Royal A DRONE ACADEMY

eronautical Society PLACING AIRMANSHIP AT THE HEART OF UAV TRAINING

ATR Volume 46 Number 4 HALO Drones School of drones Return of the April 2019 Tim Robinson joins turboprop a commercial drone Can the commercial training course with turboprop still 14 HALO Drones. 26 compete with new regional jet designs? Contents Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and feedback. analysis and comment. 58 The Last Word 10 Antenna Keith Hayward reviews the End of an era at Farnborough Howard Wheeldon looks future prospects for the UK back at the achievements of aerospace industry post the RAF Tornado fighter. Brexit. On 5 March the organisers of the Farnborough announced that the public flying days, held on the weekend, would now be discontinued, although the Friday of the show would now be fully opened up to the public. Features

A spokesperson also blamed ‘negative’ feedback from a dwindling number MoD of the Federation of visitors on the public days as being behind the move. Predictably this 30 announcement led to yet more negative feedback and criticism – with the feeling that Farnborough is set to lose an important part of its show. But this decision has been a long time coming and owes more to the urban growth of London and its suburbs over the past 70 years than malice. What was once MoD the home of the RAE and a sleepy town centred on aeronautics has become 18 Sharing the skies encroached on all sides by housing estates and business parks. Increased The latest progress on health and safety considerations has led to a progressively smaller airspace Russia accelerates integrating UAVs into both hypersonics race to display , as well as fewer new types of aircraft to showcase – with military and commercial Russia is currently working airspace. the Shoreham tragedy in 2015 being the final straw. However, a thought on a range of hypersonic occurs. Why not make the whole week open to the public? Although vehicle projects, including 34 NewSpace matures missiles, and drones. exhibitors might grumble that this would detract from the B2B trade aspect, NewSpace start-ups promise affordable launches and it perhaps is worth considering. It would let people see the latest aircraft smallsats constellations. before they depart to resume busy testing schedules and allow companies Thales to have their STEM and careers opportunities every day. Farnborough is

the showcase for global aerospace innovation and technology and if this Operation Migration can be communicated by allowing keen young people to directly interact with workers on exhibition stands, then surely this is a small price to pay for running out of a few extra corporate pens and badges? 22 Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief Under pressure 38 [email protected] The RAF now has a new Flocks away training centrifuge which can How drones can be used replicate the high-G forces to divert birds away from which pilots will experience airports and how microlights NEWS IN BRIEF flying modern fighters. are used to encourage bird Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office Printed by Buxton Press Limited, migration. Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire +44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place SK17 6AE, UK [email protected] London W1J 7BQ, UK Distributed by Royal Mail Deputy Editor +44 (0)20 7670 4300 [email protected] 2019 AEROSPACE subscription 41 Afterburner Bill Read rates: Non-members, £170 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com [email protected] AEROSPACE is published by the Royal Please send your order to: Wayne J Davis, RAeS, No.4 Hamilton 42 Message from our President Production Manager Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK. 43 Message from our Wayne J Davis Chief Executive +44 (0)20 7670 4354 +44 (0)20 7670 4354 Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS [email protected] Chief Executive [email protected] Advertising Any member not requiring a print 44 Book Reviews Online Publications Co-ordinator Bharat Davé version of this magazine, please Chris Male +44 (0)20 7670 4346 contact: [email protected] 47 Library Additions Additional features and content are +44 (0)20 7670 4352 [email protected] [email protected] USA: Periodical postage paid at 58 Minutes of the 2018 AGM available to view online on www.media. Unless specifically attributed, no Champlain New and additional aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight Publications Executive offices. 50 Obituary Annabel Hallam material in AEROSPACE shall be taken Including: +44 (0)20 7670 4361 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. Postmaster: Send address changes 52 Diary The role of business and GA in aircraft to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, [email protected] Reproduction of material used in this 54 2019 Anniversaries engineering, Flying the connected skies, In the Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. March issue of AEROSPACE, New RAF pilot Book Review Editor publication is not permitted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. 56 Elections training centrifuge, Turboprop revival?, Brian Riddle ISSN 2052-451X Requiem for a superjumbo, Space in 2019 – a look ahead, EASA’s new rules on pilot mental fitness. Front cover: UAV training course. (HALO Drones)

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INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT Specifications Length 38ft Range 2,000+nm

Testing in the outback Three ATS prototypes will be built and tested in , with the large airspace ranges and low-population density ideal for flight testing advanced military UCAVs.

Keeping the cost down Key to ‘attritable’ UCAVs is making them affordable to field in large numbers along- side manned aircraft. For ATS, says it plans to use an undisclosed commercial engine to reduce costs.

4 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 W Boeing’s loyalwingman DEFENCE be built outside the US. First flight is aimed for 2020. Firstflightisaimedfor2020. be builtoutsidetheUS. Boeing unmannedsystemto putting uptoA$40mtorwardstheproject.This willbethefirst DefenseandtheAustralian Government,whichdeveloped inapartnershipbetweenBoeing is Teaming System(ATS) isalong-range,high-speed,fighter-sizedstealthdroneandwillbe UCAV designedtoactasa'LoyalWingman'withpilotedplatforms.The Airpower fromBoeing Unveiled atthe2019Avalon airshowinAustralia on26February wasamock-up ofanew to-air orair-to-surface weapons. UCAVs ‘reloads actingasairborne ’ forair- Some Loyal conceptsalso see Wingman be swapped around for othercustomers. that payloads (suchasISRorEW)can revealed the ATS willbedesignedso yetdescribed but thecompany has No weapons orsensors have been Modular payload @aerosociety Findus on LinkedInFind usonFacebook www.aerosociety.com i f

requirements inthelarge -Pacific region. of over 2,000nm−idealfor Australia ’s The ATS willhave alongreach witharange Long range Wedgetail orP-8Poseidon. such astheF-35, E/A-18GGrowler, E-7 withmanned platforms, as support/escort allow independentmissions oract ittofly the ATS would useadvanced autonomy to asa‘game-changer’byDescribed Boeing, Advanced AI APRIL 2019 APRIL

Boeing 5 Radome

AEROSPACE GENERAL Nations race to ground 737 MAX after second AVIATION fatal MAX accident in four months Shoreham

As AEROSPACE goes accident follows the pilot to press, the global fleet October 2018 crash of acquitted of over 370 Boeing 737 a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 MAX airliners has been which killed 189. Ethiopia Andy Hill, the pilot of the grounded in the wake has grounded the 737 that crashed of a fatal accident on MAX along with national at Shoreham in 2015, and 10 March, involving an aviation authorities which killed 11 people Ethiopian 737 including Australia, on the ground, has been MAX 8 which killed all , China, , acquitted of manslaughter 149 on board. The aircraft , South Korea, UK at a trial at the Old Bailey. had departed from Addis and EASA. On 13 March The jury cleared Hill after Ababa airport when it the US FAA followed suit. the defence argued he had plunged into the ground An investigation into the been ‘cognitively impaired’ during the incident. Ethiopian Airlines after six minutes. This crash is underway. AIR TRANSPORT DEFENCE Agreement on UK-EU IAF MiG-21 Bison shot down in no-deal flights reached skirmish over Kashmir The UK has reached a EU-licensed airlines temporary agreement continued access to the with the European Union UK as the EU proposes that will permit flights to give to UK B r it between the UK is airlines in . h

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continue after s agreement 29 March, even would apply An MiG-21 Bison was shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) if there is no deal for a year up to fighters and its pilot captured during two days of aerial skirmishes over Kashmir on Brexit. The UK 29 March 2020, or in late February. The shootdown happened during a PAF strike aimed at Indian Department for Transport until the negotiation of a targets, in retaliation for an earlier IAF raid on suspected terrorist camps. The has said that it will grant permanent deal. pilot was later returned to . India, meanwhile, claimed that a PAF F-16 had also been shot down during the dogfight. Indian Air Force NEWS IN BRIEF

18 Boeing 777-9Xs plus Department of the Navy’s This is the first ‘space the wreckage of an Atlas The Colombian aviation 24 options to be used by first F-35C squadron tourist’ flight to the ISS Air Boeing 767 cargo authority is investigating . Due to be completed since 2009. aircraft that crashed in the crash of Laser Aereo delivered between 2022 qualifications aboard USS Trinity Bay in Anahuac, DC-3 which came down and 2025, the new aircraft Carl Vinson. Helicopters has Texas, on 2 March killing all in central Colombia on 9 will replace 14 Boeing won a five-year service and three people onboard. March, killing all 14 people 747-400s and four Boeing Russian space agency maintenance contract from aboard. The aircraft, which 777-200s. Roscosmos and US-based the UK's National Police The Vietnamese travel first entered service as a Space Adventures have Air Service to support 15 x group FLC has confirmed USAAF C-47 in 1942, was The F-35C, the aircraft signed a deal to fly two EC135s and 4 x EC145s. an order for ten Boeing on a scheduled flight from carrier variant of the ‘space tourists’ to the 787-9s for its newly started San José del Guaviare to Lightning ISS and back. The flights The US National Bamboo Airways unit. central Villavicencio when II, has achieved initial would use spare seats on Transportation Safety the accident occured. operational capability the Russian Soyuz-MS Board (NTSB) has has joined the (IOC). The announcement capsule, with the goal of recovered both the cockpit Franco-German project to The International Airlines was made on 28 the flight taking place voice recorder and the develop a future combat Group (IAG) has ordered February after the US before the end of 2021. flight data recorder from air system (FCAS)

6 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT

An unmanned SpaceX BMI Regional goes Dragon astronaut capsule returned to Earth on bankrupt 8 March following a Passengers of UK regional valuable flying contracts successful test flight operator BMI Regional were in Europe due to business to the International stranded across Europe uncertainty over Brexit. Space Station (ISS). after the BMI Regional was Carrying a test dummy ceased operations T created in 2012 r a and 90kg of supplies, the n s on 16 February p as a new airline,

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e l autonomously with the ISS on 3 administration. s carrier BMI was March. The Crew Dragon splashed down 230 The airline, which sold to British miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral where it Enter operated under Airways parent IAG. was recovered by SpaceX’s ship, Go Searcher. the brand name Flybmi, BMI Regional is part of SpaceX will next conduct an unmanned inflight the attributed its bankruptcy Airline Investments which abort test mission, after which the first crewed to fluctuations in fuel cost also owns Scottish operator mission is planned for July. Dragon and being unable to secure . NASA AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION R-R backs out of NMA CityAirbus eVTOL makes public debut engine race On 11 March Rolls-Royce has had proposed for the NMA. Airbus revealed announced that it will Boeing has yet to formally its CityAirbus no longer be competing launch the NMA. eVTOL prototype in to supply an engine for  Meanwhile, the public for the first Boeing’s proposed New company has also time in Ingolstadt, Midsize Airplane (NMA) revealed it has pulled . The aircraft. The engine out of an effort to supply aircraft has been manufacturer said that it engines for Turkey's undergoing ground was unable to commit to TF-X fifth generation tests ahead of a the planned timeline for the stealth fighter project. first flight within the project, although it would Negotiations fell apart next few weeks. continue to develop its new due to concerns over IP UltraFan design which it sharing. Airbus

manned/unmanned materials needed for will provide high- fighter. Scheduled to Dassault Aviation has the MC21 and the time The US Marine Corps resolution surveillance enter service by 2040, taken over the European needed to develop has retired the last of the imagery for the Egyptian FCAS is intended as a MRO activities of TAG alternative sources. Grumman EA-6 Prowlers military and other future replacement for Aviation Group. The from active service. They government agencies. Eurofighter and Rafale. maintenance activities Southwest Airlines has have now been replaced will be incorporated into received a warning from in the EW role by Boeing Kaman has announced On 21 February Japan’s Dassault over the next few the US FAA raising E/A-18G Growlers. plans to offer an optionally Hayabusa 2 months. concerns about safety piloted variant of its K-Max successfully landed on after the airline’s ongoing An Egyptian Earth- helicopter to commercial the asteroid Ryugu and Production of Russia’s dispute over new contracts observation satellite was customers by 2020. collected material from new passenger jet, the with the AMFA (Aircraft launched into orbit from Kaman believes that the object, using a pellet UAC MC21, is set to be Mechanics Fraternal Baikonur aboard a Soyuz an UAV autonomous gun to kick up dust. It is delayed until the end of Association) mechanics’ 1.b on 21 February. helicopter could be useful then set to lift-off and 2020. The slippage has union. The dispute has Built by RSC Energia in for lengthy or hazardous return back to Earth in been put down to US seen the airline cancel over Russia, the EgyptSat-A civil missions, such as 2020. sanctions on composite 100 flights a day. remote sensing satellite forest fire fighting.

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AIR TRANSPORT AEROSPACE Etihad scales back orders Farnborough axes public days On 5 March, Farnborough International, the organisers of the biennial Abu Dhabi-based Etihad announced orders for 26 Farnborough International Air Show announced that the traditional two-day Airways has formally Boeing 777s to six public display weekend is to be scrapped. Declining visitors and negative feedback were behind the move. Instead, says FIA, for the 2020 exhibition, the cancelled orders A 777-9s. The airline ir b Friday careers-focused ‘Futures Day’ will be merged with public access to the for 42 A350s u says it will also s show and exhibition halls. (40 A350- take delivery of 900s and two five A350- A350-1000s) 1000s and 25 with airframer A321neos in the Airbus. The 'coming years'. The cancellations form part of airline has been struggling a larger rationalisation and to make profits and has restructuring of Etihad's racked up losses of more future fleet, with the carrier than $4.75bn in the past

also cutting previously three years. Mok Francis DEFENCE SPACEFLIGHT NASA mulls sidelining SLS rocket In a hearing to the launchers in order to meet US Senate, NASA the deadline of sending Lockheed Administrator Jim the Orion spacecraft on its pitches Bridenstine, revealed that first uncrewed test mission the agency is exploring around the Moon in 2020, ‘F-21’ to options to launch the as delays with SLS mean crewed Orion capsule it is unlikley to be ready. India using commercial , NASA has already called At the air show in , Lockheed Martin revealed a new instead of its own heavy-lift for commercial launchers proposed variant of its F-16 for the Indian Air Force – the F-21. The F-21, which Space Launch System to help build its Lunar builds on earlier advanced F-16s such as the F-16V, F-16 Block 70 and F-16IN, (SLS) designed to launch Gateway outpost, as well as features conformal fuel tanks, a retractable refuelling probe, dorsal spine for and triple AMRAAM launchers. Inside the cockpit the F-16's separate Orion. NASA appears to launch the Europa Clipper MFDs have now been replaced by a single F-35-style wide area display. be considering commercial science mission in 2023. Lockheed Martin Lockheed NEWS IN BRIEF

lithium ion cells to be and the UK Space Agency, aircraft (Bio Electric Hybrid over 7m passengers a year. Mitsubishi's MRJ regional carried on cargo aircraft. ahead of ground-based Aircraft) for commercial jet has now began testing. passenger operations by At the 2019 Aero certification flight tests The USAF Air Force 2025. India exhibition, India’s using its fourth prototype. Research Laboratory has Daher has unveiled its Aeronautical Development The company is aiming revealed that the Kratos latest single-engined Greece has signed a Agency (ADA) unveiled to deliver the first MRJ in XQ-58A Valkyrie UCAV turboprop − the TBM contract to build a new a planned upgrade from 2020 to launch customer made its first flight on 940. The 940 features an civil airport on the island the HAL Tejas Mk2 Light All Nippon Airways. 5 March at a test range autothrottle, improved anti- of Crete. The new airport, Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Arizona. The Valkyrie icing and a revamped cabin. located at the former to a Medium Weight The US FAA and DoT have is a high-speed 'Loyal Certification is expected Kastelli military airfield near Fighter. The changes introduced a new interim Wingman' combat drone. this month. Heraklion, will be built and include canards, uprated rule banning lithium ion operated by the Ariadne engine, extra fuel and batteries being carried ' SABRE UK start-up Faradair has Airport Group consortium. wingtip missile stations as cargo on passenger air-breathing engine core revealed it is aiming to The new Kastelli Airport is which boosts the aircraft's aircraft. However, the has had its preliminary certify its 18-seat hybrid- scheduled to open in 2023 weapon payload from 3.3t regulations will still permit design reviewed by ESA electric BEHA M1H and is expected to handle to 6.5t.

8 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 GENERAL AVIATION AIR TRANSPORT Global 7500 stretches Lufthansa doubles down on big out its long legs twins A Bombardier Global 7500 Airport in to bizjet has completed, what Tucson International is claimed to be, the Airport, Arizona, in longest non- the US.

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e in r 16 hours, history, flying for the aircraft 8,152nm on 4 also landed The Lufthansa Group has placed an order for 40 new widebodies, split between March – over and with 4,300lb of Airbus and Boeing. The $12bn order, for 20 -900s and 20 Boeing 787- above its advertised remaining fuel, or 9s will be used to replace older four-engined airliners in its fleet. As part of this, range of 7,700nm. The almost 1.5hrs of additional Lufthansa is to sell six of its A380s back to manufacturer, Airbus. aircraft flew from Changi flight time. Lufthansa AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT Tyre manufacturer Goodyear has revealed a concept for a dual purpose road tyre and ducted fan for autonomous eVTOLs or ‘flying cars’. The AERO tyre, unveiled at the Geneva Motor OneWeb confirmed as Show, would see fan blades used as spokes of the wheels, while an outer rim would allow the vehicle to be driven on roads. The fan/wheel would feature a bearingless magnetic drive. first Ariane 6 customer

Arianespace has Soyuz rocket launched announced that the from French Guiana on launch customer for its 27 February. A further 20 new Ariane 6 launcher Soyuz OneWeb launches in 2020 will be high- are due to follow, with the speed Internet provider rockets placing 32-36 OneWeb, which plans to satellites into orbit each deploy a constellation of time. Goodyear an eventual 600+ micro  On 18 February satellites into low-Earth UK-based OneWeb was envisages tyre/ orbit. The first six OneWeb awarded £18m of ESA satellites were deployed funding by the UK Space rotor hybrid Agency.

Gooodyear from an Arianespace

ON THE Supersonic civil aircraft DEFENCE manufacturer Aerion MOVE has appointed Cathy INFOGRAPHIC: Stuck in the holding Rice as VP Business Secretary of the US Air Management and Scott pattern − UK military flying training Force Heather Wilson is Kalister as VP Worldwide to step down at the end Support & Logistics. There are approximately 350 trainee pilots from the , of May. Army and RAF in ‘holding’ in the military flying training pipeline Boeing has named Anne and the average time from Elementary Flying Training to... The has Toulouse as Senior VP of appointed Sue Gray to the Communications. 112 Weeks rank of Air Marshal and Rotary training Director General of the Sharon Bryson has been Multi-engine training 72 Weeks Defence Safety Authority. confirmed as the new MD of the US NTSB. Fast jet training 58 Weeks L Don Miller is the new President and CEO of the Norman Lee is the new 0 30 60 90 120 Bristow Group. VP of Marketing at Atlas Weeks Space Operations.

RAeS @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 9 Global Outlook and Analysis with antenna: HOWARD WHEELDON The Tornado finally bows out from RAF service

final series of official in following the merger of Fiat Aviazione and Aerfer February by Royal Air Force Panavia and, from 1990 following the merger with Selenia, Tornado GR4s provided a fitting Alenia Aeronautics). VFW-Fokker was also involved tribute to mark Tornado capability in the initial phase. A separate partnership, known bowing out of the RAF inventory at as Turbo-Union, comprising Rolls-Royce, MTU and theA end of March. These took place over many of the Fiat, was established to develop what would become bases that this superb variable sweep-wing multi- the RB199 three-spool turbofan engine which was role combat aircraft has operated from over the past equipped with both afterburners and thrust reversers. 38 years, culminating in a brilliant nine ship display One year later, in 1970, MRCA was authorised over RAF Marham on 28 February. by the partner governments for prototyping as a twin- For the past 28 years RAF Tornado jets have seat, multi-role aircraft capability, with initial provision been in almost continual deployment either in theatre for carrying a range of air-to-air missiles and which or in support of our allies. In terms of the capability would later, as a separate type, also be optimised that it provides, the platform bows out at the very to carry air-to-ground weapons. The first aircraft of top of its game, with the last two RAF Tornado GR4 what would eventually be nine MRCA prototypes flew Squadrons to operate the aircraft (1X (B) and 31 from Manching, Germany, in August 1974, followed Squadron) having only in February returned back to two months later in October 1974 by the first British base at RAF Marham from RAF Akrotiri following four prototype. years of continuous primary precision attack missions over Syria and as part of ‘Op Shader’. The Panavia Panther? Birth of the Tornado Originally called Panther for a short period, by 1977 MRCA had morphed into the Tornado in the form of Although not yet known by that name, the Tornado two primary variants, one designed for Interdiction was effectively born when, on 5 July 1967. The then Strike (IDS) and the other, an Air Defence Variant Minister of Defence Denis Healey announced not (ADV). The Royal Air Force took delivery of what by only that had suddenly withdrawn from the then had become the Tornado GR1 in July 1980. In Anglo-French Variable Geometry (AFVG) project but all, a total of 992 Tornado aircraft would be built for the also that, as a direct consequence of that decision, he three governments by the Panavia partnership, with was authorising the two British companies in the now being the only export customer. defunct Anglo/French partnership, British Aircraft The development phase, particularly in relation Corporation (BAC) and , to continue to testing of the RB199 engine – which was done variable-geometry military studies to initially under an Vulcan – suffice to say that amended specifications. development and entry into service phases of Tornado BAC (BAE Systems today) already had a long was not without problems. Of the two variants, it history of research in what was originally termed was the F3 Air Defence variant that posed most ‘polymorphic aircraft configurations’ (aircraft that problems but even so, by the time of the first changed their shape in flight), stretching back to (Operation Desert Storm) in 1991, Tornado F3 proved original work done by the late Sir . to be a very potent capability in the air defence role Pleasingly, from its early beginnings, the and the GR1 quickly established itself as the primary Tornado programme was one of those collaborative precision attack capability in the Royal Air Force. partnerships that worked very well. The formal With the Tornado having been a sizable part of beginnings of the project development date back to my own professional life in respect of following its March 1969 with the UK, Germany and agreeing development and through life, I have often imagined to take what had by then become known as the that the aircraft could well have begun life in the early Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme into 1960s as a few scribblings by some RAF officers of a a newly formed industrial company partnership to be swing-wing variable geometry aircraft type that could, known as Panavia. From an industry standpoint this in separate forms, be capable of conducting both the comprised British Aircraft Corporation, Messerschmitt- air-to-air attack or defence or air-to-ground attack Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), Fiat Aviazione (later Aeritalia roles.

10 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 MoD

At the peak of its powers

While Tornado will remain in service with the German and Italian Air Forces, along with the Saudi Royal Air Force for many years yet, the RAF Tornado Force has been in almost continuous operational deployment from the Gulf War in 1991 all the way through and including ‘Op Shader’ in Iraq and Syria until the final 1X (B) and 31 Squadron aircraft returned to their RAF Marham base in February this year. They say that a combat jet aircraft is never as good as the day that it is retired from service and that, in capability terms, is certainly true of the Tornado GR4. To the very end, equipped with a formidable array of complex weapon capability, the RAF Tornado GR4 has provided all that has ever been asked of it and more besides. The Tornado F3 Air Defence Variant (ADV) A farewell formation of nine Tornado GR4s from RAF Marham marked the aircraft's variant was retired from RAF service in 2012. The retirement from RAF service. more numerous GR1, or in upgraded form (142 of the original 228 GR1 aircraft were upgraded to GR4 standard by BAE Systems between 1997 support for ground forces, in its final form Tornado and 2003) GR4, air-to-ground precision attack and GR4 carried Paveway III and IV dual-mode laser- reconnaissance Tornado GR4 has, until the recent guided together with Storm Shadow missiles. advent of the Typhoon to become the RAF’s primary These afforded the platform with capability for air-to-ground attack role platform, been the backbone precision strike against bunkers and other hardened of frontline capability for as long as many can facilities, together with Dual-Mode Seeker Brimstone remember. for precision strike against specific targets deemed to In service for 38 years, Tornado has a capability present the possibility of collateral-damage challenge, that we have seemingly taken for granted for so long, as well as other targets such as static and moving that it is even now hard to imagine the RAF without it. armoured vehicles. With its Reconnaissance Airborne Pod Tornado (RAPTOR) system and the Litening III The Tornado bows out on a high THEY SAY THAT targeting pod used on intelligence gathering missions, Tornado GR4 was recognised and respected by our Having been enhanced over the years through a A COMBAT allies as having formidable capability. series of upgrades, the Tornado GR4 is very far JET AIRCRAFT With the substantial work done under the removed from the platform that was conceived in IS NEVER AS Project Centurion exercise and with the transfer of the late 1960s to meet the variety of multinational capabilities such as Brimstone and Storm Shadow to requirements imagined at that time. Carrying a vast GOOD AS THE the RAF Typhoon now complete, the Tornado GR4 array of complex weapon capability and having DAY THAT IT can be retired in the knowledge that it has a worthy served in almost every conflict that UK armed IS RETIRED successor in the Typhoon. Tornado has done its job forces have subsequently been involved, it is hard to FROM SERVICE and it has done it very well. Few would disagree that, think of any other post-war RAF fast jet capability in respect of both platform and complex weapons that has been worked so hard and achieved so AND THAT, IN capability, this has been a remarkable aircraft and a much during its long service life. That said, I well CAPABILITY story of great success. Not only did Tornado prove understand that Harrier pilots might argue with that TERMS, IS itself to have a formidable capability in service and statement. CERTAINLY one that was able to achieve everything that it said Designed to fulfil dual ground attack and armed on the tin it could do more besides and also proved reconnaissance mission roles, the former against TRUE OF THE that collaborative projects can and do work, provided targets of opportunity and also to provide close air TORNADO GR4 politics are not allowed to get in the way.

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LETTERS AND ONLINE @Al_Brock Discussed this Carrying spare engines on wing with Riona over dinner after the lecture. This [E-FanX] With regards to the item position an engine under programme is a technology in the March issue of the wing and then winch demonstrator. Several ideas AEROSPACE about a 747 it up into position before Wikipedia ranging from mechanical with a spare engine on the bolting it on. The concept buckets/ diverters, wing(1), it reminded me of has also been used on the controlled deceleration an occasion when I saw a Lockheed TriStar which to run in reverse or even diagram of a VC10 showing can carry an engine on Another aircraft type with variable pitch fan blades. a spare engine on the the starboard wing and a spare engine – a Qantas None of these are part of starboard wing. Naturally I the Douglas DC-10 which with a spare Switching into reverse the programme. was curious about this so used the port wing like engine under its port wing asked my step-grandfather the . I have at Frankfurt Airport in 1972. @PaulMarks12 [On (Alan Campbell-Orde) about no doubt that numerous reverse thrust on hybrid- @cydney0071 Then this, as he would have been to transport an engine other large aircraft have the electric airliners] Just run it up in reverse which familiar with the concept which would otherwise be capability to carry a spare wondering: will electric- takes time. Thrust reverse from his days with BOAC extremely difficult to load engine on the wing rather motor-based aircraft is instant and instantly off as Operations Director. It onto an aircraft to get it to than waiting for a cargo powerplant need thrust also! transpired that the idea was an operating base in some aircraft to turn up. reversers or will they simply first used on seaplanes in far flung outpost. Much reverse the current? as the easiest way easier to use a launch to Roderick Douglas

Concorde at 50

@mikeheywood [On why Airbus does still grab our imagination 50 years on(4)] Because it’s 50 years old but looks like it was i designed yesterday. @CdnAvSpotter The world of aviation was booming in the 1960s… Let’s hear it for the A380 Airbus did propose a freighter version of the A380 when the and everything was It was a great feeling project was first launched. designed on paper with returning from JFK in [On Requiem for a slide rules. My grandfather their morning and arriving Superjumbo(2)] It’s a worked for Avro, de LHR totally refreshed in real shame. The flying Can’t help but feel that the Havilland, , Boeing Lithium battery safety the evening (UK time) and experience is excellent for freighter market might have and NASA from 1948 passengers. Sadly, we will saved the programme. I not having to endure the [On RAeS Lithium battery to 1986 and worked on all be expected to cram into have an old A380 freighter overnight red-eye special! safety conference(3)] so many cool airplanes, smaller twin-engine aircraft model in FedEx livery A massive thanks to rockets and airplane from now on. Personally I signed by Fred Smith ... and all those involved in systems. would be happy to pay a yet they never went ahead @ColinWBurns the organisation of the little more to actually be with the purchase. Because it’s aesthetically conference today. This comfortable on a long-haul beautiful and magnificent emerging risk is something @Waternook Lucky flight but the airlines simply Peter Coles engineering. we can’t just ignore given enough to have flown on view us as two-legged FRAeS the evidence. Some Concorde, even if it was just cattle. fascinating discussions a short loop over Europe A good article delivering @pflusk What we couldn’t and an impressive practical and back. Never guessed it Julian Maynard sound judgements on an do now with modern cfd, demonstration of available would be so significant and emotive project. The A380 ceramic metal composites mitigations. In the words that such an iconic aircraft She is a great aircraft to fly was a niche market aircraft and fly-by-wire. Concorde of John Cox: “So what are was not set to stay. in and surely re-engining but that niche appears to is remembered for being you going to do?” could bring down operating have closed. state-of-the-art and costs. aesthetically perfect. Michael Kitching @PhillipCovell Pure Geoffrey Wardle Elegant Class! Philip Wyld MRAeS

12 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Launching the Vixen UK military flying training in crisis? FIA announce end to Farnborough Air Show public days @Centeclan [On Sea @MarkHortenPhoto Vixen carrier launches The @KieranByeJRPSS It display restrictions meant (lecture Gatwick Branch Airbus affects all the way down 13 March)(5)] They ditched that the flying displays have to potential recruits for a cable on each launch? been massively neutered to sure. Cutbacks on pilot How did they know it be honest. recruitment also means wouldn’t get wound around setting the bar much higher, the propellers (or screws – potentially missing out on @MichaelJPryce whatever naval people call That is, some serious talent with them!)? frankly, pants! Yes, the show slightly lower scores. was withering, yes, there is RIAT, but Farnborough @TimRuff3 It’s called a was about the latest and @wilhelmscream4 bridle. Have a google at greatest. Now just a dismal Effects of this are yet to aircraft bridle catcher, the STEM day for corralled sixth be felt. Pilots arriving at FL reason for the strange formers, not wide-eyed 12 28 or 29. No longer single protruberances refitted on year-olds seeing their first entities, can be married with aircraft carriers becomes marvel. Iconic no more. kids. They aren’t on flying @Steveaprocter I think @oat_cuisine You cannot apparent. pay. Contemporaries in more young people who are let the lifeblood and public to be the next generation appreciation for the UK military are promoted well @Varcs There will still are likely to come from the aerospace industry drain ahead of them. All means be an industry show, and @GbhvfRon My late friend large crowds on public days away without taking a less time in the cockpit and a public open day, but ‘Fred’ Frederiksen received rather than some smaller stand. Please consider a retention negative. let’s face it, the show has a tankard for his ‘untyring’ ‘formal’ initiative that won’t strongly worded article and changed and it was no efforts (bursting Sea Vixen have anywhere the same #oped on the subject. tyres) during a carrier longer a huge draw even @RAF_Simmer The numbers attending. detachment. among airshow goers. whole purpose of MFTS was to avoid exactly these kinds of holds. I think we simply need more aircraft Nancy-Bird Walton Named Lecture in Montreal and more instructors – ten @ICAO At second Nancy- Texans and five Phenoms, John Stringfellow – Bird Walton Memorial for example, are nowhere first powered flight? Address, presented by near enough.

RAeS/NAL #Australia’s Mission to ICAO & @AeroSociety, Fastest climb? @Qantas Capt Lisa Norman provided useful @peterryhshughes OK, and inspiring insight into which plane go upwards her experience as a female the quickest? My money is pilot and about ways to on a Lightning or maybe a achieve #genderequality in Vulcan, as I have seen both #aviation. #WomensDay of them do it very quickly. Qantas Captain Lisa Norman.

Why is Stringfellow not The Nancy-Bird Walton Named Lecture was established by the RAeS Montreal Branch in 2016 in tribute @Hush_Kit Fastest climb more widely known? to Nancy-Bird Walton AO OBE DStJ, pioneering Australian aviatrix and founder/patron of the Australian rate? Typhoon or MiG-35, Women Pilots’ Association. In the 1930s, defying the traditional role of women of her time, she became a I’d guess – or Su-57. fully qualified pilot at the age of 19 and the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot’s license. rogerkb2012 A question! I watched an interesting video on Eastchurch Airfield @CombatAir Records and thoughts turned grabbed by the Sukhoi 1. AEROSPACE, January 2019, p 13, Transmissions, 50th anniversary of first 747 flight draws memories to Chard where John 2. hhttps://www.aerosociety.com/news/requiem-for-a-superjumbo/ P-42, I think. 3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings-lithium-battery-a-rising-risk-in-aviation/ Stringfellow is said to have 4. AEROSPACE, January 2019, p 14, Beautiful bird, lovely plumage made the first powered 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/carrier-operations-with-the-dh110-sea-vixen/ flight in 1848. Why is his @TWPILOT1 Did you flight not recognised in the consider the TSR-2? same way as the Wright It could outperform a Online brothers’ 1903 flight? #Lightning by a big margin. Additional features and content are available to view online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight

@aerosociety i Findlinkedin.com/raes us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raesFind us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.comwww.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 13 GENERAL AVIATION Commercial drone training School of drones How one company is aiming to raise standards to new levels in training remote UAV pilots – by the latest innovative coaching and learning. TIM ROBINSON joins a commercial drone training course with HALO Drones.

ogue drones’ may have hit headlines somewhat recently, there is still the wider concern recently but one company is going that ‘rogue drone’ users could slow or stifle the above and beyond in preparing development of this innovative and fast-growing commercial UAV operators to have sector – with the Gatwick incident last year already the mindset of professional aviators at having lead to tougher regulations around airports. ‘theR highest possible standards. Building public confidence with responsible and The two-day residential training, from professionally-orientated UAV operators is vital – commercial drone operator HALO Drones, was which is where HALO comes in. first launched in 2018. The course – Foundation Certificate in Commercial Drone Operations Accelerated learning (FCCDO) – seeks to prepare students to apply for their PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operation) Key to HALO’s approach is taking the latest from the CAA and covers everything from teaching techniques in ‘accelerated and experiential airmanship, to air law, weather, airspace, aircraft learning’ to provide an interactive and (dare one say) knowledge and the workflow for a commercial ‘fun’ course to prepare them for the PfCO test and drone task. To attain a PfCO from the CAA, becoming a safe UAV operator. candidates must pass a theory exam and practical Philip Tarry, Director of commercial UAV operator flight assessment, as well as have two hours of HALO Drones, as well as being co-founder of UAV minimum experience. industry group ARPAS and a member of the RAeS Note that in the CAA’s eyes the ‘Operator’ with UAS Specialist Group, explains the thinking and the the PfCO is the person (or organisation) responsible haphazard way in which he became a commercial for the Operations Manual and for standards and drone operator and which led him to developing a safety – rather than the UAV pilots themselves training course of his own. (although a UAV operator and pilot could “Through my experience of completing training theoretically be the same individual). There are now with an NQE and entering into the market as an some 3,500 PfCO holders in the UK flying UAVs for operator, it became clear that my course had not commercial work. However, it is an increasingly crowded market and, while the influx of new operators has slowed

14 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 sufficiently prepared me for what I intended to do with drones in my business. I spent the following two years working the rest out for myself and this was time consuming and expensive. I had to hire in more experienced pilots for jobs that I didn’t feel confident enough to conduct myself. I made mistakes and lost customers and brand reputation. I invested in the wrong equipment and even damaged drones.” Tarry thus spotted there was a gap in the market for a higher standard of training that would prepare drone operators for the PfCO test and also create a nucleus of UAV ‘aviators’ who would help become ambassadors for this growing sector. Unlike other training courses that rely on ‘learning by rote’ one-sided lectures from an instructor and death by Powerpoint, followed by an exam (memory test) where the answers are swiftly forgotten, HALO’s approach has been to utilise some of the latest thinking in ‘accelerated and experiential’ learning which combines facilitation with Q&As, quizzes, freeplay and scenario-based training to provide a deeper and richer consolidation of understanding. Unlike some courses, there is no formal exam at the end, removing the pressure of ‘cramming’ for a test over 48 hours. The PfCO theory and flight assessments are postponed to a later date which can be booked at the convenience of the candidate. Says Tarry of the course’s development: “We were starting from scratch. First and foremost, HALO Drones is formed by subject matter experts, not adult learning specialists but, through our previous experience as instructors for other NQEs, we recognised that traditional lecture-based training methods are ineffective. With the objective to create an effective training course, we engaged adult learning specialists who consulted for us in the development process of the course. They challenged our conventional understanding of what makes a good training course and we tested their skills by developing something that would effectively deliver on our design objectives, while meeting the market’s expectations which have been set by our competitors.” This course, which launched last year, took 16 months to develop, admits Tarry: “That is a long time, and it has been a very expensive process but we were not willing to make any compromises at the expense of the quality of our course.” This sort of training of course is not unique, with Airbus and other organisations now embracing evidence-based training where ‘learning by discovery’ now forms part of the syllabus but HALO believes that it is the first UAV training organisation to roll this out.

Why airmanship? HALO Drones

As well as incorporating some of the latest thinking in ‘accelerated and experiential learning theory’ through

APRIL 2019 15 GENERAL AVIATION Commercial drone training HALO Drones HALO Drones

‘playful discovery’, reflective practice and interaction, another innovation is that the course sets to put ‘airmanship’ at the core of its approach. The philosophy that HALO is intending to embed Training materials in its students is that, although they will not have the huge responsibility of a Boeing 787 captain, they The two-day course is supported by highly impressive Key in HALO’s are still professional aviators. Understanding and training materials, including a 75-page full-colour approach is developing this situational awareness and decision handbook along with a student workbook – packed taking the making is a key part of ‘airmanship’ – even if ‘aviation’ with tips, further reading, quizzes and real-world is not a core part of their company. As the course examples. Indeed, the layout and presentation of the latest teaching handbook proudly tells its students on the first page: handbook, in this author’s opinion, is of the standard of techniques in ‘You are to become aviators’. a far larger manned aviation organisation. ‘accelerated Notes Tarry: “The psychology of a pilot is Students are also supplied with online web learning’. something that must be at the forefront of any resources and guides, such as the best places to find aviation-related training course. It underpins a pilot’s NOTAMs, weather information, airspace guides, charts ability to make decisions (judgement), as highlighted and (particularly useful for non-aviation clients) – a in Kern’s model of Airmanship, which is why this is the website (What3Words) that divides the globe into first module of our course.” 3m × 3m squares allowing precise geo-location of An important part of this, he explains, is turning properties or tasks – without requiring users to know drone operators into active stakeholders: “Aviation is exact GPS co-ordinates. a world that few people get to interact with and it is This was backed up with a very high- of therefore difficult to become a stakeholder in. The interaction and discussion with the instructor Michael closest most people get is when flying abroad on Surcombe, an ex-BBC veteran – who was able to holiday but even then, everything is closed behind dedicate time to individuals and their particular questions locked doors. Once a person feels like a stakeholder, – particularly guiding the group through the different their mindset changes and a sense of responsibility parts of air law and regulatory instruments that apply to comes with this ownership. We have found that this can UAS – such as the ANO, CAP 393 and CAP 722. transform an individual’s approach to how they conduct As well as covering the essentials of air law, how themselves. They tend to display greater respect for to interpret aerial navigation charts and weather the responsibility that comes with becoming an aviator considerations, the course also includes information who will eventually share the airspace with others.” on when things go wrong and emergencies. What, Giving professional drone operators this for example, constitutes a ‘Reportable Incident’? Who ‘ownership’ and equipping them with the same should a near-miss be reported to? In emergency vocabulary and knowledge (where to check NOTAMS, procedures, what would you do if your pilot reports METARS, awareness of different kinds of airspace they are feeling sick mid-way through a task? Some of etc) as traditional aircrew is thus a key step in building these will have clear-cut answers – others may depend trust between this new, fast-growing part of aerospace on the company’s Operations Manual. and its older sibling. Thus, the course includes modules on air law (as Real-world scenarios applies to UAS), different kinds of airspace, human factors, meteorology, navigation, charts and aircraft Yet, despite the high-quality ground school materials, knowledge. the focus is always on real-world examples. Video

16 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 17 APRIL 2019 itself, noted how HALO Drones’ Tarry sums up: “We are proud sums up: “We Drones’ Tarry HALO

Summary course, and the operators it produces, comes This UAV at a highly critical time for the fast-growing as it seeks to move beyond visual LOS sector, operations and integrate into manned airspace. Trials are underway but are dependent on winning over regulators, politicians, media and the public – who justifiably have concerns about and privacy. safety As the course handbook itself notes; ‘By default you will become the ambassadors of this revolutionary key to The and the face of our industry. technology some might growth is public perception.’ Though is overkill, argue that this level of training for UAVs raising the standards to higher levels is critical to more operationally useful drones, with unlocking longer ranges, higher endurance and bigger air vehicles – and able to seamlessly operate in the same airspace as manned aircraft. and are confident that of what we have achieved we have set a new standard of training in our Our course intends to create pilots who are industry. rather than simply compliant ‘commercially ready’, will in turn which with the standards set by the CAA, help them save money and be more competitive in a market that is already saturated.” Feedback response from students on this course has so far The handbook positive. “The is fantastic been extremely said– it really sets you up to be a commercial pilot,” who was from a surveying company that Conner, operations. into aerial UAV was looking to expand Greg Rawell, who was taking the course Another, before taking up a post in it was “quite different” to a previous course he had it was “quite different” had been a larger class of 15 students attended, This and the briefings had been “formulaic, matter-of-fact and very military-like.” HALO Drones HALO

HALO Drones HALO f Part-way through the course, students were given Part-way the other at the locations (one in London, Two job declined, the next the central London With Another hands-on session demonstrated the shown during the course includes footage taken byshown during the course includes footage taken drone users, with (and of) some less than professional the students asked to critique and provide assessment case. issues in each of the legality and safety a surprise and plunged into assessing a fictional from ainspection job, with a role-playing phone-call theirpotential customer giving a location and asking advice as a commercial drone operator. training venue) were given and it was up to the at theirstudents to use all the tools and knowledge of the work and fill disposal to assess the feasibility what class is the example, out a risk assessment. For is the nearest airport? Is it an urban airspace? Where has permission? Can we control environment? Who access? How long will it take? Sometimes it may be for a giventhat the cost/benefit equations mean that, to beprice, a task may not be viable and might have declined. step for the students was an onsite survey of the course location, a country hotel, for a potential roof the students divided into teams, inspection job. With again the knowledge acquired during the first day was is the weather forecast? What rapidly needed. What the helipad be busy? say? Will do the latest NOTAMs are the best take-off and landing sites (and Where alternatives)? Can staff and guests be controlled and encourage to use other doors? Sometimes it may be that a drone is not the best way to collect the imagery or data – if might be that a camera on a long pole is a more suitable method. (even when assembling and importance of checklists there flying small palm-sized drones indoors). Finally, are also practical tips on putting together equipment lists for commercial drone tasks. Some of these as spare batteries and may be self-evident (such propellers), others more valuable (a folding trolley to carry equipment boxes apparently can be a lifesaver). i @aerosociety Find us on LinkedIn Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com AEROSPACE Russian hypersonic projects Russia accelerates hypersonics race

Is speed the new ‘stealth’ in the ? EUGENE GERDEN provides an update on Russian supersonic and hypersonic projects, which encompass everything from missiles to business jets.

ussia plans to significantly accelerate its Minister on the issues of the military-industrial R&D activities in the field of hypersonic complex in the Russian government, comments: technologies and to expand the range “With the rapid development of artillery, of products from strategic missiles to aviation and defence nuclear technologies, space drones in the years to come, the speed characteristics of either aircraft or Raccording to recent statements by some leading weapon carriers have become issues of a Yu ry Bo ris local state officials in the field of defence ov particular importance. Since the 1940s, J r (O and domestic experts in aerospace. ff mankind has passed through at least ic e

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of some old ones, many of which were ) weapons systems of the modern era. The MASS PRODUCTION suspended in the country due to the financial design and mass production of hypersonic OF HYPERSONIC crisis and its consequences. devices, undoubtedly, is the next scientific DEVICES, and technological revolution, and those states UNDOUBTEDLY, Superiority of speed that will be able to accomplish it, will gain a noticeable military and geopolitical advantage IS THE NEXT Implementation of the majority of these projects has over their rivals in the foreseeable future.” SCIENTIFIC AND a strategic importance for the Russian government. In fact, Russia has been conducting large- TECHNOLOGICAL Yury Borisov, a former Russian Deputy Minister scale studies in the field of hypersonics since REVOLUTION, AND of Defence, who currently serves as Deputy Prime the beginning of the 2010s. In August 2011, THOSE STATES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT, WILL GAIN A NOTICEABLE MILITARY AND GEOPOLITICAL ADVANTAGE OVER ITS RIVALS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE Video footage from Russia’s Defence Ministry shows the Avangard hypersonic Yury Borisov strategic missile blasting Deputy off last December in what President said Prime Minister,

Russian Defence Ministry Press Service was a successful test. Russia

18 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Ministry of Defence of the Russia Federation Ministry of Defence Its speed exceeds Mach 20 and it approaches the target like a fireball, the surface temperature of which ranges between 1,600-2,000°C. Some Russian experts in the field of aerospace Russia accelerates speculate that the Avangard uses certain technologies first developed in Russia during the development of Spiral – a space launcher system consisting of a spaceplane, a hypersonic booster hypersonics race aircraft and a rocket – scientific works which were conducted in the USSR during the 1960s. In addition to Avangard, attention is also being concentrated on further tests of Zircon which is a scramjet-powered manoeuvring anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Russia’s leading rocket design bureau based in Reutov) on the basis of the Russian-Indian anti-ship BrahMos-II missile. Zircon became the first hypersonic missile designed in Russia since the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Zircon’s range is estimated to be 135 to 270nm at low level and up to 400nm in a semi- ballistic trajectory. Its average range is around 250–280nm. The longest range is 540nm (620m, Boris Obnosov, Director General of the Tactical 1,000km) and for this purpose a new fuel was Missile Weapons Corporation, said that Russia is created. The Avangard continuing its works on the design of strategic This year deliveries have started of a miniature hypersonic glide missiles, which may reach speeds 12-13 times version of the Zircon hypersonic rocket for the faster than the speed of sound. Since that time, a Russian Navy, particularly for small rocket ships of vehicle flies 27 certain progress in this field has been achieved. the Karakurt and Buyan-M projects. times faster than In addition, according to statements by Russia’s the speed of Nuclear glider President Putin, due to the recent decision by sound. the US to suspend the INF Treaty, Russia begins Probably, one of the most important projects R&D activities to create new types of hypersonic for Russia in this field was the recent launch of missiles, particularly those on the basis of Zircon. Avangard, a hypersonic glider, which can deliver According to the Russian Presidential both nuclear and conventional payloads. The Administration, part of the plan is the design of system entered service in March 2018 and was a new hypersonic ground-based medium-range unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin as missile that will be launched from the same one of the six new Russian strategic weapons. The launchers used for Kalibr, a group of surface ship-, latest flight test occurred on 26 December 2018 submarine-launched missiles. That means the costs when the glider was launched on board a UR- for the design of a new version of Zircon will not be 100UTTKh ICBM from the Dombarovsky missile huge. base in the Ural Mountains and subsequently hit a target at the Kura Missile Test Range. A Concorde Tu? The glider overcomes the stratospheric layers (from 8 to 55km) with a temperature of –90°C and In the meantime, in addition to a military focus, mesosphere (within 90km), where the temperature another part of the state plans are the more rises and then rapidly drops to –96°C. It spends active use of hypersonic technologies in the most of its time in the thermosphere (up to implementation of some civilian projects in Russia, 500km) and almost reaches outer space (from such as a hypersonic-based passenger aircraft. 118km). During Soviet times, the USSR had its own The Russian Government considered axing the commercial supersonic transport aircraft, the Avangard project, after a series of unsuccessful Tu-144, which ceased production in 1982 due to tests during 2013-2015. During that period unprofitability. scientists experienced serious difficulties with the An initiative for the resumption of the design design of a reliable operating system for the glider, and building of a supersonic civil aircraft was being also unable to ensure its protection from initially put forward by President Vladimir Putin in ultra-high temperatures. January 2018 and was supported by some leading At present the glider is capable of breaking Russian scientists in the field of aerospace at that even the most advanced missile defence systems. period of time.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 19 AEROSPACE Russian hypersonic projects TSAGI

Implementation of the project has already designed for 60–80 passengers, while its weight will started on the basis of the Zhukovsky Central vary in the range of 100-120t. Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). The project It will have a stretched shape with a sharp-pointed A TsAGI design involves the design of an aircraft that will be able to nose. The engines of the aircraft will be placed in for a hypersonic perform transatlantic flights to a distance of 8,600km above the frame in its tail section between at a cruising speed of 1,900km/h. two fins. The wing of the aircraft is planned to be made passenger In September 2018 a prototype of such with a V-shaped central part that will reduce its span. vehicle at the an aircraft was officially presented during The of the aircraft will have an extremely 2017 MAKS Hydroaviasalon, one the most important annual streamlined shape which help to avoid the formation of events in the Russian aerospace industry’s calender, shock waves on the during supersonic flight. show. Russia which was held in the city of Gelendzhik. Sypalo also added that series production of is a partner on According to Kirill Sypalo, General Director of the aircraft is scheduled for 2030, while designers the international TsAGI, one of the main problems associated with concentrate on making the design both economical the design of such aircraft is its high acoustic impact and safe. HEXAFLY both during the flight and within the airport zone. Due to such high speeds, the new Russian project. Kirill Sypalo comments: supersonic design will probably mostly use composite “As a result of our studies, TsAGI seems to have materials in its structure, instead of traditional managed to find a compromise between the aluminum. energy efficiency of the aircraft (which is primarily determined by the combination of aerodynamics and the location of engines with their configuration) The scramjet-powered Zircon (a hypersonic anti-ship and its acoustic effect.” missile, here shown testing in 2017) was Russia’s frst Earlier this year Sergey Chernyshev, head of post-Cold War hypersonic cruise missile. TsAGI’s department of high-speed aero-hydraulic equipment, also said that, while the level of acoustic impact from the Tu-144 was 100-130 pascals, the latest studies have shown that it can be reduced to 15-20, with a simultaneous reduction of volume to 65 decibels, which is equivalent to the noise of a big city. According to Sypalo, the aircraft will be built on the basis of the technologies that have already been implemented on the Tu-144 project and some Russian supersonic long-range strategic ,

particularly the Tu-160. The new aircraft will be Zircon

20 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Experts from the Russian Ministry of Aviation aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft will be predict the domestic demand for the new high at all modes of its flight. hypersonic passenger aircraft at 20-30 units According to Mikhail Mikulochkin, head of per year. It will be priced at $100-120m. The ’s department of aviation engineering Government hopes for significant export potential projects, a prototype of the aircraft will perform its of the aircraft. Still, despite the optimism of the first flight in 2027, while the total cost of the project state, some Russian experts remain more sceptical is estimated at RUB 120bn ($2bn). regarding its prospects. In the meantime, the Russian Air Force is also Andrei Kramarenko, a leading expert in the considering hypersonic technologies as one of the field of aviation at the Russian Higher School of guarantees of the dominance of Russian military Economics, in an interview to Russian state media aircraft over its rivals in years to come. recently said: “Supersonic aviation is a very expensive As part of of this, a new modernised version pleasure. An engine that can reach speeds above the of the Tu-160M supersonic strategic will speed of sound cannot be economical in terms of be officially presented this summer by the Russian fuel consumption, as in the aviation industry there is a Ministry of Defence. fight for every litre of kerosene.” Currently, modernisation of the bomber is being In addition, according to him, technical carried out at the Kazan aircraft factory, while the maintenance of such aircraft will be associated with supplies of its new version to Russian Air Forces Below: Tupolev huge costs that will be significantly higher than those will be started by 2021. design for associated with maintenance of traditional aircraft of According to Russian Defence Minister, the same class. Sergey Shoigu, the aircraft will have no equivalent supersonic bizjet. In the meantime, it is expected that the TsAGI in the world. It will be equipped with the latest project will not be a single project in the field of on-board defence and communications systems, with enhanced noise immunity, as well as a unique weapon system that will significantly expand its JSC Tupolev JSC combat capabilities when using conventional and nuclear weapons. In addition, it will have the NK-32 engines of the second series, which will significantly increase the range and duration of its flight. At present the Tu-160, the design of which became the Soviet response to the American B-1 Lancer, is already considered as the world’s largest and heaviest supersonic aircraft. According to open data, its maximum speed is 2,230km per hour, while the flight range is 13,900km. Finally, another of Russia’s developments in the field of hypersonics is a single-engined drone capable of flying both in the atmosphere and into outer space. The drone’s engine is designed to serve as a booster, while the initial phase of the flight will be carried out with the help of a carrier aircraft. The new drone will be able to fly at an altitudes of up to 160km and reach speeds of up to Mach 7. In addition, it will be capable of launching satellites into orbit up to 500km. supersonic passenger aircraft in Russia, as Tupolev, The hypersonic drone will also be reusable, another leading Russian design bureau, is currently capable of performing at least 50 flights. Up to five involved in the development of a business jet flight tests of the new drone will be conducted in analogue of TsAGI’s aircraft. 2022-2023. According to some Russian and foreign The hypersonic family media reports, Russia regularly conducts tests of hypersonic weapons, while some analysts believe it As an official spokesman of Tupolev said, the has already reached the level of the US in this field business jet, which is currently being designed by which, in 2001, created the first X-43 hypersonic scientists in the bureau, will be able to reach speeds aircraft. According to some Russian media from 1,500 to 1,900km/h at an altitude of 11km. reports, in 2020-2025, 24 hypersonic spacecraft Its take-off mass will be 70 tons, while the number with nuclear warheads will be deployed at the of seats in the cabin will be 30. The spokesman Dombarovsky ground, where the Avangard tests also added that, due to its special configuration, the took place.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 21 DEFENCE G force training MoD

Under pressure

Opened recently, the Royal Air Force now has a state-of-the-art centrifuge able to push its aircrew to the very limits by replicating the extreme G forces that today’s fighters can generate. TIM ROBINSON looks at the future of High-G training in the UK.

or fighter pilots, a crucial part of their it was only until the high-performance fly-by-wire Above: The High-G facility training is the ability to conquer the (FBW) fighters, able to go beyond 9G, such as the at RAF Cranwell now forces (or G) that are generated when F-16, that G-LOC (G loss of conscious) became means that ground-based aircraft perform . In small, a recognised killer of pilots. Low-level high-G ‘G’ training can match modern fighters. transient doses, positive or negative manoeuvring and jet fighter speeds were often F‘G’, for example on a rollercoaster or a humpback a fatal combination for pilots who experienced bridge, can be an enjoyable thrill. However, the G-LOC. For the RAF in particular, this was brought sustained pressure, which can be up to nine times home recently by the death of a Hawk the force of gravity, can be a form of physical T1A pilot, Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died in 2011 in a torture equivalent to a hard workout. In positive G crash that was attributed to the onset of G-LOC. manoeuvres, blood is pulled from the pilot’s head Today, modern fighters, such as the Eurofighter and brain towards their legs and feet, with the result Typhoon, , Lockheed Martin F-35 of impaired vision and thinking, ‘greying out’ and and others, can generate immense G-forces finally ‘black-out’ (or ‘red-out’ in negative G) where through their FBW flight controls – and this the pilot loses consciousness for several seconds. requires specialist equipment and clothing, such In previous eras, the limitations of flight control as anti G-trousers and socks and pressure jerkins systems and structural integrity of aircraft meant which mitigate the flow of blood away from the that the fighter itself was likely to disintegrate brain. Additionally, pilots will use ‘anti-G-straining before the flesh and blood human passed out manoeuvres’ (AGSM) – a physiological effort to and, while anti-G equipment was trialled in WW2, tense the lower abdomen to increase G-tolerance.

22 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Because of the risk, before a pilot goes flying Get ready for High-G a frontline fighter, G-tolerance will be assessed and resistance techniques trained in a ground However, this is all to change with the introduction centrifuge. This centrifuge, by rotating rapidly, is able of a new £44m High-G centrifuge at RAF Cranwell to replicate the incredible G-forces found in flight. which will provide G-tolerance training for UK fast- jet pilots. This device and its simulation software is Why is it needed? built by Austria’s AMST and is operated by Thales (which also provides A400M and A330 Voyager Until now, this G-training for UK military fast-jet simulators for the RAF) and takes High-G training pilots was undertaken at the QinetiQ centrifuge at to the next level. David Bolsover, Head of UK Farnborough. However, it has been apparent that Military Training Services, Thales, UK, is the facility’s this device, built in the 1950s, was no longer able first General Manager, with the initial operating to replicate the extreme performance of 4th and contract to run and manage the service for the next 5th generation fighters – and that it was well past three years. The ten staff include engineers and its prime. instructor pilots (including ex-Vulcan display and It was too slow, taking several seconds to Red Arrows pilot Bill Ramsey). ‘wind up’ the G to the maximum force of 9G. The new centrifuge features a powerful single While modern fighters, such as the Typhoon, can arm and pod, able to deliver 9G in one second – see onset rates of 8/9G per sec and the NATO representative of modern fighters. (The ultimate standard was 3G per sec, the old centrifuge was limit is 12+G used for equipment trials). The only able to manage 1G a second. powered gondola is also able to induce negative The ‘cabin’ also pivoted freely from the double Gs up to –3G. This means that it can replicate arm, like a bucket of water being spun around and one of the most common causes of deadly GLOC was unable to reproduce some of the more extreme – rapid transition from positive G, followed by forces generated by aerobatics. negative G, followed by a quick return to positive It also had a limitation in that the pilot was ‘along G again. for the ride’ with the scenarios being canned and no At ‘idle’ the centrifuge spins at 1.6G as the simulator function to teach the pilot which control ‘baseline’. Interestingly, the biggest challenge, says inputs and manoeuvres result in what levels of G. Bolsover, is in spinning up to this ‘simulated 1G’ There was no associated mental or piloting task for as the 55° tilt of the capsule and level view of the the pilot to focus on, apart from the anti-G ‘straining’ runway in the simulator causes confusion in the – a far cry from the rapid 3D problem-solving skills inner ear. However, a simple trick has been for and situational awareness needed in a real dogfight. pilots to simply close their eyes until they are at the The result, until now, has been a widening gap ‘virtual 1G’ and synchronised with the baseline spin. The new Thales/AMST High-G centrifuge features between the G-training provided on the ground and Once comfortably atuned to this 1.6G baseline, the a powered pod and what was found in the air – with implications for pilot can then be subject to higher onset rates such integrated simulator. safety and operational readiness. as 9G in 1 sec. Thales

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QinetiQ As well as being more powerful and producing we’ve had in here and even more so, the ab-initios, faster ‘G’ onset, the cabin of the centrifuge is think it’s brilliant. You are sat in a real cockpit, with also a far cry from the 1950’s era Farnborough real controls – it gives you a real sense of immersion.” device. Unlike the freely ‘swinging’ cabin of the old To generate these immense forces on the centrifuge, the pod on the High-G device is movable ground, this beast of a machine requires immense in two-axis and incorporates a flight simulator that power. The facility at RAF Cranwell runs off a the pilot is able to control. Triple cockpit displays 33,000volt power supply off the grid, and boasts its can replicate Hawk T2, Typhoon or F-35 and can be own substation. The motor generates 33,200watts swapped around in about an hour. Long desired by and 4,300hp to move the 38tonnes of machinery at The old centrifuge at the RAF, this means that the Thales High-G facility high speeds. Farnborough dates from can provide centrifuge training in dynamic flight With the facility designed to push the human 1955. simulation. Says Bolsover: “You’ve got a distraction body to the very limits, safety is paramount. The from the anti-G straining manoeuvres. It becomes centrifuge features three stop modes – emergency a natural thing while you are flying, rather than the full stop, medical stop, which slows the device major thing you are concentrating on.” gradually into a medical extraction and treatment This gives added flexibility and means that the room and a normal stop back to the 1.6G baseline. High-G centrifuge can be used to provide ‘canned’ Ironically this is the UK MoD’s second attempt pre-programmed profiles, or a dynamic flight to procure a high-G training facility for the RAF – an controlled on the ‘fly’ by an external instructor’s earlier £12m contract being cancelled in 2001 after station. In the ultimate test for ‘Top Guns’, a pilot in the procurement deal collapsed in acrimony. the centrifuge gondola can ‘fight’ a virtual enemy aircraft in a high-G dogfight, with the ‘bandit’ being A duty of care flown by a veteran instructor sitting in the console control station. Short of flying in an actual close- However, this High-G facility will not just be for those in air combat session – this centrifuge, with the about to step into the cockpit of a Hawk T2, Typhoon sweating and physical exertion – is the closest you or F-35 – but this critical training will now be can come to a pulling G in a real dogfight while extended for initial AGSM training for Grob Prefect still safely on the ground. Pilots can thus use this primary trainers to Tucano/Texans, Hawk and then facility to practise one of the most common max-G pre and recurrent OCU and fast-jet courses – with manoeuvres – evading an incoming missile. By some 22 courses being available, as well as the simulating a realistic 1vs1 dogfight, says Bolsover: current five-year FJ recurrent training. Says Bolsover: “We are generating the G-profiles the doctors want.” “It’s going to be at every level of training.” Feedback from this state-of-the-art facility has The reasoning is twofold. First is that the RAF been exceptional, says Bolsover: “The Typhoon pilots (and MoD) has now a wider ‘duty of care’ to today’s MoD Internally the modular cockpit can be swapped between Hawk T2, Typhoon and F-35.

24 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Thales

aircrew than in previous years. The second is that This advanced facility, one of only three similar these aircraft (particularly the Prefect, at +6/–4G devices in the world, may also be offered up for The new High-G is a far more dynamic trainer than the Tutor) are still foreign students – either those already training with training facility at fully aerobatic, yet students will fly them without the the RAF (for example the UK- 12 Sqn Joint benefit of G-suits. Introducing this training earlier Operational Squadron) or other allied air forces (such RAF Cranwell in in the pipeline will thus increase safety across the as the Royal Saudi Air Force or RAAF), looking for the UK will help board. Basic flight training students will start at 3G the most realistic G training for pilots of their 4th/5th fast jet pilots to begin with, before working up to 6G over around generation fighters. train under more 12-15 minutes. As well as the G-tolerance courses to push pilots Says Bolsover: “It’s not really checking to the very limits of human physiology, 50% of the realistic simulated G-tolerance – it’s teaching pilots at the initial centrifuge facilities work will also be used to test flight conditions. stages how to use their body, with anti-G straining equipment and aircrew assemblies that also need to manoeuvres and anti-G trousers, G-socks and be certificated for high G-forces – for instance, the (Typhoon and F-35) pressure breathing.” BAE Striker II HMD. He adds: “The beauty is that you can sit in the Typhoon cockpit and pull 9G on the flight model but Summary we can limit the absolute G by software. For example, when we are doing a training course for a Typhoon In short, this new High-G facility represents a leap OCU pilot, we will start them off at a limit of 4-5G and in ground-based aviation medicine and training then gradually build them up. What we are looking for facilities in the UK – commensurate with the with Typhoon pilots is 15secs constantly at 9G.” advanced 4th/5th generation fighters that the RAF As well as RAF/ pilots in the fast-jet (and Royal Navy) now flies. RAF Typhoon pilots are pipeline or undergoing recurrent training, the facility reportedly itching to use it, saying: ‘we can’t wait’. will also have other users. Bolsover revealed that The High-G facility will not only improve safety at ETPS (Empire Test Pilots’ School) students, who will all levels of training but also, with its embedded fly the PC-21 and Gripen, will also train in the High-G modular simulation, help hone the combat edge of centrifuge – both pilots and flight test engineers. The UK fighter pilots. Finally, this facility is also likely Red Arrows display team and the ‘blues’ mechanics to become a draw for allied and coalition partners who often fly in the rear seats, too, are expected to looking for the world’s most advanced G-force use the new facility. RAF military aviation medicine training – and the use of dynamic simulation to doctors, who will teach and advise aircrew on the generate the ‘G profiles’ – is where the RAF is now risks of G-force will also be another set of users. leading the world.

RAeS Conference: The Future Reality of Flight Simulation, 11/12 June, RAeS HQ, London, UK.

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Return of the turboprop

Can the commercial turboprop still compete with new regional jet designs? BILL READ FRAeS reports.

hile the age of large propeller- ATR powered passenger aircraft ended with the advent of jets ATR produces two turboprop aircraft, the 50-seat in the 1950s, smaller regional ATR 42 and the larger 70-seat ATR 72, over 1,500 turboprops still continue in of which have now been delivered. While the original operationW over shorter routes. However, while 20 designs for both aircraft date back a number of years, years ago this sector was well represented by ATR has been continually adding improvements. manufacturers producing a wide range of commercial turboprops (including the Fokker 50, Saab 340/2000, Bombardier BAE Systems Jetstream 41 and ATP, Embraer 120 and the Dornier 328), only two now remain. The other principal manufacturer of commercial Currently, the only companies manufacturing regional turboprops is Canadian manufacturer Bombardier turboprops are Franco-Italian company Avions de with the Q400. Bombardier has produced regional Transport Régional (ATR) and Canadian manufacturer aircraft since the 1990s. In 1992, Bombardier took Bombardier. However, the commercial turboprop over production of the Canada DHC-8 Below right: The ATR market is now in a state of flux again with production Dash 8 twin-engine turboprops first introduced in ClearVision enhanced vision system. of the Bombardier Q400 about to change ownership 1984. The Dash 8 was produced in three sizes, the Below left: ATR 72-600 full and a number of new and revamped projects in 40-seat -100 and more powerful -200, the 50-seat flight simulator. various stages of development. -300 and the 68-90-seat -400. Of these, only an upgraded version of the -400 remains in production ATR as the Bombardier Q400. Bombardier also produces regional jets and, in February, it announced the launch of a new 50-seat regional jet – the CRJ550. Returning to the subject of turboprops, Bombardier has produced a total of 580 Q400s with a further 66 yet to be delivered. However, at the end of 2018, the manufacturer announced that it was selling its Q400 manufacturing programme to Longview Aviation Capital Corp. As part of the ATR agreement, Longview will take over the assets,

26 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 intellectual property and type certificates not just for configured to a number of different roles, the twin- the Q400 but the entire Dash 8 programme, including engine SkyCourier will have a speed of up to 200kt the out-of-production 100, 200 and 300 series, Recent air and a range of 900nm. as well as the rights to the de Havilland name and shows have trademark. The sale is expected to be concluded by Developing markets the second half of 2019. seen significant Longview Aviation Capital is the parent company evidence of the ATR is confident that there will be a continuing to which also holds the type certificates for resurgence of demand for new turboprops. In a recently published the de Havilland Twin Otter, as well as the Canadair report (Market Forecast (2018-2037)), ATR predicts CL215 and 415 series of water bombers – which turboprop aircraft. a market for 3,020 turboprop aircraft in the up-to- it acquired from Bombardier in 2016. Viking has 90-seat regional market over the next 20 years. The restarted production of a revamped version of the report predicts that nearly 80% (2,390 aircraft) of this

Twin Otter and provides support to operators of the Cessna other aircraft.

Other turboprop manufacturers

There are also a number of manufacturers still producing small turboprops, many of which are upgraded versions of earlier models. RUAG Aviation in Germany produces the 19-seat Dornier Do228NG, an upgraded version of the turboprop. HAL in India also manufactures the Do-228 under licence from RUAG, mainly for the Indian military. Viking Air in Canada produces the 19-seat 400 Series Twin Otter, demand is expected to come from the 61-80 seat category with the remaining 20% (630 aircraft) from Bombardier Above right: Publicity the 40-60 seat market. Demand for these aircraft will image of the passenger be divided regionally between emerging markets in configuration of Cessna’s Asia (43%), followed by Europe, Africa and Middle new 19-seat Skycourier East (31%) and the Americas (26%). which is expected to make its first flight this year. ATR estimates that turboprop aircraft have the potential to generate 2,770 new routes over the Left: Bombardier is in the process of selling its Q400 next 20 years. Regional traffic is expected to grow production to Longview by 4.5%, a year with around 30% of traffic in 2037 Aviation Capital. coming from routes that do not currently exist. ATR also estimates a demand over the next two decades for 460 turboprop freighters, comprised both of converted aircraft and new-build freighters, such as its own ATR 72-600F. a relaunched version of the DHC-6. In 2017 PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) flew The turboprop advantage the first 19-seat N219 turboprop developed from the CASA C212 Aviocar. The reason that turboprops have been able to Meanwhile, US manufacturer Cessna is working continue to compete in a world dominated by jet- on a new 19-seat turboprop which is expected powered aircraft is due to a combination of cost and to make its first flight this year. Designed to be accessibility. According to ATR, a key factor in the

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market for turboprops is ‘regional connectivity’ where LAPAN, Wikipedia operators open new routes to smaller destinations. As well as operating on new direct regional routes in ‘traditional markets’, regional turboprops can also help to develop emerging markets where the most viable RATHER THAN solutions for connecting people and transporting COMPETING, goods are turboprop air links. TURBOPROPS AND REGIONAL Competing with jets JETS CAN While turboprops have their own niche market on HAVE A MORE shorter routes where speed is less of a factor, they COMPLE– have faced increased competition from some of PT Dirgantara Indonesia’s N219 landing after a test flight the new entrant and re-engined regional jets. Mark in 2017. MENTARY Dunnachie from ATR is not too concerned: “Rather RELATIONSHIP, than competing, turboprops and regional jets can AS IS have a more complementary relationship, as is existing engines with a 20% reduction in maintenance evidenced by multiple airlines who choose to operate costs. Meanwhile, US engine manufacturer GE has EVIDENCED both types of aircraft.” also proposed a new turboprop engine named the BY MULTIPLE However, the degree to which regional jets CPX38, based on the 7,500shp GE38 engine used to AIRLINES WHO compete with turboprops depends on the current fuel power the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter. CHOOSE TO price. As oil prices rise, fuel-efficiency becomes more important and turboprops are able to compete more New designs OPERATE BOTH with regional jets. TYPES OF While there have been no announcements for new AIRCRAFT Time for a new design? turboprop designs from in-production manufacturers, there have been a number of proposals from other Mark Dunnachie Although continuously improved and upgraded, the countries with emerging economies which would ATR three remaining regional turboprop aircraft, the ATR benefit from an expansion in regional aviation. 42-600, ATR 72-600 and the Bombardier Q400, are Proposals for new turboprop projects have come from all derived from older designs. The Q400 can trace its India, China, South Korea and Indonesia, some of origins back to 1984 while the ATR 42 first entered which have progressed further than others. service in 1985, followed by the ATR 72 in 1989. In recent years, all the progress in the India development of more efficient commercial aircraft has been for jet-powered aircraft, such as the all-new In 2010 the National Aerospace Laboratories Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 or the redesigned and (NAL) in India announced plans for a new re-engined Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. indigenous Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) Could the turboprop market also benefit from a re- turboprop to be manufactured by Hindustan engined or all-new design? Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). However, little has been Two ways in which a future or revamped heard of the project since 2016 when HAL appealed turboprop could be upgraded are in the use of for partners to develop a 50-80-seat medium-sized composite materials to make the airframe lighter turbofan/turboprop for regional transport with a and with the inclusion of new more efficient engines. possible military variant. However, it has been argued that any fuel savings gained from using composites will only be marginal, South Korea as turboprops spent less time in the air for each flight. There are also maintenance issues, as it is more Another proposal came from South Korea for a mainly costly and complicated to repair damage to composite composite construction turboprop, the DRA. In 2012 components than to aluminium structures. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was reported to be As for new engines, powerplant manufacturers discussing a joint venture with Bombardier to develop have been watching the airframe manufacturers a 90-seat turboprop by 2019 but the project did not waiting to see who will jump first. Currently, both the progress. Q400 and the two ATRs are powered by engines made by Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC). The ATR China turboprops are powered by 2,750shp PW127s while Q400s rely on 5,000shp PW150s. P&WC is One of the more advanced projects is the 70-seat reported to be working on a Next Generation Regional MA700 turboprop being developed by AVIC in China. Turboprop (NGRT) engine for a 70-to-90-seat aircraft Built partially of composite materials, the MA700 which it claims will be 20% more efficient than was originally due to fly in 2018 but is still under

28 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 construction. In March AVIC announced that the first Recent Show in June 2017, Ilyushin signed a memorandum MA700 is scheduled to roll out in September, with turboprop orders of understanding (MoU) with Pratt & Whitney Canada its first flight before the end of this year, followed by to provide PW127H engines for the restarted ATR Q400 Chinese certification by 2021 and entry into service Il-114-100 programme. The current status of the in 2022. 2016 36 25 programme is unclear, although P&WC announced at 2017 113 42 the ERA conference in 2018 that the first flight of the Indonesia 2018 52 32* new Iluyshin Il114-100 was scheduled for 1Q 2019. *Q400 orders up to 2018 Q3 Another developing country with an active interest Room for a little one? in turboprops is Indonesia. In August 2017, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) flew the first 19-seat With existing and new manufacturers competing N219 turboprop developed from the CASA C212 for the 50-90-seat turboprop market and several Aviocar. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada companies offering 19-seat turboprops, there appears PT6A-42s, the N219 is intended for either civil or to be a gap in the market for operators interested military applications. PTDI signed an agreement with in 20-50-seat aircraft. Is there just no demand for Turkish Aerospace Industries in 2017 to work on the such aircraft? Speaking at the European Regional Air 50-seat N245 commercial turboprop developed from Association annual conference last autumn before the CN235 military airlifter which PTDI co-developed Bombardier announced the sale of Q400 production, with CASA. Bombardier’s VP Sales, Europe, Russia and CIS, Ryan In 1995, under its previous name of IPTN, PTDI de Brusk, remarked that “it would need a technical produced two prototypes of a 50-seat turboprop breakthrough to make 20-30 seaters economical.” called the N250 powered by Allison AE 2100C However, Mark Dunnachie from ATR does not agree. turboprop engines but production was not continued. “In contrast, we see a very strong opportunity wave coming as smaller aircraft need to retire and up

NAL gauge,” he said. “There are still approximately 1,200 turboprop aircraft flying with configurations between 30 and 50 seats. It is clear that many of these smaller ageing aircraft will have to be replaced – or else essential connectivity will be lost.”

Electric option

If a technological breakthrough is required to revitalise demand for the 20-50-seat turboprop, then help could be on the way in the form of new proposals for However, the 2016 Singapore Air Show showcased Turboprop and turbofan electric or hybrid-electric-powered designs. Recent a model of the – a proposed new regional variants of NAL Regional years have seen the launch of a number of projects turboprop to be manufactured in Indonesia which Transport Aircraft (RTA) looking into the development of a wide range of turboprop design. is reported to be based on the N250. Designed by different-sized electric aircraft. Most of these are Regio Aviasi Industries (RAI), the R80 is to have 80- concentrating initially on small-sized aircraft but, once 90 seats, a maximum speed of 330kt and a range of the technology has matured, larger designs may around 800km. According to RAI’s website, a number become feasible. of operators have expressed interest in acquiring ATR is also interested in the possibilities offered R80s, including NAM Air, Kalstar, Trigana Air Services by electric propulsion. “We are exploring new aircraft and Aviasta. The Jakarta Globe reported in February technologies, including a wide range of possible last year that RAI had signed a memorandum of paths in the area of hybrid technologies,” said Mark understanding with Leonardo to assist with the Dunnachie. “One project we are engaged in is development of the R80 which had completed design talking to Air New Zealand to explore the ecosystem and feasibility tests and would now proceed to the around hybrid technologies. We are exploring and development of the first prototype to fly in 2022. investigating a full ecosystem, rather than leaping into a new aircraft, since the technology is still developing.” Russia Conclusion There are also reports that Russia is considering restarting production of the 64-seat Ilyushin-IL-114 With the prospect of new designs, engines and even regional turboprop, 20 examples of which were built new sources of propulsion, the turboprop faces an in the 1990s for Uzbekistan Airways. At the Paris Air interesting future.

RAeS Web: A longer version of this article can be found on: https://www.aerosociety.com/news/turboprop-revival/

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BETH STEVENSON provides an overview of the latest progress in the UK to integrate UAVs into regular airspace, for both commercial and military users.

he rise in the number of unmanned “Drones may be the trigger here but I think aerial vehicles being used for both the major change we are looking at is the closer commercial and recreational purposes in integration of the UK’s airspace and a convergence the UK has led to considerations being of the way in which we operate the airspace,” Andy made for the integration of all types of Sage, drones lead at ATM provider NATS, told Tthis type of system into national airspace. AEROSPACE. While various efforts to facilitate this have been He added that in order to address the risks of progressing at a steady pace for some years now, safely opening up airspace to drone operations the realisation that opening up a highly contested alongside other aircraft, it is essential to have a and relatively complex airspace to these new clear picture of everything in the airspace. All parties systems that vary in their size and performance require full visibility of where all the traffic, including was emphasised when drones were sighted near general aviation, intends to fly. in December 2018. “Alongside the CAA, we are advocating airspace Although these were operating illegally and it integration, greater use of surveyed airspace and was a clear breach of aviation safety, bringing the the electronic conspicuity of all users,” Sage noted. airport to a standstill over a number of days, since “I think it will change the way in which the airspace then discussions surrounding the ever-growing is managed. I don’t think we’re necessarily talking presence of this type of system operating so close about vast expanses of controlled airspace in the Sustained buzzing of Gatwick airport (below) to manned aviation have been taking place, as normal way but I think it will become more common by drone led to lengthy well as debates over the correct way in which they place for all users to expect to file flight plans and be closures over Christmas should be safely integrated into this structure. conspicuous in more volumes of UK airspace.” 2018. Gatwick Airport

30 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 General Atonics-ASI

General Atomics MQ-9B Levels of sky being considered for adoption into the airspace, SkyGuardian demonstrator which will act as their manned counterparts do and conducted a key milestone There are multiple classes of airspace in the UK, each integrate into air traffic control procedures. when it flew across the Atlantic to the 2018 RIAT of which lend themselves to different types of UAV One of the most significant planned introductions air show. operation and, subsequently, different requirements into UK airspace on this larger scale will be the Royal for operating in that particular space will develop Air Force’s future Protector RG Mk1 that is based on based on the impact they will have on the existing the MQ-9B SkyGuardian platform, an aircraft that will airspace structure. have a maximum take-off weight of 12,500lb and will The lower end of the UAV spectrum will be able to be airborne for some 40h. involve small recreational drones or slightly larger The most notable feature of the RAF’s new commercial systems, which will generally fly UAV will be its certification, however, as it is below commercial air traffic and at lower altitudes being developed to a STANAG 4671-compliant alongside airspace typically afforded to general type certifiable standard that will allow it to fly in aviation users. unsegregated airspace alongside other commercial These come with their own challenges including aircraft. the proximity they can fly to infrastructure and public It is a , so integration work will places and guidance for this type of operation is be overseen by the Ministry of Defence and Military being given to users by the Civil Aviation Authority Aviation Authority, the CAA says, although the civil (CAA) to help operators with what is largely a authority was involved in the first transatlantic flight of common-sense approach to using the airspace. SkyGuardian that took place in 2018. This is different to airspace in which ATC governs Throughout its development testing in the the operations of aircraft that wish to fly within it, US, meanwhile, it is flown under an experimental which can lend itself to more far-fetching operations, certification granted by the Federal Aviation in that UAVs that would fly in controlled airspace Administration. would have the required technology onboard and Ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo at safety cases to be able to operate akin to manned RAF Fairford last July, the UAV made a journey from systems. the Grand Forks test site in North Dakota, US to the “Outside these areas, where other traffic operates UK during a 24h 2min sortie, demonstrating that it that isn’t under the control of air traffic, or doesn’t could be operated under the remit of air traffic control transmit any signal on its position, then currently civil when it entered British airspace. drones are limited to operating within the visual line It landed at the airfield under the same procedures of sight of the operator or within specifically restricted that a manned aircraft would and manufacturer airspace,” a CAA spokesperson told AEROSPACE. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) says work is continuing as a follow on to the flight. The Protector “We have an ongoing comprehensive test and evaluation programme which continues apace,” Jonny On the higher end of the scale, much larger aircraft King, Vice-President of General Atomics-UK, told that are on par with manned aircraft in size are also AEROSPACE.

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“The aircraft used for last summer’s trans-Atlantic & Assessment (ASTRAEA), a government-industry flight was a company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian collaboration to test how unmanned aircraft could aircraft, so we worked with the CAA to licence flight integrate into national airspace. in UK airspace. As Protector is a UK military aircraft ASTRAEA involved using a Jetstream regional system, the MAA is the certification authority in this as a surrogate UAV, and explored both the case but the CAA is also involved in planning for technological and re gulatory requirements for integration into UK airspace.” integrating this type of aircraft into national airspace. In November 2018 the company integrated While this was a relatively pioneering approach a new Certifiable Ground Control Station that will to the issue of airspace integration in that it was help increase safety, as well as announcing that somewhat ahead of the game in aiming to embrace it had completed a flight with the Expeditionary this emerging industry from an early point, ASTRAEA Cobalt Aircraft BAE Systems

Command & Control system that was used to carry was denied further government support in 2015 and out a satellite communications-facilitated launch and the project then came to an end. recovery of the air vehicle. BAE’s Jetstream “ASTRAEA was a hugely successful programme Furthermore, in January 2019, General Atomics and a lot was learned from all parties involved,” a announced that it had teamed with BAE Systems test-bed was BAE spokesperson told AEROSPACE. to work on the airspace integration work for used to trial They added that details surrounding how the SkyGuardian. large UAV work formerly carried out under initiatives such “We have been scoping collaborative work that integration under as ASTRAEA will be leveraged still needs to be would be of mutual benefit for operating future RPAS determined and BAE Systems is assessing its in UK airspace; we have just signed a memorandum the ASTRAEA potential to support GA-ASI in its integration of of understanding to embark on such work,” King project. SkyGuardian into UK airspace and jointly developing added. “BAE Systems and GA-ASI self-fund their the concept of operations of its use. “It is our joint current respective elements of work, which focuses intention to engage with UK MoD to bring the benefit on operating RPAS in UK airspace, including of our experience to the table,” the spokesperson developing concepts of operation and air traffic explained. modelling and simulation. The work will be carried out “This work is a great initiative to integrate the within each organisation at their home locations.” developmental US-based SkyGuardian RPAS into UK airspace. This is separate from the UK MoD’s The ASTRAEA project ongoing Protector programme which is working across all UK airworthiness and airspace agencies From 2006, BAE Systems was involved along to integrate the RAF’s next generation RPAS into with other British companies in Autonomous all types of UK airspace and to recognised NATO Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation standards.

32 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Altitude Angel “It is hoped that our BAE Systems work will Altitude Angel, support some of this activity in the future.” released new- At present, BAE Systems, GA-UK and GA-ASI are all exploring the potential to collaborate on the look restricted integration of SkyGuardian into UK airspace. They airspace maps say it is not yet clear where the work will take place, for the UK and but “it is almost certain that we will draw on both of BAE Systems and GA-ASI’s experiences in the UK Northern and US”, BAE Systems said. (including Gatwick, One feature that will be essential for integration left) ahead of into unsegregated airspace is the integration of a detect and avoid (DAA) system, which GA-ASI has tougher airport developed and includes TCAS II, ADS-B and Due drone no-fly zone Regard , something that the MoD is understood regulations now in to be considering at present. force. UK unmanned traffic management application today are individual consumers for whom With this capability it is expected that it will be able the app provides all of the information they need to to operate as manned aircraft do, following the same fly responsibly and safely within the law,” Sage added. procedures and essentially being no different to other “I think those that access our airspace user portal aircraft operating in unsegregated airspace. for formal access into our airspace are professional To this end, work is being carried out on an users and today, flying VLOS, they are a mixture unmanned traffic management – or UTM – capability, of inspection services, property services and other something that a number of companies are working professional applications.” on, and NATS is working alongside Altitude Angel on Sage added that, as the UK’s air navigation a number of related areas. services provider (ANSP), it has a duty to explore the “We’re working with Altitude Angel to effectively whole range of measures relating to safety and is an build the core UTM infrastructure that we have advocate alongside the CAA of education campaigns undertaken a commitment to our customers to for the safe use of drones. implement and provide over our next regulatory It is additionally supportive of a new measure period from 2020 onwards,” Sage added. introduced by the Government in 2019 that has seen “That infrastructure will really be the first step the UAV flight restriction zone surrounding airports towards the safe integration of drones alongside extended from 1km to 5km. manned aviation. It’s aimed at providing an equitable “We are working with airports evaluating and access to the space for everybody, something trialling automated tools that will help them deal with we take for granted today, and we don’t want to what we expect will be an increased volume of flight undermine that. It’s to provide a framework for drone requests coming in,” Sage added. “What we don’t operators and other providers to come and compete want to do is make it difficult for members of the in the marketplace on a level playing field.” public to gain approval from busy teams in airport towers and run the risk of flights going ahead without Better visibility being approved in the correct manner. We’re not trying to stop people from flying. We are showing that The work with Altitude Angel resulted in the two this will only happen with the correct approval from parties developing the so-called Drone Assist app, the airport. We owe it to the public to make that an a way by which drone operators can access an easy process to follow.” interactive map of the airspace to see where others For professional users, NATS is encouraging are flying, as well as enabling them to offer the potential operators to discuss with the ANSP the location of where they are also flying. type of beyond visual line of sight work they wish to This is so far a voluntary facility – although in carry out, including the types of system they would excess of 100,000 users have registered in less than wish to use and the ranges at which they would want two years of the app being offered – but represents to operate. a willingness of users to have access to a scaled “We want to understand the distances people version of an integrated airspace picture that is want to operate at, the missions they want to carry common among other classes of airspace. out and the platforms they want to use, because A user portal, is offered to operators to use those things together will determine how we safely to request access to certain parts of the airspace. allow those operations and what we need to put in “I think that the bulk of the people who use our place.”

RAeS Conference: Airspace Access: Integrated or Segregated?, 9/10 October, RAeS HQ, London, UK.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 33 SPACEFLIGHT Commercial spaceflight NewSpace matures Blue Origin

Prof KEITH HAYWARD FRAeS charts the meteoric rise of the ‘NewSpace’ revolution as it continues to disrupt the commercial space community.

Blue Origin’s fully t is hard to pin down exactly when NewSpace Private investment in space ventures has reusable New Shepard began – although the advent of SpaceX increased rapidly since 2013, with a cumulative space vehicle rolls out and the promise of cheap launches would total now in excess of $16bn. To date there are to the launch pad at the be a good bet. Another possible milestone well over 370 registered NewSpace companies company’s West Texas launch site. would be the emergence of ‘smallsats’, bidding for business in launch services, Earth Iwhether as individuals or as constellations. observation and telecommunications, as well as The characteristics of NewSpace are easier to more exotic offerings, such as space mining and define: a private space industry, independent of burial services. Investment in satellite-related governments and other public agencies, with business has been especially evident, with over entrepreneurially-minded companies developing $1bn last year alone, over 50% of the total. In turn, faster, cheaper, and commercially oriented there has been a spurt of new launch sites offering space products and services. The predominant locations for rapid response to commercial demand business model is Silicon Valley start-up rather or to support space tourism. There are also signs than Houston-NASA, eschewing political and that the NewSpace concept is attracting some prestige motives and the bureaucratic processes of the bigger battalions in the space industry and associated with public space – less Buck Rogers, other well-funded players to develop hardware, more Roy Rogers (a US burger chain). It should infrastructure and associated space services. be said that NewSpace does not reject the Finally, while new players have found support from government dollar, pound or Euro – some of its the usual primordial soup of hedge fund money, leading proponents have grandiose ambitions to there are signs that the temptation of a rapidly populate Mars – but the overwhelming philosophy growing market are attracting more conventional is pragmatic and money-making (at least capitalist investment – and from the ‘private’ sector eventually). in China.

34 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Smallsats and constellations are Communications and the Internet of the future Things

Smallsats are satellites of low mass and Providing an infrastructure for the Internet of Things, size, usually less than 500kg (1,100lb) and linking web-driven hardware systems, such as the ‘microsatellite’ or ‘microsat’ which are satellites ‘smart home’, is another new market for the Smallsat with a wet mass between 10 and 100kg (22 and constellation. Centring on satellites as little as 3kg, 220lb). While smallsats may be used individually, highly sensitive terminals, over a dozen proposed or the primary application is to form part of a ground actual constellations are aiming to provide low cost managed and controlled constellation. global connectivity. Start-up funding requirements The market for smallsats is, to say the least, are relatively modest, $4-15m is the current range, burgeoning. Euroconsult predicts that some with prices for customers as low as a few dollars 7,000 smallsats will be launched over the next Planet Labs satellite image plus initial equipment costs. With constellation decade compared to the 1,200 or so launched of a wildfire, in California. replenishment costing between $3-8m a year, since 2008. This implies some $38bn worth of The image shows the fire’s viability will depend on generating a huge number business. Constellations – around 50 separate size, the path it had burned of customers and creating entirely new markets operators – will account for 80% of the smallsat through, wind direction and, for cheap connectivity. Given that there are less market. The bulk of new investment is going into of course, its exact location. complex terrestrial alternatives emerging to meet This timely and accurate Earth observation and resource management and information is essential the demand, the satellite providers will have to show telecommunications for web-based activities. for wildfire teams in safely that the promise of coverage anywhere in the world containing a blaze. will be the superior option. Earth observation

The global geospatial information services market is already in the region of $5bn annually. This is set to grow rapidly as more customers spot the utility of space-based imagery and multispectral analysis. As with much of NewSpace, the arrival of cheaper and easier to access services creates a cycle of growth, as the pioneers trigger more players and customers. With the future information services market numbers in excess of $100bn a year, staking share with space-based delivery is an incentive to risk-taking new entrants. Market forecasts of $7bn in space-based delivery by

the end of the next decade are mouth wateringly Planet Labs enough – and small satellites will take nearly a quarter of this market compared to today’s 11%. Other issues will also have to be addressed. According to Euroconsult, demand is also growing Companies will develop or contract out monitoring for much higher-resolutions, which could be worth and control infrastructure. Space debris in low- some $1.7bn a year by 2027, up from $938m in Earth orbit will inevitably become even more 2017. problematic with the proliferation of smallsats The key is to link hardware availability with (although a Canadian start-up is offering a a packaged service. Planet Labs, the $300m commercially available space situational awareness global imagery company, can access over 130 SUCCESS IN capability). Frequency allocation and interference satellites. This gives it an ideal platform for quick NEWSPACE may become something of a free-for-all, as the response services. This was shown dramatically STILL LOOKS global regime governing the geo-stationary world during the recent Californian forest fires. Within a LIKE A WHITE- has no jurisdiction lower down. There is also day, Planet was downloading visual images from the question of ensuring that potential users its constellation of small satellites and infrared KNUCKLE RIDE can access the signal. The availability of cheap from its larger platforms to the California Office WITH START-UPS receiving devices is still problematic, as currently of Emergency Services. This sort of reaction time TRYING TO STAY complex moveable dishes are required to receive is a key selling point to subscribers, as well as its satellite broadband signals. easy-access use of cloud storage and other web- IN THE GAME AS delivery. It is in stark contrast to the timetabled, COMPETITORS Here come the big battalions directed government agency requirement. To an DROP OUT – A extent, part of the challenge is to show customers SORT OF ‘LAST It is not only the ‘little guys’ moving into NewSpace; that they really do need and can benefit from this the Amazon-Lockheed initiative to offer ground kind of space-based material. This is the art of SATELLITE station services to the burgeoning space market creation. ORBITING’? entrepreneurial sector marks a significant juncture

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NASA Budget as a percentage of Federal budget manufacturing satnav devices and providing mapping or TV delivery and, while ground station activity may not be as lucrative as some of these activities, it beats building large satellites or launching them. There are also signs that the aerospace primes are following the same path taken in response to the arrival of the drone – buy into the innovation by acquiring an emerging smallsat company. Last year, Boeing bought Millennium Space Systems and put it under its Phantom Works division, presumably to protect it from the negative affects of a clawing

Percentage of Federal budget of Federal Percentage big company bureaucracy. This followed Lockheed Martin’s investment in Terran Orbital and, of course, Airbus Defence and Space’s acquisition of Satellites. Airbus has also linked up with other Calendar Year NewSpace companies to market services and to Wikipedia/US Office of Management and Budget provide hardware. Along with the Virgin Group, it has also invested in the OneWeb constellation to provide in the business. Servicing constellations – controlling in-flight connectivity. and monitoring, as well as downloading data with Elsewhere in Europe, Thales and Leonardo have A decrease in global coverage – is not cheap. So, two giants of jointly invested in a smallsat constellation start-up. NASA’s spending the aerospace service industries have come up with The aim is to capitalise on both the new markets of has created a fee-based ground infrastructure delivery system. NewSpace but also to offer alternatives to existing opportunities for Amazon Web Services (AWS), through its boss Jeff customers in public markets, including the military Bezos, is already part of the NewSpace community and security services. The start-ups provide the a boom in private while Lockheed Martin Space is a big player in expertise and agility, the primes knowledge of how to spending on conventional launchers and satellites. There are deal with large procurement bureaucracies. space projects. others offering ground station services, including ... and the Chinese Millennium Space Systems Not content with its rapid emergence as a major player in conventional state-funded space activities, the Chinese now appear to be encouraging NewSpace entrants. Since 2014 and an important change in Chinese law, a small number of private companies have begun to launch and operate satellites. Although still closely aligned to national policy and state agencies, the private sector offers NewSpace flexibility and value-for-money. The aim is also to tap the same multi-billion telecommunications and Earth resources markets that are spurring Western investment in the sector. However, with the current furore surrounding the Chinese communications giant Huawei in mind, there will be the inevitable concerns about the security of a Chinese system, as well as the general potential for Above: An artist’s specialist start-ups, such as Tokyo-based Infosteller political interference. conception shows but AWS promises to deep pocket most of the Millennium Space competition. Somewhere to launch Systems’ Altair satellite. The AWS venture follows a well-trodden track in the space industry. The largest share of the space With Euroconsult predicting an average annual value chain starts on the ground, whether this is launch rate approaching 1,000 smallsats a year

Major aerospace players have invested heavily in the NewSpace playground.

36 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 by 2030, business should also be good for launch service providers. This will present opportunities for existing players offering piggyback launches on big launchers as well as new rocket manufacturers offering bespoke services. The Russian Glavkosmos, for example, is offering a smallsat launch aggregator service. Other new entrants are also likely to include the space tourist companies providing a launch platform. Equally interesting is the development of new, privately funded (or at least partially privately funded) launch sites. is planning a site in Kiruna and last July, the UK Government announced it was selecting not one of the six airports from an

earlier shortlist but a new vertical launch site with a SpaceX Arianespace contribution of $3.3m towards the estimated cost of $13.5m on the A’Mhoine Peninsula in the Sutherland capital. Certainly the bulk of NewSpace cash is region of Scotland’s northern coast. coming from American punters, with Europeans and There are already eight extant or planned launch Asians only just beginning to pick up speed. sites in the US and the advanced projects agency The US Commerce Department chief, Wilbur DARPA has kicked off a competition to identify sites Ross, a former banker, is trying to encourage the for quick response launches. DARPA is negotiating more established sources of funding to enter the with the American regulator FAA to obtain blanket NewSpace sector but, so far, the big financial players licences to cover launches from the winners. Six US are still loath to put money in what is still seen as an locations have also bid for spaceports to support exotic playground. SpaceX has managed to raise space tourism and three potential centres have been another $500m but ’s enterprise now has listed in South Asia. the confident look of an established company, with a The new sites’ offer is largely based on availability solid position in the US Government market. A more and lower prices. The established conventional launch salutatory example is the way Deep Space Mining sites are often booked up years ahead and geared to blew several millions without a single launch to its the big launchers and their service providers. Smaller credit. launch sites claim to be better suited to the smallsat The sums involved in some of the NewSpace market. Some are also looking to support the space schemes are breath-taking. For example, OneWeb’s tourist sector but the real challenge is the regular run initial phase will cost in excess of $2bn, with billions of NewSpace activity. Interestingly, a number are in more needed to complete a planned 650 satellite the higher latitudes, which would penalise heavy lift constellation. Success in NewSpace still looks like business but the smallsat and its specialist launcher a white-knuckle ride with start-ups trying to stay in companies are more likely to value quicker responses the game as competitors drop out – a sort of ‘last and a shorter wait for a slot. satellite orbiting’? Top: A SpaceX rocket is Time will tell if these characteristics will outweigh There is undoubtedly money to be made – lowered into position to be the acceleration benefits offered by equatorially eventually. The business case for a cheaper, more tested. located sites. However, the emergence of a new generally available set of space-based applications is Above: On 27 February a set of launch sites underlines the opportunities well made in theory. There are also some important Soyuz rocket lifted off from associated with NewSpace. additional factors at work. The first is the early entry of the Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying the first established space industry giants sensing a growing six satellites in OneWeb’s Prospects for NewSpace revenue stream from new products and markets as constellation. These were some old concepts, such as the large geostationary successfully deployed once The question remains how many of the space start- comsat, face challenges from NewSpace and in orbit. ups will last the course. There is a feeling of déjà terrestrial alternatives (a sign of the times perhaps vu hanging over these enterprises, an echo of the is the fact that only 14 new geostationary comsats general ‘Silicon Valley’ approach of sinking money have been ordered over the past two years, two-thirds in high-risk activity with little immediate return on the average annual rate over the past decade). The trend towards smaller, near-Earth platforms could accelerate as governments are tempted by cheaper global communications and surveillance coverage for military or security missions. So expect market churn, company casualties, and some expensive failures but NewSpace is part of the future of the space industry and the delivery of space-based services.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 37 GENERAL AVIATION Drones and bird control

Flocks away

BILL READ FRAeS looks at how drones are being used to deter or divert birds away from airports and also how microlights are being used to encourage migrations of endangered birds.

t is a well-known maxim that birds and of geese. Fortunately, thanks to the skill of pilots aircraft don’t mix. According to figures Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles, there published by the US Federal Aviation was no loss of life. Administration (FAA) there were 142,000 wild-life strikes at US airports between 1990 Bird deterrents Iand 2013, with birds being involved in 97% of the reported cases. In some cases, the damage To avoid the risk of bird strikes, many methods was minor but, in others, the damage caused was have been devised to try to discourage birds from sufficient to adversely affect the safety of the flying near airports. Since the majority of incidents aircraft – particularly the cases in which larger occur during take-offs and landings, deterrence birds were sucked into engines and caused them methods have concentrated on various ways to to flameout. Even in these cases, the aircraft was discourage birds from being near airports. These usually able to continue to fly and return safely to include removing physical features from airports an airport but there have been incidents in which that attract birds, which provide food sources aircraft have been brought down by bird strikes. or areas of water to land on, deploying netting The most well-publicised bird strike incident of or spikes to discourage birds from roosting, recent years was the US Airways’ A320 which displaying effigies of predators, loud noises, ditched into the Hudson River in 2009, having pyrotechnics, chemical repellents or using trained lost power in both engines after flying into a flock raptors.

38 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 CAA

Drones vs birds Technology (KAIST), which allows a single drone to herd an entire flock of birds away from an area In recent years there have been some interesting of airspace without harming individual birds or the developments in the use of drones designed to flock’s formation. repel birds. Bird-X has developed the BirdXPeller Inspired by the 2009 ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ drone designed to combine the visual and physical incident involving US Airways Flight 1549, the presence of a flying predator while emitting researchers looked into ways that airspace could naturally-recorded predator cries and distress be protected from birds by using technology in calls. autonomy and robotics. Looking in more detail Another company, Clear Flight Solutions, at bird behaviour, the scientists concluded that produces the Robird flapping-wing drone designed using a piloted drone to herd birds away from to scare off birds by mimicking the appearance an airspace varied in success depending on the and flight of a peregrine falcon. According to the position of the drone. If the UAV was too far away, company, the Robird was deployed in a trial at then it did not affect the behaviour of the flock. Edmonton International Airport, Canada where If the drone got too close, the flock could scatter it logged around 200 flights over a two-month and become uncontrollable. period, being used in conjunction with additional Successful herding depends on the ability to bird control solutions to keep over 10,000 birds keep a flock together while shifting its direction away from active runways. of travel. Each bird in a flock reacts to changes in the behaviour of the birds nearest to it. Effective herding requires an external threat – in this case, the drone – to position itself in such a way that The presence of the drone it encourages birds along the edge of a flock will affect the behaviour of the closest bird which will to make course changes that then affect the fly closer to the next bird birds nearest to them, who in turn affect birds which, in turn, will affect farther into the flock, and so on, until the entire the behaviour of the rest of flock changes course. The positioning has to be the flock. precise; if the external threat gets too zealous and rushes at the flock, then the birds IEEE

Clear Flight Solutions will panic and act individually, not collectively. Herding birds One of the researchers, Soon-Jo Chung, worked on an earlier bird- Drones are also being deployed more control project to build a flapping robot scientifically not to scare birds away but to mimicking the flight of a falcon to use herd them away from sensitive areas – such as a natural-looking deterrent. However, as airports. A recent study published in IEEE he discovered that a quadrotor drone was Transactions on Robotics describes a project just as effective as the biomimicking robot. developed by CalTech, Imperial College London In the latest project, Chung and his and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and research team created a mathematical model

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 39 GENERAL AVIATION Drones and bird control Operation Migration Operation Migration

of flocking dynamics which described how flocks Above: Whooping cranes descend vertically and continue towards the build and maintain formations, how they responded follow an ultralight on a prohibited area. to threats along the edge of the flock, and how journey from Wisconsin to The calculations proved to be most effective as part of Operation they then communicated that threat through the Migration. with certain numbers and size of birds but the flock. The algorithms were originally designed to team plans to conduct further research into how model the herding of sheep and expanded to work multiple drones could deal with multiple flocks. in three dimensions rather than two. The researchers also looked at the potential use of Using this mathematical description of flocking robotic drones to automatically herd birds. behaviours, the researchers then looked at how IEEE IEEE Operation Migration

flocks would respond to approaching external Above from left to right: Follow that plane threats and then created a new algorithm to Aerial view from the South show ideal flight paths for drones to move a Korean project showing Instead of using aircraft to scare birds away, there flock away from protected airspace without a UAV getting birds to has also been a number of initiatives designed change direction. dispersing it. to encourage rare or endangered birds to follow The same view as above The algorithm was given a practical test aircraft to migrate or move to new habitats. From showing relative motion of using a drone to divert a flock of live birds birds and a herding UAV. 2011 to 2015 a project called Operation Migration near a field in Daejeon, South Korea. The From Operation Migration in the US involving conservationists working experiments involved flying a quadrotor in the – something not every pilot with the US Fisheries and Wildlife Services, vicinity of flocks. Two rounds of experiments has to do – to encourage encouraging flocks of rare endangered whooping were conducted during two different seasons the birds to follow the cranes to follow behind microlights to migrate – the first involving egrets and the second with microlights, handlers 1,285miles from Wisconsin to Florida over a period loons. Two drones were deployed, one to act as interacted with the young of three months. cranes using puppets. the ‘herder’ and perform different manoeuvres Having learned the route, the birds then around the flocks as a pursuer and a second returned north the following spring and the number camera surveillance drone which hovered at a of cranes began to rise. However, the project was higher altitude to record the trajectories of the discontinued after the US Fisheries and Wildlife pursuer drone and the birds. Services changed its policy and ruled that the The researchers found that a single UAV method was ‘too artificial’. could keep a flock of dozens of birds out of a In 2010, scientists in Austria conducted a designated airspace. The experiments were similar project to encourage the rare northern more successful when the drone approached bald ibis to migrate from Germany to Italy by the flock relatively slowly, to a distance of following a microlight. After experiencing some around 30m, causing the birds to change initial difficulties in training the birds to follow the direction horizontally. If the drone approached microlights, the Waldrapp team also succeeded in the flock faster or closer, then the birds would getting the birds to complete the 1,300km journey.

40 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

A self portrait of a pilot from RAF Marham, taken while on a low-level training mission in a Tornado GR4 of 31 Squadron. MoD/Crown copyright 2015.

Diary 22 May RAF Mental Health Services: Organisation. Delivery. Impact. Wg Cdr Elizabeth Ashton, Consultant Psychologist, RAF & WO James Parkin RNMH BSc Hons, Specialist Nurse Advisor Mental Health, RAF Aerospace Medicine Group Lecture

42 Message from RAeS 44 Book Reviews 52 Diary - President A Few Planes for China, The Royal Air Force, Find out when and where around the world the Hucknall, The Economics of Airlines and The Earth latest Society aeronautical and aerospace lectures “One of my themes for this Presidential year is Gazers. and events are happening. low-carbon aviation. 2018/19 has seen huge progress in that area, with more and faster change to come. In October 2018, LoganAir announced its 47 Library Additions 54 2019 Anniversaries aim to operate electrically-powered conversions of Books submitted to the National Aerospace Library. Peter Elliott, Chair of the RAeS Historical Group, its Britten-Norman Islanders on the Orkneys inter- summarises the many anniversaries occurring this island service by 2021, probably the first full-electric year. scheduled passenger aircraft service in the world.” 48 Obituary Ron John Kennett FRAeS. 55 Corporate Partner Events - Chief Executive Upcoming events for Corporate Partners. “The members had some very useful discussions 50 Minutes of the 153rd AGM on the future direction of the Society in areas as In advance of the 154th RAeS AGM on Thursday, varied as, diversity and inclusion, the future of the 16 May, the Society publishes the minutes of last Centennial Scholarships and the impact of the year’s AGM. Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

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

Rear Admiral Simon Henley One of my themes for this Presidential year is low- All of this work is incredibly exciting and carbon aviation. 2018/19 has seen huge progress showcases the exploratory nature of the work in that area, with more and faster change to come. needed to wean aircraft off fossil-fuel propulsion. In October 2018, LoganAir announced its aim to Already emerging is the realisation that it’s not just operate electrically-powered conversions of its battery capacity and power density that is critical Britten-Norman Islanders on the Orkneys inter- to making electric propulsion viable for short-haul island service by 2021, probably the first full-electric aircraft but also the management of heat generated scheduled passenger aircraft service in the world. in generators, control circuits and electric motors. Working in partnership with Cranfield Aerospace to In parallel with the technical development we must convert existing to electrical power, the progress the regulatory environment to create short journey lengths on that route make them ideal appropriate qualification and certification standards, to introduce all-electric aircraft in a way which can and wider air traffic management and other aspects inform regulation, safety and logistic considerations to maximise the benefit of more/all-electric and fully within the bounds of existing technologies. autonomous aircraft. In parallel, the world of eVTOL aircraft is making Against this background, the announcement by steady progress towards reality. The Airbus Vahana Rolls-Royce that it will not be offering an engine for aircraft achieved the milestone of 50 flights at full the new Boeing NMA if and when such a project scale in February, totalling over 5hrs airborne and is announced is significant. Rolls-Royce’s current demonstrating flight lengths of seven minutes engineering efforts towards future gas turbine at speeds in excess of 50kt. The Boeing PAV engines are focused on the UltraFan, aimed at technology demonstrator, built in co-operation with markedly improving efficiency on large wide-body Aurora Flight Sciences, flew for the first time on 23 aircraft. Could it be that the new Boeing aircraft January. Bell’s VP for Innovation, Scott Drennan, will be the last of the narrow-bodied programmes stated this month: “It’s becoming a ‘when’ question to use fossil-fuelled propulsion, and Rolls-Royce’s not an ‘if’ question” as Bell’s mock-up of their re-entry into the narrow-body aircraft engine market Nexus Hybrid aircraft was unveiled at the Vertiflite sometime in the future will be electrically-powered? conference in Atlanta. Changing the subject completely, as I write this Electrification of larger aircraft is also article, the SpaceX Dragon capsule has successfully progressing fast. Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Siemens splashed down after its mission to the International have taken delivery of the BAe 146 airframe to Space Station, opening up a path to the restarting of be converted to substitute one inboard engine (at manned missions utilising US launchers developed least initially) to a hybrid propulsion system with in the fast-evolving industry whereby new launcher IT’S BECOMING an electrically-driven fan engine capable of being systems are developed by a combination of A ‘WHEN’ powered by either stored battery energy, electricity private and state funding but unencumbered by QUESTION generated from an on-board gas-turbine/generator the bureaucracy and delays which pure state-run combination, or a mixture of both. The E-FanX projects never seem able to avoid. Aeronautics and NOT AN ‘IF’ project is progressing towards design reviews with a space have never been short of excitement but these QUESTION projected first flight in the very early 2020s. are exhilarating times indeed!

AEROCHALLENGE 2019

AeroChallenge 2019, hosted by the RAeS Young Bucks New University and Cardiff and Vale College. Persons Committee and kindly sponsored by Industry teams were drawn from BAE Systems, Leonardo, took place on 27 February at No.4 Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Leonardo, GKN and Martin- Hamilton Place. AeroChallenge is the Society’s Baker. annual aerospace themed quiz covering a wide range The final round was a straight shoot-out of current and historical themes and incorporating between finalists Imperial College and the the ever-popular design and build rounds. Leonardo Lynx team. With scores level at 5-5 This year’s event attracted a record number it was the Leonardo team that answered the of 21 teams comprised of students, apprentices tie-break question by correctly naming Howard and early-career professionals. Universities were Hughes’ iconic . The Leonardo team represented by teams from City University, Imperial were duly crowned and returned to Yeovil as worthy College, Queen Mary, University of , champions of AeroChallenge 2019.

42 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Sir Brian Burridge  As I mentioned last month, the Society’s Annual Library (NAL) has trawled the Society’s General meeting will be held on 16 May at archive to release podcasts of the best of the Hamilton Place. Voting is now open for the Society’s lectures from earlier years together Council Election and you should have received with interviews with test pilots and others an email giving you details of how to vote from aerospace pioneers. Our recordings have been our election provider, mi-voice. If you have not played over 38,000 times and the project has received such an email, first check your mail box only been possible thanks to the work of NAL settings to ensure that it hasn’t been incorrectly volunteer, Mike Stanberry FRAeS, and through identified as spam, and if this isn’t the case and a grant from the RAeS Foundation. To listen you are a voting member, then call mi-voice on to the full set, plus a selection of other more +44 2380 76 3978. Voting turnout continues to recent Society lectures from Hamilton Place increase, last year it was around 24%. This year and the Branches, visit www.aerosociety. it would be good if we could exceed this figure, com/podcasts or subscribe to AeroSociety so please cast your votes for those candidates podcasts on iTunes. you believe will best represent you in Council.  By the time that you read this, our status within  On 4 March, we held the final Council and the EU will have become clear. As I write, it is Board of Trustees’ meetings of the current by no means clear whether we will leave the Presidential year. The members had some EU on the 29 March as originally planned. very useful discussions on the future direction What is clear though is that the aerospace of the Society in areas as varied as, diversity and aviation sectors will have to be prepared and inclusion, the future of the Centennial for an uncertain time in the immediate future. Scholarships and the impact of the Fourth There remain many practical questions about Industrial Revolution. At the AGM on 16 May, the legal and operational implications of the Professor Jonathan Cooper will take over for disentanglement process that will affect the following 12 months. the industry globally. On 4 April, our Air Law  As is our custom, the Society’s 2019 Banquet Specialist Group and a number of distinguished will follow the AGM. This year we look forward speakers will explore the commercial impact to welcoming Airbus CEO Designate, Guillaume of these changes on the aviation industry to Faury, as our Guest of Honour and after-dinner identify where remaining uncertainty exists and speaker. Ticket and table sales are coming in consider its legal implications. fast, so we recommend that you book your  Meanwhile, our work on charting the Society’s place now if you have not already done so that way through the Fourth Industrial Revolution you can join us for an evening of fine dining and continues. We are now participating at senior excellent networking at the InterContinental level in the key working groups grappling with London Park Lane. Urban Air Mobility and the Brunel Challenge  A significant highlight in the event calendar on High Value Design. From our perspective, was the RAeS Lithium Battery Conference the former poses some hard questions of organised by the Flight Operations Group, certification, safety and regulation while the entitled ‘A Rising Risk in Aviation’. This is a latter is causing us to consider how the role highly topical and important issue, not least of the engineer of the future will change. At given the release of new US regulations on present, we are only seeing the tip of what the eve of the conference. The event brought is likely to be a very large iceberg, but we do MEANWHILE, together regulators, investigators, industry, need to be in the driving seat as things develop OUR WORK operators and the science community. As rather than being passive observers. The ON CHARTING such, it provided delegates with the most up implications for our sectors are profound. to date information about the hazards posed  Ending on something of a sombre note, the THE SOCIETY’S by lithium batteries including the challenges loss of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX WAY THROUGH of early detection of over-heating. Overall, it 8 on 10 March reminds us that aviation is a THE FOURTH added much to the Society’s body of knowledge serious business and our condolences go to all INDUSTRIAL and was a credit to Flight Operations Group those affected by the accident. It also serves as in both the selection of the subject and the a reminder of the importance and value of the REVOLUTION orchestration of the agenda. safety culture that been created in the aviation CONTINUES  Over the past two years the National Aerospace and aerospace sectors over many years.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 43 Afterburner Book Reviews A FEW PLANES FOR CHINA The Birth of the Flying In fact, it was British assistance, rather than American, that was most important to China until Tigers close to the date of Pearl Harbor (in her pithy By E Buchan phrase: “The man behind the Flying Tigers was ultimately Winston Churchill”). She also illuminates a ForeEdge, University Press of New , One painful reality: Chinese pilots were not ‘excellent’ (as Court Street, Suite 250, , NH 03766, USA. one report suggested); they were badly-trained and 2017. xv; 262pp. Illustrated. $35. ISBN 978-1- caused as much destruction as they did useful work. Claire Chennault, the figure often called the USAAF Liberator bomber 61168-866-5. crosses the shark-nosed founder of the AVG, is also subject to revision. bows of US P-40 fighters This is an impressive revisionist monograph that Buchan shows that he was not the first person at an advanced US base in unpicks one of the more mythic events in the history to initiate the AVG and highlights tactical flaws in China. of WW2 in Asia: the founding of the ‘Flying Tigers’, Chennault’s work with the Chinese. She places some National Archives and Records Administration. the nickname for the American Volunteer Group of the blame for the poor state of the Chinese air (AVG) that operated in China in the years before force on Chennault’s shoulders and argues that, after Pearl Harbor. 1938, Chennault was in fact rather less important in Buchan argues that the role of airpower in shaping the shaping of military policy than his own narrative This is an US-China defence relations during the period of the suggested. Overall, Buchan suggests, there was Chinese Nationalist government’s rule (up to 1941) little real intention by Chiang Kai-shek after 1938 to impressive has been ill-conceived. She counters the romantic view create a really strong Chinese air force. In fact, his revisionist that the US started very early on to create a Chinese intention was to make gestures that would help him monograph air power capability that would, eventually, come to gain greater foreign air support. that unpicks to serve it in the face of a war with Japan. Buchan This is a compellingly-written and deeply- then gives an alternative reading based on extensive researched account that will be of great interest to one of the more archival research in several languages. Essentially, all scholars of the history of airpower in WW2. mythic events she says, the American administrations (particularly in the history of that of Roosevelt) had a purely commercial interest in Rana Mitter WW2 in Asia: the supplying air power to China and that it was only very Director of the University China Centre, late in the East Asian crisis that moves were made Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China, founding of the that were more strategic in nature. University of Oxford ‘Flying Tigers’

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE A Centenary of Operations and almost every campaign is mentioned. Almost half the book is taken up with the story from 1918 By M Napier to 1945, and subsequent stories are described in slightly more detail, although it seems that Search Osprey Publishing, c/o Bloomsbury Publishing, and Rescue operations get only a token photograph. PO Box 883, Oxford OX1 9PL, UK. 2018. 340pp. As mentioned previously, the book is well- Illustrated. £30. ISBN 978-1-4728-2540-7. illustrated, with many colour photographs. The bulk A KC-10 Extender refuels a of the images are of good quality and the author Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 The RAF’s Centenary Year has – as might be has done well to find photographs which are not ‘the so that it can sustain airborne expected – brought forth a significant number of usual suspects’. My one quibble is that several are operations in support of books looking at the RAF’s 100 years from many printed across two pages, with the result that part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. USAF. different angles, and in diverse formats. Michael the image is lost in the central margin. Napier’s volume is close to what is often termed a Like many RAF aircraft, this book can take on ‘coffee table book’ – a copiously illustrated, weighty a variety of roles. It is an informative introduction tome – but with a higher ratio of text to images than to the RAF’s history, which can whet a reader’s covering the many of that genre. appetite for further study and those who served will RAF story in It is difficult for authors to strike a balance doubtless find that it brings out memories of their depth would between a comprehensive account and a detailed time in RAF blue. Most importantly, it testifies to the one; covering the RAF story in depth would require breadth of the RAF’s operations over a century in require several several volumes, and Michael Napier’s book is which warfare was revolutionised by air power. volumes, and certainly comprehensive. The ten chapters cover Michael Napier’s the RAF story in – as might be expected – a rather Peter Elliott broad-brush style but the author has taken pains Affiliate book is certainly to ensure that no operational theatre is omitted RAeS Historical Group comprehensive

44 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 HUCKNALL The Rolls-Royce Flight Test Establishment By D Birch

The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, PO Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ, UK (E [email protected] ; T +44 (0)1332 240340). 2017. 414pp. Illustrated. £45 (Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust members), £60 (non-members) inclusive of postage/packing. ISBN 978-1-872922-43-0.

This hardback volume of 424 A4 pages covers the complete history of the Rolls-Royce Flight Test Establishment from its beginnings in the mid-1930s until the final flight of the last development aircraft (VC10 G-AXLR) from Hucknall to in March 1972. Chapter One sets the scene with introductory text on piston engines and the need to standardise as many aspects of power plant development as possible in order to simplify installation of engines in different aircraft. In parallel, the importance of Above: VC10, G-AXLR, was used a testbed engine mountings and cooling systems is discussed, for the Rolls-Royce RB211, together with the complexities of developments in flying for the first time on 6 aviation fuels and related control systems, advances March 1970 and became the in propeller design, supercharger developments and last aircraft to be tested at Hucknall in March 1972. so on are covered. The chapter then moves on to Left: Rolls-Royce Exe the development of gas turbines and the topics of 24-cylinder, air-cooled, air intakes, re-heat and . X-block, sleeve-valve engine Chapter Two covers Flight Development, with ‘B’ Series outside the Ramp Hangar at Hucknall. short sections on work carried out at Stag Lane RAeS (NAL). and Tollerton, prior to the necessary expansion of activities by the development of the site at Hucknall (in 1935). The next 200 pages include annual summaries of work carried out between 1935 and 1970, illustrated with many photographs of aircraft The book is a and equipment from the Rolls-Royce Heritage aviation historians and will have taken many years veritable ‘Tour archives. of research by David Birch. With such a large scope de Force’. I Chapter Three is titled ‘Other Work’, which there may be small omissions of detail but the unreservedly concentrates on listing design and project activities work shows the intensity of the author’s dedicated on engine installations in various British (and research. The Appendix continues with aircraft recommend some foreign) aircraft designs, while Chapter Four received for repair, ones arriving for investigation everyone with describes company test facilities, again illustrated of problems, ending with details of ‘accidents an interest in with photographs and diagrams from Rolls-Royce and incidents’. Further Appendices list details of archives. powerplant production, engine data, pilots and the history of There follow seven Appendices. Appendix personnel, contracts, demonstration flights and a great British 1 is broken up into six sub-sections that list all flying hours, and a useful chronology. There is also company to the aircraft that were involved in Hucknall’s work. an Index. read, mark, Appendix 1A, in 40 pages of text, lists all the Flight The book is a veritable ‘Tour de Force’. I Development Aircraft including those few from unreservedly recommend everyone with an interest learn and the days of Stag Lane and Tollerton. They appear in the history of a great British company to read, inwardly digest in alphabetical order of manufacturer (listed as mark, learn and inwardly digest a great account of a great account biplanes, then piston-powered monoplanes and British engineering endeavour. of British so on) in order of their arrival at Rolls-Royce, with details of their use and eventual disposal. This Philip Butler engineering represents a phenomenal historical resource for Affiliate endeavour

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 45 Afterburner Book Reviews THE ECONOMICS OF AIRLINES By V Bilotkach infrastructure. At every stage the author is careful to stick to the economic impact or relevance. There Agenda Publishing Limited, The Core, Science are times he strays towards over-simplification, Central, Bath Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TF, e.g. defining and managing airport capacity. This UK (www.agendapub.com). 2017. x; 174pp. ISBN is a small price to pay for a text covering the 978-1911116-141-1. £15. entire sector in 164 pages. The differing global perspectives on things like noise and air pollution This is an easy read from start to finish in structure, are well documented, again through a disciplined writing style, loving written by someone with a close lens of economics. affinity to the sector. Part IV (related markets impact) does well to Part I follows a classic path for an economics cover a lot of ground including airports, navigation text focusing on demand, costs and pricing/selling and aircraft manufacturers. The chapter on airports strategies. These are well covered at a high-level, is well documented posing some big questions explaining clearly some of the more complex for the industry and governments. Bilotkach mechanisms. As is traditional, low-cost carriers are succeeds in transporting a reader effectively to key well documented for their significance. developments and trends, eg the shift over the next Part II widens the lens to discuss the whole decade towards composite material aircraft. market. It spends time considering the industry, A charming read on airline economics, with how it functions, taking in competition, alliances, a few titbits for airline customers. Each chapter regulation, safety and security. Bilotkach is careful concludes with an eye to the future and key while telling the airline story not to take any A charming questions. There are a few unexpected topic short cuts when it comes to defining key industry read on airline placements and a small bias towards US market concepts along the way, eg bilateral open skies economics, with data. agreements. Part III moves to external factors including a few titbits for Steve Bernard pollution, congestion, the role of airports and airline customers MRAeS

THE EARTH GAZERS

By C Potter scientific sense (satellites are no more than an aside to the main narrative). Nor is it a book about aircraft, Head of Zeus Ltd, 5-8 Hardwick Street, London rocket technology or lunar landings – though these EC1R 4RG, UK. 2017. 464pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN are the vehicles (metaphorical and physical) through 978-1-78497-432-9. which the narrative is told. It is principally about people and how they came to see the Earth. It takes The Earth Gazers is an unusual and enjoyable book. the reader on a journey from early 1900’s US airmail, Rather than dealing with a single episode in history, across the Atlantic to the Nazi V-2 slave factories, this book weaves together a series of biographical follows the Cold War rush to orbit and finally to the and aeronautical histories from the early to mid-20th lunar astronauts’ safe return to Earth, the home century. Their common theme could be described as planet – an experience which they struggled to

the ‘discovery of Earth’ and our relationship to it. The Apollo 11 Lunar Module convey in ways religious, secular and scientific. The key narratives of the book, which are neatly ascent stage is photographed Potter has created something unique in The woven together, are those of: Charles Lindbergh from the Command and Earth Gazers – in a field that has been the subject and the ‘Spirit of St Louis’, Wernher von Braun’s Service Modules in lunar orbit of many retrospectives. The book occasionally drifts development of rocket technology (during and after on 21 July 1969. NASA. into philosophical reflections which can distract WW2), ‘Earth rise’ and the Apollo missions and the a little from its otherwise compelling style, while political campaigning of Madelyn Murray O’Hair. As O’Hair’s tale sits slightly apart from the rest of the a controversial campaigner for the separation of Nevertheless, narrative. Given the subject matter, a future edition (the US) state and religion, O’Hair’s inclusion adds a these modest might benefit from a few additional images and novel extra dimension to the book. Potter is able to photographs. Nevertheless, these modest shortfalls link each of these themes as they develop, to give a shortfalls can can be forgiven for what is ultimately an enjoyable, pleasingly rounded account that goes beyond simple be forgiven for educational, well-paced book, which handles a very technological storytelling, allowing a fuller contextual what is ultimately technology-driven period in history in a very human understanding of their ‘life and times’. an enjoyable, way. Technically inclined readers may come to this book with a number of misconceptions. It is not educational, well- Richard Lowe a book about Earth observation in the modern paced book MRAeS

46 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Library Additions BOOKS

AERODYNAMICS Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 x; 244pp. Illustrated. £19.95. 6000 Broken sound Parkway FL 33487-2742, USA. 2018. Broken Sound Parkway NW, ISBN 978-19998128-3-6. NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, Distributed by Taylor & Francis Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL The authors’ WW2 FL 33487-2742, USA. 2018. Group, 2 Park Square, Milton 33487-2742, USA. 2018. experiences as one of the Distributed by Taylor & Francis Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN,

“This book represents a lifetime of KNIGHT CAMBRIDGE Distributed by Taylor & Francis aircrew aboard the RAF’s then Group, 2 Park Square, Milton UK. xiv; 475pp. Illustrated. valuable contributions to optimal low- thrust orbit transfer.” AEROSPACE John E. Prussing, University of Illinois Group, 2 Park Square, Milton new four-engine heavy bomber Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, £100. [20% discount available

K SERIES Y This essential book describes the M mathematical formulations and subsequent HIGH-SPEED FLOW CONTROL

C Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, the , beginning UK. xv; 327pp. Illustrated. to RAeS members via www. computer simulations required to accurately Jean Albert Kéchichian is a retired Engineering ENERGY DEPOSITION FOR

PPC ENERGY DEPOSITION project the trajectory of spacecraft and Specialist from The Aerospace Corporation. His rockets in space, using the formalism of career has included senior level engineering UK. xv; 444pp. Illustrated. with the Technical Apprentices £110. [20% discount available crcpress.com using AKQ07 optimal control for minimum-time transfer positions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory FOR HIGH-SPEED in general elliptic orbit. The material and at Ford Aerospace. His main areas of contribution are in spaceflight guidance and will aid research students in aerospace £110. [20% discount available School at Halton followed by to RAeS members via www. promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- navigation. He is a Fellow of The American engineering, as well as practitioners in the FLOW CONTROL Astronautical Society, and his work has regularly field of spaceflight dynamics, in developing appeared in Acta Astronautica, Journal of simulation software to carry out trade Guidance Control and Dynamics, Journal of the DOYLE D. KNIGHT to RAeS members via www. his subsequent postings to crcpress.com using AKQ07 138-62768-0. studies useful in vehicle and mission design. Astronautical Sciences, and Journal of Spacecraft It will also teach them to develop flight and Rockets. He holds Degrees in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from l’Université crcpress.com using AKQ07 Cosford, Penrhos, St Athan, promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- software for operational applications in autonomous mode, to actually transfer de Liège, UC Berkeley, and a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. space vehicles from one orbit to another. promotion code]. ISBN 978-1- Wickenby, Faldingworth, 138-09785-8. Aerospace Materials and The hands-on real-life applications discussed will give all readers a clear understanding of the mathematics of orbit transfer, allow 4987-6107-9. Hemswell, Kirmington, Applications. Progress them to develop their own operational software to fly actual missions, and use the contents as a research tool to carry out even Scampton, Sturgate and Safely to Earth: the Men in Aeronautics and more complex analyses. KNIGHT – ENERGY DEPOSITION FOR HIGH-SPEED FLOW CONTROL HISTORICAL Waddington. and Women Who Brought Astronautics series Vol 255. the Astronauts Home. Edited by B N Bhat. American 9781107123052

Cover image: International Space Station (2007). © Getty / Stocktrek Images. Ingenieros Aeronauticos ROTORCRAFT J Clemons. University Press Institute of Aeronautics and en Espana: 90 anos de of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Astronautics, Reston, VA. historia de una titulacion y Street, Gainesville, FL 32611- 2018. xiv; 828pp. Illustrated. sus escuelas. R Martinez-Val 2079, USA. 2018. 272pp. Distributed by Transatlantic Energy Deposition for and J A M Caneza. Escuela Illustrated. $24.95. ISBN 978- Publishers Group, 97 Greenham High-Speed Flow Control. Técnica Superior de Ingenieros 0-8130-5602-9. Road London N10 1LN, UK. D D Knight. Cambridge Aeronauticos, Madrid. 2018. The revealing £131. [20% discount available University Press, University 278pp. Illustrated. autobiography of a former to RAeS members on request; Printing House, Shaftesbury The history and lead engineer who supported E [email protected]]. Road, Cambridge CB2 8BS, development of aviation, NASA manned spaceflight ISBN 978-1-62410-488-6. UK. 2019.xi; 450pp. Illustrated. the aircraft industry and the missions from Apollo 7 £135. ISBN 978-1-107- evolution of aeronautical through to Apollo 17, Skylab THERMODYNAMICS 12305-2. engineering training in Spain is and the Space Shuttle flights, recorded in this well-illustrated concluding with the 1986 Thermodynamics: Annual Review of Fluid large-format volume. STS-51L Challenger and 2003 Fundamentals and Mechanics Vol 51, 2019. STS-107 Columbia disasters. Engineering Applications. Edited by S H Davis and Messerchmitt Me 264 W C Reynolds and P Colonna. P Moin. Annual Reviews, 4139 Amerika Bomber: STRUCTURES AND Cambridge University Press, El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA the Luftwaffe’s Lost Helicopter Flight MATERIALS University Printing House, 94306, USA. 2018. vii; 643pp. Transatlantic Bomber. Dynamics: Including a Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge Illustrated. $116. ISBN 978-0- R Forsyth and E J Creek. Ian Treatment of Tiltrotor The Finite Element CB2 8BS, UK. 2018. xxi; 8243-0751-6. Allan Publishing Ltd, Hersham. Aircraft – Third edition. Method: Fundamentals 401pp. Illustrated. £84.99. ‘Rate Effects in 2006. 128pp. Illustrated. ISBN G D Padfield. John Wiley and and Applications in Civil, ISBN 978-0-521-86273-8. Hypersonic Flows’, ‘Leading- 978-1903223-65-9. Sons, The Atrium, Southern Hydraulic, Mechanical and Edge Vortices: Mechanics and A detailed well-illustrated Gate, Chichester, Aeronautical Engineering. UNMANNED AERIAL Modeling’, ‘Direct Numerical large-format history of the PO19 8SQ, UK. 2018. xlii; B Zhu. John Wiley and Sons, VEHICLES Simulation of Turbulent German long-range bomber 810pp. Illustrated. £96.95. The Atrium, Southern Gate, Flows Laden with Droplets and reconnaissance aircraft ISBN 978-1-119-40105-6. Chichester, West Sussex PO19 or Bubbles’, ‘Attached Eddy which was originally conceived 8SQ, UK. 2018. xxvi; 843pp. Model of Wall Turbulence’, to be able to fly from any point SERVICE AVIATION Illustrated. £125. ISBN 978-1- ‘Turbulence Modeling in the of the globe to another without 119-10731-6. Age of Data’, ‘Highly Resolved refuelling. Un Destin Tourmente – Brownian Motion in Space Histoire de Aérodrome Impact Mechanics – and in Time’, ‘Nonlinear Canberra: de Caen-Carpiquet: de Second edition. W J Stronge. Theories for Shear Flow a Press Record of 1937 a nos jours avant Cambridge University Press, Instabilities: Physical Insights its Christening and le quartier Koenig et University Printing House, and Practical Implications’ Transatlantic Flight l’aéroport d’aujourd’hui. Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge and the contributions of January and February 1951. F Robinard and T Quittard. CB2 8BS, UK. 2018. xx; Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar English Electric – Publicity Editions Heimdal, Bayeux. 362pp. Illustrated. £120. ISBN (1910-1995) are among the Department (Press Section). 2014. Illustrated. 160pp. ISBN 978-0-521-84188-7. subjects discussed in the latest 1951. 77pp. Illustrated. 978-2-84048386-1. enlarged-format volume in this A compilation of Illustrated throughout Mechanics of Materials: informative series reviewing reproductions of numerous with numerous photographs, a with Applications in Excel. developments in fluid dynamics contemporary newspaper history of the Carpiquet airfield B B Muvdi and S Elhouar. CRC research and applications. cuttings recording the near Caen which was originally Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Advanced UAV christening on 19 January conceived in June 1939 as a 6000 Broken Sound Parkway Aerodynamics, Flight AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND 1951 of the world’s first jet French bomber base and then NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, Stability and Control: CONSTRUCTION bomber ‘Canberra’ by the subsequently occupied by FL 33487-2742, USA. 2016. Novel Concepts, Theory Prime Minister of Australia R G German forces who used it as a Distributed by Taylor & Francis and Applications. Edited Conceptual Aircraft Menzies (which was originally strategic base during the Battle Group, 2 Park Square, Milton by P Marques and A Da Design: an Industrial planned to be built in Australia) of Britain, leading the airfield Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, Ronch. John Wiley and Sons, Approach. A K Kundu et and its subsequent record 4 to be subsequently bombed by UK. xiv; 707pp. Illustrated. The Atrium, Southern Gate, al. John Wiley and Sons, hours 40 minutes flight across the Allies, during WW2. £98.99. [20% discount Chichester, West Sussex PO19 The Atrium, Southern Gate, the Atlantic Ocean. available to RAeS members 8SQ, UK. 2017. xvii; 766pp. Chichester, West Sussex PO19 SPACE via www.crcpress.com using Illustrated. £110. ISBN 978-1- 8SQ, UK. 2019. lxvii; 984pp. Nine Wing COs and the AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN 118-92868-4. Illustrated. £96.50. ISBN 978- Lancaster: the Second Commercial Space 978-1-466-57071-9. 1-119-50028-5. World War Experiences of Technologies For further information a Bomber Command Flight and Applications: Physical Metallurgy: contact the National AVIONICS AND SYSTEMS Engineer. P Baxter. Fighting Communication, Remote Principles and Design. Aerospace Library. High Ltd (www.fightinghigh. Sensing, GPS and G N Haidemenopoulos. CRC Introduction to Radar com). 2018. Distributed by Meteorological Satellites – Press, Taylor & Francis Group, T +44 (0)1252 701038 Analysis – Second edition. Casemate, 10 Hythe Bridge Second edition. M Razani. CRC 6000 Broken Sound Parkway or 701060 B R Mahafza. CRC Press, Street, Oxford OX1 2EW, UK. Press, Taylor & Francis Group, NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, E [email protected]

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 47 Afterburner Society News 153rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES OF THE 153rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Royal Aeronautical Society

The 153rd Annual General Meeting of the Royal Aeronautical 3. Appoint the Auditors for the ensuing year, and; Society was held in the Lecture Theatre at No.4 Hamilton 4. Receive the names of those currently on the Board of Place, London, on Thursday, 10 May 2018. Trustees and those newly-elected to the Council. The following voting members were present: ACM Sir The papers circulated before the meeting were identified Stephen Dalton (President), Mr Anthony Heaps, Mr Bill Read, by the President as being the Calling Notice for the AGM and Air Cdre Bill Tyack, Prof Chris Atkin, AVM David Couzens, Sir the Agenda, The Minutes of the 2017 Annual General Meeting, Donald Spiers, Dr Francesca De Florio, Mr Howard Nye, Mr Ian the 2017 Annual Report and Accounts and the 2017 Annual Middleton, Mrs Jenny Body, Sir John O’Reilly, Prof Jonathan Review. Cooper, Mr Martin Broadhurst, Prof Moji Moatamedi, Mr Nick The Chief Executive, Mr Luxmoore, read the Calling Notice, West, Mr Paul Bailey, Mr Paul Body, Mr Peter Brooks, Mr Scott which appeared in the April 2018 edition of AEROSPACE and Phillips, RAdm Simon Henley, Mr Simon Luxmoore, Dr Thurai on the website. Rahulan, Ms Zoe Layden, Mr Philip Spiers, Mr Phil Boyle, Sir Colin Terry, Mr Howard Wheeldon, Capt John Faulkner, Sir Peter To receive and consider the Minutes of the 152nd Norriss, Mr Philip Stehr, Gp Cpt Peter Holtby, Mr Pat Norris, Air Annual General Meeting held on 11 May 2017 Cdre Peter Round and Mr N I Baker. (agenda item 2) The following non-voting members were present: Mr Anthony Francis, Miss Kerissa Khan, Mr Bernard Chan and Mr The President invited the meeting to consider the minutes of Robert Sawford. the 152nd AGM held on 11 May 2017. The following non-members were present: Mr Patrick The Minutes of the 2017 AGM were accepted nem con as Slomski (Honorary Solicitor) and Mrs Saadiya Ogeer a true and accurate record, as proposed by Air Cdre Bill Tyack (Governance and Compliance Manager). and seconded by Prof Jonathan Cooper.

To read the Notice convening the Meeting (agenda item 1) To receive and consider the Audited Accounts and the Report of the Board of Trustees on the state of the The President, ACM Sir Stephen Dalton, took the chair and Society for the year ending 31 December 2017 welcomed everyone to the 153rd Annual General Meeting of (agenda item 3) the Royal Aeronautical Society. The Chief Executive, Mr Luxmoore, confirmed to the The President invited the meeting to receive and deliberate President that there was a quorum. upon the 2017 Annual Report and Accounts. The President The Chief Executive, Mr Luxmoore, announced that (in the absence of the Finance Chair, Ms Middleton) gave key apologies for absence were noted from: Mrs Christine highlights noting that the Society made an operating surplus Ourmieres-Widener, Capt Colin Cox, Mr Daniel Olufisan, Mr of £137k down on 2016 (£139k). The overall operating David Lang, Capt David Rowland, Miss Diana Franceva, Miss revenue was slightly down on 2016 by 1.1% at £4.3m. The Hilary Barton, Ms Jane Middleton, AM Julian Young, Mr Lee membership subscriptions grew by over 3% to finish the year Balthazor, Mr Michael Gething, Mr Peter Barrett, Prof Peter at £2.1m and 2017 was another positive year for Corporate Bearman, Mr Richard Daniel, Mr Roger Beazley, Mr Ronald Partners with subscription increasing by 13% from 2016. Wood, Mr Sam Macleod, Ms Sarah Moynihan, Miss Zoë Gell and Last year was another tough year for Conference & Events Capt Hugh Dibley. which generated £423k through sponsorship/delegate fees The President explained in accordance with By-Law 19.2, through its programme of conferences and lectures. The the business of the Annual General Meeting was to: Venue Hire struggled throughout the year to finish down by 1. Receive and consider the minutes of the previous Annual 3.5% on 2016. At the end of 2017 the Society continued to General Meeting have a strong balance sheet with investments at £3.3m (up 2. Receive and consider the Audited accounts and the Report by 11%); cash reserves ended the year at £2.3m; reserves of the Board of Trustees on the state of the Society finishing at £10.3m an increase of £520k, even though the

48 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Society paid an extra £500k off the mortgage leaving an The President congratulated those elected and thanked outstanding balance of £1.9m. The President thanked Mr all those who were ready to stand for the Council elections. Simon Luxmoore and his team for achieving such an excellent The President noted that the Council members are intrinsic to result in 2017. the Society in representing the views of the membership and The meeting agreed nem con to receive 2017 Annual extended gratitude to the members who put their time and Report and Accounts, as proposed by Sir Donald Spiers and effort on the Council. seconded Sir Colin Terry. The President also thanked the retiring members of Council: To appoint the Auditors for the year 2018 (agenda item 4) Prof Chris Atkin Capt Hugh Dibley The President gave thanks to haysmacintyre for their support Wg Cdr Ross Priday in 2017 advising the meeting that that there were no matters arising from the audit which had been undertaken by the new To receive the names of those currently on the Board audit partner at haysmacintyre. Mr Luxmoore informed the of Trustees (agenda item 5b) meeting that a ‘beauty parade’ for the auditors took place just under three years ago and the Audit Partner was alternated 18 The meeting received the names of the Board of Trustees: months ago and has since conducted one set of accounts. The Prof Chris Atkin President informed the meeting that the Finance Committee Mr Martin Broadhurst Chair (supported by the Finance Committee), recommends to ACM Sir Stephen Dalton the Trustees and members that haysmacintyre are reappointed Lt Cdr Richard Gearing for the 2018 accounts. The President invited questions and RAdm Simon Henley comments. Ms Jane Middleton The meeting agreed nem con that haysmacintyre be Ms Sarah Moynihan reappointed as the auditors for the 2018 accounts. Sir John O’Reilly Dr Thurai Rahulan To receive the names of those newly elected to Council for the years 2018-2021 (agenda item 4a) The President noted that Dr Thurai Rahulan would remain a Trustee of the Society, under By-Law 6.5, until the first meeting The President announced the results of the Council ballot and of the new Council year when the Council would elect a new the votes received by each candidate in numerical order: nominated trustee.

Total Number of Ballots Issued: 8,121 Close of the Meeting Total Number of Votes Cast: 1,937 Turnout: 23.9% ACM Sir Stephen Dalton noted that is has been an honour and privilege to serve as the Society’s President. ACM Sir Stephen Candidate’s Name Number of Votes thanked all the staff at the Society, all led successfully by Mr Miss Zoë Catriona Alice Gell 1,651 Luxmoore – in particular, Mr Whalley in ensuring the Society’s Lieutenant Commander Richard M Gearing 1,388 profile is known professionally and by the government, as well Mr David Gordon Chinn 1,242 as Ms Mensah and Mrs Ogeer for their support during the past Mr Howard Russell Nye 1,127 year. Mr Robert Thomas Savidge 1,120 It was noted that Prof Jonathan Cooper had been elected Dr Thurai Rahulan 1,115 President-Elect for 2018-2019 year. Mr Daniel Olufisan 894 ACM Sir Stephen Dalton formally handed over the Presidency of the Society to RAdm Simon Henley and closed The President announced that, in accordance with the the formal business of the AGM. Society’s By-Laws, the following had been duly elected to serve RAdm Henley thanked ACM Sir Stephen Dalton, noting that on Council for the three years 2018-2021, in alphabetical Sir Stephen’s contribution to the Society has been fundamental order: and important to the Society – in having a President that is Mr David Gordon Chinn both visible and credible particularly given the ambition for the Lieutenant Commander Richard M Gearing Society to be the voice of influence. Miss Zoë Catriona Alice Gell RAdm Henley then presented ACM Sir Stephen Dalton with Howard Russell Nye a medal in acknowledgment of his Presidency. Dr Thurai Rahulan RAdm Henley thanked the members present for attending Mr Robert Thomas Savidge the meeting.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 49 Obituary RON JOHN KENNETT AFAIAA FIMgt FRAeS 1935-2019

Ron Kennett, who died recently at the age of 83, was the Director of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 1988 to 1998. Ron was born in Hayes, Middlesex, and lived there throughout WW2. Following the family’s move to West Yorkshire, Ron’s engineering career started with a student apprenticeship at Bradford Technical College, where he completed a course in Electrical Engineering and gained a Higher National Certificate in 1956. Ron then took up permanent employment in the newly-formed Aircraft Equipment Division of the English Electric Company in Bradford. The subsequent rationalisation of the aerospace industry in the UK led to his company becoming a part of Lucas Aerospace, and Ron was appointed as Chief Engineer of the Power Systems Division of that company in 1978. Ron was a keen member and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and, in 1988, when the position of Director of the Society was advertised, he applied for it and was selected for the post. Having taken up his new position, Ron lost no time in reviewing the outreach of the Society and the results of his review convinced him that there was a real need to publicise the benefits of membership much more widely than had previously been the case. He therefore set himself a programme of visiting all the major employers of aerospace skills, including the Ministry of Defence, and making a presentation of the benefits to be gained from membership. This led to many applications for membership of the Society. He also encouraged existing members to take a greater interest in the Society by joining local groups and by standing for election to Council. This resulted in a marked upturn in the interest shown in the Society. Top: During the opening of the Society’s new Careers Centre Ron made visits to the overseas Divisions on 1 July 1997. From left: Ron Kennett, Andrew Payne, Careers and Branches of the Society and encouraged the Officer; Sir Richard Evans, CEO, ; and Stewart John, RAeS President 1997-1998. establishment of several new Branches overseas as Middle: As his last duty for the Society Ron switched on the well as in the UK. He then accompanied successive Society’s computerised Library catalogue which contains details Presidents of the Society on their overseas visits to of the Library’s extensive collections. Standing from left: Capt Jock make sure they stuck to his party line! He arranged Lowe, RAeS President 1998-1999; Andrew Little, RAeS Deputy an appropriate celebration for the 125th anniversary Director 1995-2007; Keith Mans, Royal Aeronautical Society Director/Chief Executive, 1998-2009; Arnold Nayler, RAeS of the formation of the RAeS in 1991, including an Technical Manager and Brian Riddle, Deputy Librarian. event at Old Warden that was well attended. Above: Capt Jock Lowe, left, bids farewell to Ron on his retirement Finally, Ron conceived of the idea of Corporate from the Society. Ron’s wife Sylvia is on the right, 31 July 1998. Membership of the Society and was highly RAeS (NAL). successful in encouraging many aerospace associated companies to join what has become a Ron served as a Non-Executive Director of the very important section of our supporters. NHS from 2000 to 2006 and was a Member of Overall Ron Kennett’s tenure as Director of the the Development Committee and The Court of the Royal Aeronautical Society was highly successful University of Hertfordshire from 2004 to 2007. and prepared the Society for a re-invigorated life in the 21st century. Sir Donald Spiers After retiring from the Society on 31 July 1998, CEng HonFRAeS

50 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 154th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society

The 154th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society incorporating the Institution of Aeronautical Engineers, the Helicopter Association of Great Britain and the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Technologist will be held on Thursday, 16 May 2019, at 1830 hours at the Registered office of the Society, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK.

The business of the AGM: 1. To receive and consider the Minutes of the 153rd Annual General Meeting held on 10 May 2018. 2. To receive and consider the Audited Accounts and Report of the Board of Trustees on the state of the Society for the year ending 31 December 2018. 3. To appoint the auditors for the year 2019. 4. To receive the names of those appointed to the Board of Trustees and those newly-elected to the Council for the years 2019-2022.

To register your attendance to the 154th AGM please visit our website on: https://aerosociety.com/AGM19

AEROSPACE GOLF DAY FOR INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE MEMBERS

FRILFORD HEATH GOLF CLUB, OXFORDSHIRE / TUESDAY 4 JUNE 2019

Championship heathland Join us at our 2019 Aerospace Golf golf in the South Oxfordshire Day for some healthy competition with fellow golfers in the aerospace and countryside aviation community.

18 hole texas scramble This event is ideal for networking in a competition relaxed and informal setting.

9 hole stableford points Enter a corporate 4-ball team or opt to be teamed up with other individual competition players.

Individual and corporate For further details please apply to: team prizes Gail Ward Events Manager Breakfast, lunch, refreshments Royal Aeronautical Society T +44 (0)1491 629912 and afternoon tea E [email protected] Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 51 Afterburner Diary

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

2 April Feeling Supersonic – An Aviation Odyssey Dr Michael Pryce, Lecturer, Cranfield University Historical Group Lecture

4 April Brexit – What now for Aviation? Air Law and Air Transport Groups half-day Seminar

9 April Development of the SPEAR3 Weapon System

11 April Alan Bristow Lecture Rotorcraft Group Named Lecture

30 April Business Aviation 2030 Networking Event

RAeS (NAL) RAeS FAW1, XJ516. Ken Sharman will describe a day in the life of a Cold War Sea Vixen pilot at the Christchurch Branch on 25 April. RAeS (NAL).

BAY OF PLENTY followed by Boeing rotary in CHRISTCHURCH 2 May Classic Flyers, 8 Jean Batten the UK. Lees Lecture Theatre. 7.30pm. Lecture: Aeronauts and Innovators Drive, Mount Maunganui, Roger Starling, – Northern Ireland’s Aviation Pioneers and their Tauranga 3116. 6pm. BROUGH E rogerstarling593@btinternet. Inspirational Engineering Achievements 5 April — A drone view from Cottingham Parks Golf Club. com Mark Price, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engineering and Physical across the ‘ditch’. Timothy 7.30pm. Ben Groves, 25 April — Branch AGM Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast Graham, Civil Aviation Safety T +44 (0)1482 663938. followed by A day in the life Named Lecture Authority (CASA). 10 April — 65th Sir George of a Cold War Sea Vixen 22 May — Erika Pearson Cayley Lecture. F-35B pilot. Kim Sharman. Barnes 9 May VP Boeing Asia-Pacific and Lightning II. Air Cdre Linc Lecture Theatre, Maintenance Error: Are we learning? India Sales. Joint meeting with Taylor, RAF. 7pm. University Talbot Campus. Conference at Cranfield University AHSNZ Tauranga. 15 May — Mirage IV – the 6.45pm. only true deterrent? Ian Reed, 23 May — Flying the SR-71 15 May BEDFORD Director, Yorkshire Air Museum. Blackbird. Col Richard Graham, Air Power 1944 – Setting the Conditions for Victory ARA Socal Club, Manton Lane, USAF (Ret’d). Conference Bedford. 7pm. CARDIFF 10 April — Branch AGM Cardiff & Vale Colleges – COVENTRY 16 May followed by The NASA Juno ICAT, Cardiff Airport Business Lecture Theatre ECG26, RAeS AGM and Annual Banquet mission to Jupiter. Dr Jonathan Park, Cardiff Airport, Rhoose, Engineering & Computing 22-23 May Nichols. Barry. 7pm. Building, Coventry University, Aerospace Mental Health and Wellbeing E [email protected] Coventry. 7.30pm. Janet Owen, Aerospace Medicine Group Conference BIRMINGHAM, 10 April — Branch AGM T +44 (0)2476 464079. WOLVERHAMPTON AND followed by The People’s 17 April — Branch AGM 22 May COSFORD Mosquito. Alan Pickford, followed by vintage aircraft RAF Mental Health Services: Organisation. Delivery. Impact National Cold War Museum, Director of Finance, The films. Rob Foxon. Wg Cdr Elizabeth Ashton, Consultant Psychologist, RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal, People’s Mosquito. Royal Air Force and WO James Parkin, Specialist Nurse Shropshire. 7pm. Chris Hughes, CRANWELL Advisor Mental Health, Royal Air Force T +44 (0)1902 844523. CHESTER Daedalus Officers’ Mess, RAF Aerospace Medicine Group Lecture 18 April — History of Royal Room 017, Beswick Building, Cranwell. 7.30pm. Please flying. Sqn Ldr Graham Laurie. University of Chester, Parkgate allow enough time to visit the 30 May 16 May — Branch AGM Road. 7.30pm. Keith Housely, Guardroom for your pass. Results of the RemoveDEBRIS Mission (6.15pm) followed by T +44 (0)151 348 4480. 13 May — Branch AGM Professor Guglielmo Aglietti FRAeS, Director of the Surrey Rebuilding granddad’s Bristol 8 April — War and Peace – followed by Flying the Space Centre, University of Surrey Scout. David Bremner. 1956-1962. Peter Radcliffe, Lightning, Wg Cdr John Ward, Space Group Lecture 20 June — Schools Build- Grosvenor Museum Society Ret’d. a-Plane Challenge. Graham and former Army Sergeant and 3 June Wiley and Stuart Blakemore. Carl Mann, Chester Branch DERBY A Century of Transatlantic Flying and former RAF Corporal. Joint Nightingale Hall, Moor Lane, Historical Group Seminar BOSCOMBE DOWN lecture with the Grosvenor Derby. 5.30pm. Chris Sheaf, 4 June Lecture Theatre, MoD Museum Society. Grosvenor T +44 (0)1332 269368. Aerospace Golf Day Boscombe Down. 5.15pm. Museum, Chester. 10 April — Branch AGM Frilford Heath Golf Club Visitors please register at 10 April — and followed by Adventures in least four days in advance disaster relief. Rob Knotts, noise. Joe Walsh. All lectures start at 18.00hrs unless otherwise stated. (name and car registration former Chairman, The Conference proceedings are available at required) E secretary@ Association. FARNBOROUGH www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings BoscombeDownRAeS.org 8 May — Branch AGM BAE Systems Park Centre, 9 April — Branch AGM followed by short aviation talks. Farnborough Aerospace

52 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Left: Commercial, G-EASI, City of London, of Instone Air Line. The centenary of British Airways will be discussed by Alex Cruz at Heathrow on 11 April. RAeS (NAL).

followed by Unlearned and forgotten lessons for today’s defence forces from the Spitfire and Hurricane. Dr Gregor Ferguson, Director, Rumour Control. 26 June — Aviation Safety Forum. Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney. 8.30am.

TOULOUSE Symposium room, Building B01, Airbus Campus 1, Blagnac. 6pm. Contact: http:// goo.gl/WbiKtV to register. 16 April — The future of aerospace: known knowns and known unknowns! Sir Brian Burridge, CEO, RAeS. 14 May — Branch AGM followed by 12th ADS RAeS Toulouse Branch Lecture. Launching satellites from UK Space Centre in Scotland. Chris Centre. 7.30pm. Dr Mike Hörsaal 01.12 Berliner Tor 5 LOUGHBOROUGH British Apache operations in Lamour, CEO, Orbex Space. Philpot, (Neubau), 20099 Hamburg. Room U020, Brockington Afghanistan. Julian Lee. 7 June — Annual Dinner. T +44 (0)1252 614618. 6pm. Building, Loughborough Château de Larroque, 32200 16 April — 9 May — PRESTON Cody Lecture. The Ergonomics in the University. 7.30pm. Colin Moss, Gimont. 5m wind tunnel – past, present aviation industry. Dipl-Ing Klaus T +44 (0)1509 239962. Personnel and Conference 7 May — and future. Ian Smith, QinetiQ; Fuchs, Senior Ergonomist, Branch AGM (7pm) Centre, BAE Systems, Warton. WASHINGTON DC David Mowbray and David Plant Hamburg, Airbus. followed by Blue Steel – the 6.30pm. Alan Matthews, 12 April Branch Field Trip: Woodward Ret’d. 23 May — Cyber security – V-Force’s stand-off . Air T +44 (0)1995 61470. Goddard Spaceflight Center. 16 May — 10 April — Branch AGM the downside of digitalisation. Cdre Norman Bonnor. Airborne 8800 Greenbelt Road, 7pm 11 June — ( ) followed by Reaction Prof Dr Dieter Gollmann, Loughborough electronic warfare – the Cold Greenbelt, MD 20771. 10am. Engines update. Sophie Chair, Institute for Security University MEng final year War legacy. Gordon Slater, 9 May — Hypersonics. Harker, Aerodynamics and in Distributed Applications, aircraft design projects – short BAE Systems Ret’d. Performance Engineer for Hamburg University of lecture series. Joint lecture 8 May — RAF 2118 WEYBRIDGE BAE Systems’ Concepts & Technology. with Loughborough University Engineering – the next 100 Museum, Campbell Technology Team. 4 June — Gerhard Sedlmayr Department of Aeronautical years. Dr Julia Sutcliffe, Gate entrance. 6.45pm. 11 June — The Zephyr high Lecture. ZAL Tech Center. and Automotive Engineering. Head of Engineering Training 17 April — Branch AGM and altitude long endurance Room J104, Edward Herbert Services, BAE Systems. Social. aircraft. Paul Stevens, Airbus HAMILTON Building, Loughborough 12 June — Bush Pilot Flying. 15 May — BAe Harrier ski- Farnborough. Glenview Club, Peacockes University. 7pm. Capt Bryan Pill, Mission jump take-off feasibility trials. Road, Glenview, Hamilton. Aviation Fellowship. Dick Poole, former Chief Flight GATWICK 10 April — A drone view from MANCHESTER Test Engineer, Dunsfold. CAA Aviation House, Gatwick. across the ‘ditch’. Timothy Fourth Floor Conference Room SOUTHEND 19 June — VC10 to Voyager. 8 May — The future of Graham, Civil Aviation Safety E5, James Lighthill Building. Holiday Inn, Southend Airport. 4 April — aerospace: known knowns and Authority (CASA). Branch AGM 8pm. Sean Corr, T +44 (0)20 YEOVIL known unknowns! Sir Brian followed by Teddy Fielding 7929 3400. Dallas Conference Room 1A, Burridge, CEO, RAeS. HATFIELD Mini-Lecture Competition. 9 April — Branch AGM. Leonardo Helicopters, Yeovil. Lindop Building, Room A166, 14 May — Ernest Dove 6.30pm. David Mccallum, GLOUCESTER AND University of Hertfordshire, MEDWAY Lecture. Bush flying. Capt E david.mccallum@ CHELTENHAM College Lane, Hatfield. 7pm. Conference Room 1, BAE Bryan Pill, Mission Aviation leonardocompany.com , 9 April — Sir Geoffrey de Systems (Rochester), Marconi Fellowship. 11 April — Reggie Brie Young Restaurant Conference Room, Havilland Lecture. APPG for Way, Rochester. 7pm. Robin Members’ Lecture Competition. off Down Hatherley Lane. aerospace. Grant Shapps MP. Heaps, T +44 (0)1634 STEVENAGE 17 May — Branch AGM 7.30pm. Gary Murden, T +44 Weston A. 377973. Airbus SG1 2AS. 6pm. followed by Undercarriage (0)1452 715165. 14 May — Branch AGM 17 April — An independent E [email protected] design. Kerissa Khan. 18 April — 24th Folland followed by An evening with a Royal Air Force – inspiration or 16 April — Leslie Bedford 21 June — Flying on Salisbury Lecture and Dinner. Hatherley CFI. Reg Barber. aberration. Greg Baughen. Lecture and Dinner. Plain. Ted Mustard. Manor Hotel, Gloucester. 7pm. 14 May — Branch AGM 21 May — Branch AGM HEATHROW OXFORD followed by a lecture. (7pm) followed by Flying British Airways Theatre, The Magdalen Centre, Oxford 19 June — Air traffic control the SR-71 Blackbird on an Waterside, . Science Park, Oxford. 7pm. for the modern age. Rachel operational mission from 6.15pm. For security passes Andrew Dann, Crosby. Stop press RAF Mildenhall. Col Richard please contact Dr Ana Pedraz, E [email protected] RAeS lecture in Berlin Graham, USAF (Ret’d). E [email protected] 12 April — Sadler Lecture SYDNEY Contact: emanuele. or T +44 (0)7936 392799. and Dinner. Bird in a biplane. Mechanical Engineering [email protected] HAMBURG 11 April — British Airways Tracey Curtis-Taylor. Wolfson Theatre, University of Sydney. 11 April – Ice crystal icing of Hochschule für Angewandte centenary. Alex Cruz, Chairman College, Linton Road, Oxford. 6.30pm. aero-engines. Martin Maltby. Wissenschaften Hamburg, and CEO, British Airways. 14 May — Branch AGM and 10 April — Branch AGM

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 53 Afterburner Society News 2019 ANNIVERSARIES A year to remember

It seems that anniversaries are like the proverbial buses – you wait ages for one, and then several arrive at once. Among the aerospace anniversaries that will be celebrated in 2019 are four centenaries, one 60th, and several 50ths. A remarkably busy year in aviation terms, 1919 was dominated by Atlantic crossings. Most people have heard of the US Navy’s Curtiss flying boats which set off on 16 May (one eventually reached Lisbon on the 27th) while John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown earned their place in aeronautical history by making the first non-stop crossing on 14/15 June. But the names of Hawker and Mackenzie-Grieve, Raynham, Wood and Wyllie, and Peters of the Alliance Aeroplane Company are mostly forgotten. Handley Page’s mammoth V/1500 Above: Take-off from DH4 which appeared in an early draft was found to was also a competitor but was not ready in time to Newfoundland of Alcock and be already extinct. Brown’s Vickers Vimy for the attempt a crossing: instead, the aircraft set out on a first non-stop Atlantic flight, Fast-forward ten years and 1969 was another non-stop flight from Newfoundland to New York. 14 June 1919. RAeS (NAL). momentous year for aerospace The Boeing 747 Within a few weeks of Alcock and Brown’s Below: Buzz Aldrin’s took to the air for the first time on 9 February, an flight the airship R34 made the first double Atlantic bootprint; Aldrin event that would lead to more affordable air travel crossing, reaching Long Island on 6 July; the return photographed this bootprint and create a mass market. At the other end of about an hour into their journey lasted 75 hours and the airship reached lunar extra-vehicular activity the passenger scale, Concorde made its maiden Pulham in Norfolk on the 13th. on 20 July 1969, as part flight on 2 March, the Soviet Union’s Tupolev Tu- A longer Vimy flight was Ross and Keith Smith’s of investigations into the 144 ‘Concordski’ having made its first flight on journey from Hounslow Heath near London to soil mechanics of the lunar the last day of 1968. In May 1969 the Daily Mail surface. NASA. Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, made over Transatlantic Air Race marked the 50th anniversary 28 days in November and December. Earlier in the of Alcock and Brown’s epic flight, with dozens of year, and also from Hounslow, Aircraft Transport & competitors racing between London’s Post Office Travel (AT&T) had launched the world’s first daily Tower and the Empire State Building in New York. international scheduled air service, connecting The race did much to publicise the London and Paris. You will by now doubtless Harrier, which flew from a site which is probably now be aware that AT&T is one of the ancestors of part of the British Library (quiet, please!) but the British Airways, and the company is celebrating its large number of competitors flew in a wide range of centenary in style. military and civilian aircraft, from McDonnell Douglas The 60th anniversary is that of the RAeS Phantoms to scheduled airliners, business jets and Historical Group, which was formed in 1959, light aircraft. partly as a result of the Society’s purchase of Arguably the greatest aerospace — indeed the Nash Collection of historic aircraft in 1953. outer-space — achievement of 1969 was Apollo In late 1957 and early 1958 there was a flurry 11’s Moon landing on 20 July, an event that of correspondence in Flight and The Aeroplane captured the world’s imagination like nothing before regarding the need for an Aeronautical History — or, arguably, since. How many of us watched Society. Peter Masefield, RAeS President for spellbound as fuzzy black and white images 1959-60, had been campaigning from 1954 appeared on television from the Sea of Tranquillity? for a National Air Museum, gathering various My wife’s parents bought their first TV specifically representatives of government departments and for the event. aviation organisations to move the project forward As one might imagine, a number of events are – sadly, without success. One result of this process being planned to commemorate several of these was the compilation of a Register of Historic momentous anniversaries. Diss Museum http:// Aircraft, published in the Society’s Journal in August www.airships.me.uk/ is planning to mark the 1959; many of the aircraft listed are still surviving R34 centenary, while the will and some of them are still airworthy. Sadly, the doubtless feature its Vimy replica and Concorde.

54 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 Within the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Space Group will mark the Apollo 11 anniversary with a lecture, and the Historical Group is planning a one-day seminar to be held on 3 June, with the title ‘A Century of Transatlantic Flight’. Six speakers will discuss various aspects of flight over the Atlantic, including Alcock and Brown’s ‘also- ran’ competitors, as mentioned earlier. Dr Wendy Pritchard, whose grandfather was a member of the crew of R34 and the first person to arrive in America by air, will describe the airship’s double crossing. Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS – well known to AEROSPACE readers – will look at Vickers’ transatlantic projects – the 1950’s V.1000, which was cancelled before the prototype was completed, and the 1960’s VC10, which was a mainstay of BOAC and British Airways’ transatlantic services. Tony Buttler AMRAeS, will give an account of how the Concorde design developed, from the first proposals to the type’s entry into service, looking at the problems that had to be overcome and some of the research aircraft associated with the project. A transatlantic conference needs to have some de Havilland DH4A, G-EAJC, input from ‘across the pond’ and we hope to have of Aircraft Transport and two speakers from the US. Dr Bob van der Linden Travel Ltd. On 25 August from the Smithsonian National Air and Space 1919 Lt E H (Bill) Lawford Museum will give a paper on the development of flew the first commercial passenger service in this Peter Elliott the Boeing 747 and its impact on air travel, while a aircraft, flying from Hounslow speaker, yet to be confirmed, will cover the US Army to Le Bourget in 2 hours and Affiliate Air Force’s transatlantic flights during WW2. 30 minutes. RAeS (NAL). Chair, RAeS Historical Group

CORPORATE PARTNER EVENTS

www.aerosociety.com/events Thursday 16 May 2019 / London For further information, please contact Gail Ward Annual Banquet E [email protected] or T +44 (0)1491 629912 Guest of Honour: Guillaume Faury, President Commercial Aircraft and CEO Designate, Airbus Please note: Attendance at Corporate Partner events is Corporate tables and individual tickets available strictly exclusive to staff of RAeS Corporate Partners. Supported by: Both individual and corporate members are welcome at the Annual Banquet. Monday 1 April 2019 / London Tuesday 4 June 2019 / Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire The evolution of aviation propulsion over the next two decades Aerospace Golf Day 2019 Corporate Partner Briefing by Paul Stein FRAeS, Chief Individual players and corporate teams are welcome Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce plc Sponsor Thursday 6 June 2019 / London Corporate Partner Briefing David Goldstone, Chief Operating Officer, Ministry of Defence

Thursday 2 May 2019 / London Find out more about Royal Aeronautical Society Corporate Cyber crime: The current cyber threat and the Team Cyber UK membership, advertising and sponsorship: response E [email protected] Corporate Partner Briefing by Chief Constable Peter Goodman, T +44 (0)20 7670 4346 Cyber Crime Lead, National Police Chiefs’ Council www.aerosociety.com/corporate

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 55 Afterburner Elections

FELLOWS Kerissa Khan ASSOCIATES Dulani Daminda SOCIETY OFFICERS Richard Atkinson Kuruppu Adam Brownlees Stephen Austin David Marles Luke Burlovich President: Rear Admiral Simon Henley Inez Bartolo Jack-James Marlow Soufiyan Chakra President-Elect: Prof Jonathan Cooper Phil Breeze-Lamb Robin Mougenot Alexander Davis Paul Bruce Richard Nailor Michael Evans BOARD CHAIRMEN Giorgio Cosentini Wezi Nyimbili William Garrigle David Dacombe James O’Brien Matthew Hogsden Learned Society Chairman: Ian Dearing Olufemi Odubore Joey Hoogendoorn Air Cdre Peter Round Andrew Edgell Simon O’Hara Adam Howell Membership Services Chairman: Christopher Harper Joshua Panikkar Alejandro Iglesias Perez Philip Spiers Sudhir Mishra Michael Penn Cong Jingtan Professional Standards Chairman: Jonathan Parker Daniel Petitfils Sam Karlsen Hilary Barton Manjinder Phull Gerrard Pitman Baris Kizavul Eric Savory Laura Ramos Tayyab Malik DIVISION PRESIDENTS Mitchell Serber Rui Rego da Silva Ahmed Mohammed Kevin Short Ignacio Rodriguez Tom Mulcahy Australia: Andrew Neely Anthony Smeeton Miranda Richard Parry-Sargent New Zealand: Des Ashton Sophie Thomas Stephen Roebuck Jeancarlo Pestana Pakistan: AM Salim Arshad Chun-Hui Wang James Sarosi Dinesh Raja Rajamani South African: Marié Botha Jerry Wilding Stephen Saywell-Hall Jovi Sinclair Devinder Yadav Andrew Stacey Sheikh Saad Zahid Syed Zulfiquar Paul Sutherland Azard Tennant Hosein E-ASSOCIATES WITH REGRET MEMBERS Stuart Watson Sophie Watt Christopher Cambridge The RAeS announces with regret the deaths of the Taieb Ben Sghaier Oliver Westbrook- Paul Christodoulou following members: Colin Bigg Netherton Aekim Garcia Olatunbosun Buraimoh Simon Whalley Matthew Jaffa Roger Ainsworth FRAeS 68 Shane Carroll Thomas White Kevin Kan Ian Richard Child CEng FRAeS 52 Xiaoer Chen Mark Wignall Peter Turner William Clark Mina Yacoub Kenneth Edwin Jesson MRAeS 85 ASSOCIATE Lee Cole MEMBERS Christopher John Rowland CEng MRAeS 77 Martin Collarbone AFFILIATES Mark Conway Sarang Abbasi Karen Marie Van Breukelen MRAeS 47 Michel Cordeau Peter Aspery Michael Doering Andrew Cronin Darcy Belton Sumilan Govinden John David Wragg CEng FRAeS 91 Tanya Dolan James Booth Alan Lee Stephen Fletcher Paul Jones Sheena McRae Alexander Godfrey Alexander Kimber Jemima Sinclair Ian Greig Allan McCabe Matthew Snowdon STUDENT AFFILIATES James Hancock-Orloff Lewis Norris Michael Sturgeon Richard Johns Stewart Ostler Gary Turner Kyle Cato Luke Masini Karpaga Vipran Kannan Sarath Ushabai Phillip Wood Will Devey Parampal Sappal

2019 RAeS COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAVE YOU VOTED IN THE RAeS COUNCIL ELECTION 2019 YET?

The Royal Aeronautical Society Council Election our election provider, mi-voice, on +44 2380 76 2019 opened for voting on 25 February 2019. 3978 (we would advise that you check your email Thank you for All voting members who have an email address account’s junk folder, in case your email settings taking the time registered with the Society will have received an determine the email as being spam) to vote in the email notice enabling you to vote. If you believe that you are a voting member but did not receive Please note that the voting will close at 2019 Council an email, or you do not have a valid email address 9.00am on Thursday 16 May 2019. Elections registered with the Society, then please contact

56 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 WANTED – SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER and GRADUATE ENGINEER

As part of a planned development of LAA engineering resources we are seeking two applicants able to take Join us as a on engineering roles reporting to the Chief Engineer at LAA HQ, Turweston. Corporate Partner

DESIGN ENGINEER GRADUATE ENGINEER RAeS Corporate Partners are organisations, both large and small, across civil A senior engineering role, with the The successful applicant will be and defence, from the breadth of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors. ability to handle type-acceptance a newly graduated (or shortly to We provide a high-level commitment to professional recognition, continuous professional development, networking and knowledge sharing. of new designs, approval of mods graduate) aeronautical engineer, and repairs, and design support for already versed in design, continued airworthiness oversight. aerodynamics, structures, loads The applicant should be a qualified and stressing, stability and control. aeronautical engineer/designer, with Knowledge of and enthusiasm for experience in design, development, LAA amateur built and vintage aircraft testing and certification, preferably as light aircraft, their powerplants and a CAA approved signatory. systems, is an important asset. A thorough knowledge is required of The engineer’s work will involve a design, aerodynamics, structures, combination of paperwork study loads and stressing, stability and involving close attention to detail, control, light aircraft powerplants hands-on aircraft examination, design and systems. Familiarity with the defect recognition and problem application of design codes and solving; managing challenges as 4 Exclusive Corporate Partner briefings legislation and a knowledge of they arise. A good level of customer 4 Access to our global network of Branches LAA-type amateur built and vintage interface at all levels, short and 4 Free access to AEROSPACE and The Aeronautical aircraft are essential, while a PPL long-term project management skills Journal and experience of aircraft ownership, will be needed, in an enthusiastic but 4 Discounted conference rates and aircraft construction and repair, in pressured environment. 4 Free accreditation costs wood, metal and composites are an 4 Discounted individual member joining fees advantage. 4 Free meeting room and discounted room hire at RAeS HQ 4 Use of the RAeS Corporate Partner logo The salaries for both positions will be commensurate with skill level and experience. Please forward your c.v. and letter of application to Steve Slater, CEO, Light Aircraft Association, Turweston Aerodrome, Northants NN13 SYD, or to [email protected]

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

7 May 2019 Upcoming Closing Date for Applications

Apply or upgrade now for Membership or Professional Registration

Membership benefits include: ●RAeS post-nominal letters ●Professional Registration with Engineering Council UK ●Learn and Influence through our Specialist Groups ●AEROSPACE Magazine ●Lectures & Conferences ●Online Resources ●Local Branch Network ●Professional Development Advice

Apply today: www.aerosociety.com/create-account Get in touch: [email protected]/+44 (0)20 7670 4384 The Last Word COMMENTARY FROM Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

Brexit or not quite?

o here we are, on the edge of leaving the with collaborative EU-funded research and the European Union: its timing dependent easy access to younger aerospace workers and on a sequence of Parliamentary votes. At researchers who may not pass the earnings the time of writing we are still in the dark threshold for post-Brexit access. about the exact nature of our departure. SMrs May lost her bid to deliver a deal; a ‘no deal’ Funding R&D to be a struggle scenario may well be passed but nothing is certain. The best we can hope for is some form of deal We are promised a matching Government based on a two-year transition or a stark break with investment in R&D to compensate any loss of all the links, regulations and conveniences of 40 access to EU-funded programmes; but this years or so of membership. And the terms of the will not be equivalent to the leverage afforded break do matter, for aerospace manufacturing and by participation in a multi-billion aeronautical aviation links alike. programme. UK membership of a growing EU pot for defence R&D may also be doubtful, as is Airbus – the key programme access to EU space contracts such as Galileo. An autonomous alternative to either will hardly scratch The prospect raised by Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, the surface of the costs of matching these efforts, that Brexit could imperil over 50 years of investment as well as paying for existing defence projects. Two in the UK, is real enough. It would be slow but billion quid for Tempest simply treads water. At least inexorable. Transferring in totality British-located this might pay the entry fee for an F-35 ‘follow-on’. wing manufacturing is not an option. Aerospace, as Enders noted, is a long-term business and the And the Single Aviation Area? real threat is to the location of the next big Airbus investment, likely to be decided in the early 2020s. The aeroplanes will still be flying into Europe This decision would then set a path stretching out on 1 April but exact details are uncertain. The for over a decade. full flexibility afforded by membership of the Historically, the threat to Britain’s prized wing single aviation market will be constrained, with responsibility has come from the Germans, who an impact on the profitability of some routes. UK were very keen to wrest control for every Airbus registered carriers have shifted some aspects launch since the late 1980s. These days the of registration to cope but IAG has still fully to AEROSPACE, AS challenge is from a wider set of players; China as resolve its ownership issues to meet the somewhat ENDERS NOTED, already mentioned but also Airbus North America contradictory demands of EU law with those of the IS A LONG- politically would be a shrewd choice, especially if US transatlantic ‘Open Skies’ agreement that has been TERM BUSINESS States started to bid for the work. ‘grandfathered’ to the UK. Airbus’ concerns are also reflected in similar AND THE REAL sentiments expressed directly to Northern Ireland’s And so into the future THREAT IS TO DUP, which officially backs the London Government THE LOCATION but has withheld its support over the Brexit deal on The sky will not fall in on 1 April but expect a slow OF THE NEXT offer, by Belfast-based Bombardier. decline in the fortunes of the UK aerospace industry Investment decisions in aerospace are to some over the next decade. Not ‘Project Fear’ but a logical BIG AIRBUS extent influenced by politics but since recent WTO conjecture based on any of the Brexit scenarios. INVESTMENT, rulings (what irony) have limited the extent of direct The difference will be in the scope and speed of the LIKELY TO BE government subsidy in airliner projects, inducements decline. Historically, aerospace collaboration was a will be more indirect. This will emphasise publicly key link with Europe before our membership of the DECIDED IN financed R&D and human resources, which may EEC/EU, and that the UK was a powerful force in THE EARLY become more constrained in this country post- the struggle to liberalise the airline market. Oh well, 2020s Brexit if the UK loses the leverage associated hope for the best and bon chance.

58 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019 2019 ANNUAL BANQUET Supported by

Thursday 16 May 2019 / London

Established as a key event in the social Guest of Honour calendar of the aviation and aerospace Guillaume Faury community, the Royal Aeronautical Society CEO Designate, Airbus 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: 7.15pm Dinner: 8.00pm members and Corporate Partners. What’s included? This black tie event includes a pre-dinner networking reception followed by an exquisite four-course dinner with fine wines and coffee.

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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