The presentation covers the planning, execution and results of an initial trial to assess the ability of the AW101 helicopter to conduct air-to-air refuelling (AAR) operations.  The Merlin Mk 3 and other variants of the AW101 were designed from the outset with an AAR capability, however, due to a lack of existing customer requirements and suitable tanker assets the capability had not been fully tested.   This situation changed when a version of the AW101 was proposed for the USAF CSAR-X requirement.  As a result, an initial AAR assessment was conducted in the UK by AW Yeovil utilising an RAF Merlin Mk3 helicopter and an Italian Air Force C130J tanker.  Although the trial was limited in scope the complete Merlin AAR system was tested including fuel transfer to maximum all up mass conditions.  Also included in the tests was assessment (during AAR) of an improved rotor system (BERP IV).  The successful trial validated basic AW101 AAR operations as well as providing some unexpected results. In addition, it is believed that this was the first successful AAR by a UK manufactured helicopter.

John Farley has been using flight simulators of one sort or another since 1958 to the present. The lecture will cover some of the remarkable changes in the nature and capabilities of simulators from his perspective as a user. He will discuss lessons that he has learned about simulation and offer some personal views concerning the way simulators are used in respect of both research and pilot training applications. In the context of research he suggests there are parallels in respect of the raw data produced from simulation and the raw data measured in wind tunnels. He will explain why in his view there are two types of simulator pilots which researchers need to bear in mind when considering the data they obtain from piloted experiments.

The Edwin A Link Lecture was established in 2007 to honour Edwin A Link, the distinguished pioneer of synthetic training. His remarkable foresight led to the creation of the Link Trainer, or ‘Blue Box’ as it came to be known, the precursor of today’s powerful synthetic training devices, most notably full flight simulators.

The Sir Sydney Camm Lecture was established in 1971, following Sir Sydney Camm’s death in 1966, to commemorate his significant achievements in the field of aeronautical engineering.

Further details on this event will be available shortly.

Please do contact the Conference & Events Department for more information.

The Challenges & Opportunities Ahead

London Heathrow Airport is the world’s busiest international airport hub and the UK’s largest airport hub handling some 65.5 million passengers in 2010 – representing 30.2% of all UK traffic.   Despite significant improvements in terminal capacity through the T5 and Heathrow East projects, the airport continues to be constrained by its runway system.

Merlin AAR Trial

More details on this Flight Test Group lecture will follow shortly.

About the speaker

Andy Strachan is the Deputy Chief Test Pilot at AugustaWestland.

Refreshments will be served from 17.30hrs and the lecture will commence at 18.00hrs.

Please RSVP to the Conference & Events Department at [email protected]

THE EVOLUTION, DEVELOPMENT & CHALLENGES OF COMMERCIAL AIR AMBULANCE OPERATIONS

Military helicopters have routinely provided casualty evacuation from war zones since the latter part of World War 2 up to the present day but, largely unnoticed outside the helicopter community; Alan Bristow was an early pioneer of civilian helicopters being used in the air ambulance role.

In the late 1940’s albeit in a war zone, Alan Bristow was the first civilian helicopter pilot to accept the challenges and overcome the difficulties of providing a casualty evacuation / air ambulance service with the small and underpowered Hiller 360. Alan’s sometimes hair raising flying exploits saw him awarded the Croix de Guerre for his work with the French military during the French Indo-China war.

Modern commercial air ambulance services have come a long way since those early days of single pilot operations using rudimentary helicopters with limited operating capabilities and cabin space. Starting in the late 80’s, Bond Air Services pioneered civil helicopter air ambulance operations in the UK using the Bolkow Bo105 and were fully committed to providing a comprehensive helicopter support network in this role. Such vision and commitment is why today, Bond is the biggest provider of helicopters for UK commercial air ambulance operations.

The helicopters used by Bond Air Services today are modern powerful airframes with a full suite of sophisticated flying aids that are fully equipped for the air ambulance role and routinely performing many ‘mercy missions’ on mainland UK every day. The flights are flown by the company’s highly trained professional flight crews who are able to place the doctors and paramedics alongside a casualty regardless of how remote or difficult it may be.

Captain Paul Westaway, Director of Commercial Services, Bond Air Services Ltd will set the scene and share the challenges and difficulties of providing a modern air ambulance service that works effectively on a regional basis with a large number of charitable and NHS hospital trusts.

About the speaker

Paul Westaway Joined the Cornwall Ambulance Service in 1980 as Control Room Assistant, and later moved on to frontline operational duties as a Qualified Ambulance-man by 1982. In 1983, he was promoted as a sub-officer in the ambulance service HQ, gaining an instructor’s qualification for both Ambulance Aid and Paramedic training by 1985.
He was then selected as Senior Air Crewman to fly on the UK’s first Air Ambulance in April 1987, and seconded to train and fly on first operational missions for Scotland in 1989 (Dundee), West Midlands in 1991 (Halfpenny Green) and Devon in 1992 (Exeter). Appointed as Director of Air Ambulance Development for Westcountry Ambulance Service 1992-1995 and later appointed as Staff Officer and Emergency Planning Officer for Devon, Cornwall and Somerset 1996-2001.
In 2001, Paul joined Bond as Emergency Services Manager, providing the company link between the customers (11 aircraft) and the company’s commercial operations and engineering department. Key milestones :
-    CRMI qualification – developed to CRMIE in 2010
-    General Secretary of the Confederation of Helicopter Ambulance Services, 2003-2008
-    British representative on CEN regulations working group for air ambulances, 2005-6
He was then appointed as Bond Training Services Manager to develop Bond Training Services and pilot training using the world’s first Eurocopter EC135 Level III FTD, 2005-2009. During this period FTD use developed from 450 hours per annum to 1950 hours per annum with worldwide customer base.
Currently Paul is the Director of Commercial since September 2009, overseeing the complete customer base including 18 air ambulance operations throughout the UK, along with marine, offshore wind, lighthouse, police and ad hoc markets.

The lecture will follow with a reception, kindly sponsored by -

Refreshments will be served from 17.30hrs and the lecture will commence at 18.00hrs.

Please RSVP to the Conference & Events Department at [email protected]

From Pioneers to Presidents: Celebrating a Century of Women in Flight

Following the success of last year’s RAeS Women in Aerospace & Aviation Conference, the 2011 Networking Event will celebrate a century of women’s acheivements in flight.

The Wonderful Women Ferry Pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary

The Royal Aeronautical Society is offering a unique opportunity to meet the few surviving women pilots who ferried every type of military aircraft during World War II, including fighters, huge four-engine bombers as the sole pilot and even the first British jet-engine aeroplane. By the end of the war, ATA pilots had each flown dozens of different aircraft, sometimes several in one day, often never having seen the aeroplane before, far less flown it.

During the seminar, you will hear why the ATA was such a unique organisation, how the women ferry pilots were trained and what they achieved, what an RAF bomber pilot thought of the young women who delivered aircraft to his base, and finally hear from the so-called ‘Spitfire Women’ themselves about their memories of these extraordinary times and their experiences.

At the end of this special seminar, the Royal Aeronautical Society will be making a presentation to the ATA women pilots present to honour their extraordinary achievements.

This Lecture will focus on the training of cockpit crew for Concorde. Together, Capt John Eames and SEO Roger Bricknell will discuss Flight Crew Training, highlighting the differences between Concorde and subsonic airliners that Pilots had to be trained to cope with. In addition, the lecture will touch on the novelty and complexity of Concorde at the time of its introduction, including fly-by-wire control of the centre of gravity by fuel transfer, behaviour at high incidence, adjustable air intakes and exhausts, the reduced range in subsonic flight and the emergency procedures for pressurisation problems at 60,000ft.

The Sopwith lecture was established in 1990 to honour Sir Thomas Sopwith CBE, Hon FRAeS. In the years prior to World War I, Sopwith became England’s premier aviator and established the first authoritative test pilot school in the world, he also founded England’s first major flight school. Between 1912 and 1920 Sopwith’s Company produced over 16,000 aircraft of 60 types.

An International Approach to Flight Crew Training Standards

The Annual RAeS International Flight Crew Training Conference is well established and highly successful.  The 2011 Conference aims to seek solutions on how best to consider flight crew training standards from an international perspective.

The Blades Aerobatic Team and 2Excel Aviation

The Blades Aerobatic Team formed in 2006, and since then has displayed to over 18 million people and flown over 3000 corporate passengers on formation aerobatic flights. Operating as the UK’s only full-time civilian aerobatic team and the World’s only globally accredited aerobatic airline, Myles will explain the significance and importance of this.

Myles Garland will talk about training, how the team design and incorporate new manoeuvres into the display, and how The Blades approached their first display season in a high- performance propeller aircraft having flown thousands of hours in fast jets.

The Blades parent company, 2Excel Aviation has expanded rapidly since 2006 and now delivers a wide range of aviation based products. From ‘Unforgettable Events’ such as a 300 person Summer Ball, to trials and test flying in their 2 PA31 Navajo aircraft, to operating several luxurious Beech King Air 200s for their clients, 2Excel is an extremely agile company and Myles will discuss how these capabilities all come together to make 2Excel and The Blades truly unique.

About the speaker

Sqn Ldr (Ret) Myles Garland

Blade 1 and Team Leader of The Blades Aerobatic Team

Myles Garland was born in Vancouver in 1971. Educated at St. Boniface’s College, Devon, Myles developed his keen interest in aviation and was subsequently awarded a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship. He joined the RAF immediately after completing his A-levels. After flying training on both the Jet Provost and the Hawk, Myles’ operational career began on the Harrier GR7.  He was posted to No1 (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Wittering and took part in exercises all over the world.  In 1997 he embarked with the Squadron onto HMS Illustrious for the first Harrier GR7 deployment to an Aircraft carrier. Shortly after, having proven the concept, the Squadron were deployed to the Gulf onboard HMS Invincible during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

In 1999, as a Qualified Weapons Instructor on the Harrier, Myles took part in operations over Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia where he was ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ for gallantry.  On completion of his first operational tour, Myles was posted to instructional duties 20 (Reserve) Squadron teaching ab-initio and post graduate Harrier Pilots the art of weaponeering and tactics.

In 2000, Myles was successful in applying to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and flew with the Red Arrows for the 2001-2003 display seasons.  During his time with the Reds, Myles was promoted to Squadron Leader aged 29 and chosen to fly as part of the famous ‘Syncho Pair’.

On leaving the Red Arrows Myles returned to operational front-line duties on the Harrier as a flight commander then Deputy Squadron Commander on No 3 (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore.

In 2005 as 3(F) Squadron disbanded as a Harrier Squadron before immediately re-forming as a Typhoon Squadron, Myles left the RAF with over 3000 fast jet flying hours and became one of the founding members of The Blades.

This will be Myles’ sixth year with The Blades and his third year as Blade 1.  During his time with The Blades he has flown in a number of positions including 2 years as Blade 4 developing, inventing and performing the dynamic solo manoeuvres.

This RAeS General Aviation Group Evening Lecture is organised and held in partnership with The Guild of Air Pilots & Air  Navigators (GAPAN).

Refreshments will be served from 17.30hrs and the lecture will commence at 18.00hrs.

Please RSVP to the Conference & Events Department at [email protected]

Development of the Zephyr HALE UAV – holder of the Absolute World Record for Duration

The Stratosphere offers a new domain to provide services across whole countries and across the world, without the intermittent coverage or high infrastructure or operational/launch costs of other systems. However, we have only briefly occupied the Stratosphere –until now.

The QinetiQ Zephyr is the first to demonstrate that Solar aircraft are capable of “eternal” flight in the stratosphere with real payloads, and is the world’s longest flying aeroplane without refuelling- a 14 day first  flight at altitudes up to more than 70,000ft  in July 2010.

The lecture will describe how the Zephyr programme has progressed towards a truly high altitude, longer duration, operationally capable platform combining all-new, efficient technology- and how Zephyr has successfully introduced the new technology in a comprehensive ground and flight test programme.

Eternal solar platforms offer many potential applications –those currently carried out by satellites and aircraft (such as communications, earth observation, atmospheric sampling) – better and cheaper, and new applications which are not currently possible or affordable by other means.

About the speaker

Chris Kelleher is the QinetiQ Technical Director for High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) systems and Flight operations Manager of Zephyr, the world’s first “eternal” aircraft. He has 30 years experience of aircraft and spacecraft design and operation at QinetiQ Farnborough. He is married with 4 children, and flies light aircraft as a hobby and occasional air displays, being a three times former winner of the British Aerobatics Association Advanced Level.

Refreshments will be served from 17.30hrs and the lecture will commence at 18.00hrs.

Please RSVP to the Conference & Events Department at [email protected]

The world launcher market is evolving fast with new competitors entering each year.  In 2011 the European Space Agency (ESA) will begin operations with two new vehicles – Soyuz and Vega.  Meanwhile Ariane 5 remains the number one choice for launching commercial geostationary satellites.

In 2012 Europe’s Space Ministers will decide whether to upgrade Ariane 5 – the so-called Ariane 5 Mid-life Extension (ME) – and/or to begin the definition and development of Ariane 6.

ESA’s Future Launcher Preparatory Programme (FLPP) has been assessing the systems, technologies and requirements for Europe’s future launchers and Guy Pilchen will provide an authoritative view of the options being considered for the future, including:

• current status of the down-selection of launch system concept

• the technology developments required for reduced-mass structures and stages, thus underpinning cost optimized launch systems

• development status of integrated demonstrators, including the mid-scale demonstrator of a Staged Combustion High Thrust Engin.

Browse and buy a wide range of aviation & aerospace literature

The Royal Aeronautical Society is pleased to be holding its third annual Book Sale at No.4 Hamilton Place. This is a great opportunity for both RAeS members and enthusiasts to leaf through and purchase a wide selection of aviation and aerospace books and publications.

The Story Behind the Spin: The Human Centrifuge in Aerospace Medicine

Perhaps best known as a fiendish torture device from which James Bond escaped, or an exhausting experience during flying training, the human centrifuge has been pivotal to advancements in aviation and space medicine over the last 80 years.  In this presentation, the story of the struggle against G force is told from the perspective of the human centrifuge.  In addition to understanding how it contributed to the development of modern day G protection, some of the technical challenges associated with the device will be explored. From a past rooted in research and development to possible futures in flight simulation and human spaceflight, the story of the centrifuge will be revealed in this Stewart Memorial Lecture.

‘Cleared to Land’ is a critical review of the politics of planning and the political scheming that took place during the search for London’s 3rd airport. Why was Stansted selected when it didn’t meet any of the criteria laid down for the 3rd airport? How were the costs distorted to favour Stansted in the face of public opposition to it? And who was the puppet master pulling the political strings behind the scenes?  Cleared to Land offers some insights into the machinations of government and the planning process and advocates that if the saga of Terminal Five and the Third runway at Heathrow are anything to go by then nothing has really changed during the last 40 years.

The French Air & Space Academy will be visiting the UK and will host an informative evening of aerospace lectures. The evening will commence with a presentation of the Air & Space Academy hosted by Gerard Brachet and will be followed by three short presentations by aerospace experts.

If you’ve ever wanted to know the behind the scenes story of Flight Testing at the Boeing this lecture will take you there.  It will cover some of the most dynamic, risky and interesting testing done to date on the 787 and 747-8 programs.  The lecture will use actual flight test footage of the conditions flown with an explanation of the piloting techniques involved and engineering data gathered.  Each of the videos will have a personal storyline which might surprise the listeners.  It will also be an audience interactive talk with questions to those in attendance before and after each subject.  The topics will range from first flight to maximum brake energy testing on the newest Boeing model airplanes.  The lecture will be divided into three parts: 747-8, 787 and a small section on common type rating between the 787 and 777.  Capt Santoni will be able to relate his personal experiences on the types of testing shown as he has either participated in the actual test or has done similar flights on other models.  There will be time to engage with the speaker after the lecture on any flight test topic of interest.