Royal Aeronautical Society Weybridge Surrey Branch – Previous Meetings & Lectures
Past Events: January 2024 to March 2024
"20 West" - A journey through six decades of turbulent change within aviation.
Spanning six decades, from propeller-driven transport aircraft to composite, fly-by-wire and wide-body double-decker aircraft plucked from the pages of science fiction. 20 West charts the emotion, the physical experience, the joy and the anguish of flying. It is not a blow-by-blow account of the aviation industry. Nor is it merely one person`s story of their career in aviation. Rather, it is a collection of snapshots of the people and the aircraft and technology that shaped a lifelong passion for flight.
Speaker: Capt Steve Ford
About The Speaker:
Steve was born in Portsmouth, England and educated at St. John`s College, Southsea.
Trained as a professional aircraft engineer, he holds aircraft engineering licences both sides of the Atlantic having served a full apprenticeship with British Caledonian Airways.
Full independent Airline Transport Pilot`s Licences, again from both sides of the Atlantic, coupled with a solid engineering background have provided extensive opportunities to exercise the two disciplines; with British Aerospace and from 1993 to 2016 with Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Steve remains passionate about the aviation industry which led him to write his first book “20 West”. Believing that writing and descriptive prose will allow everyone interested in aviation, history, the technology and the thrill of flight, to become part of a never ending journey.
Living in Warwickshire, Steve continues to fly and is adamant that he continues to learn…….
Venue: Brooklands Museum, (Campbell Gate Entrance), Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0QN
See Direction section above for more information.
Date: Wednesday 20 March 2024
Times:
Gates Open at 17:30
Optional meal start at 17:45
Lecture start at 18:45
Lecture end at 20:30
Registration: No registration required but you are asked to sign
in on arrival. £5 donation kindly requested from all except students and those under 21.
Contact: Mr Alan Simmons
Email: wraesmemsec@outlook.com
Tel: 01249 321785
XX154 (Hawk Prototype) The First Of The Many
The Hawk is a British success. It was the result of the dedication, enthusiasm and skill of many people co-operating and working as an effective team. At Hawker Siddeley Aviation (HSA) Kingston, an experienced design team of Hawker and ex Folland design engineers, with an extensive background of Hunter, Harrier and Gnat, explored for two years the concepts of a new advanced jet trainer that was capable of through life development. The project became known as HS1182. The team members with skill in design, manufacture, contract negotiation, flight and ground testing were determined to succeed. Their work was rewarded when a Ministry of Defence competition was won October 1971 and contracted in March 1972. A fixed price contract for the design, manufacture, development and delivery of 176 advanced jet trainer aircraft to the RAF. Now there was a need for a name. Eventually after much thought and a competition the name HAWK was formally adopted on 3 August 1973 – which is so right. First flight from HSA Dunsfold was achieved with XX154 on 21 August 1974. A further two and quarter years with the co-operation of the Ministry of Defence resulted in the full-service release being approved on time and to specified cost. The first two aircraft were delivered to RAF Valley, XX162 and XX163, on 4 November 1976. The original concept included the importance of a base line for the aircraft’s development and export sales. Subsequent perseverance by engineers, marketers, demonstrations by company test pilots, as well as Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots, has resulted in excess of 1000 BAE SYSTEMS Hawks operating today. This includes the United States Navy integrated training system’s 221 T-45 Goshawks. In the UK both RAF and Royal Navy pilots are trained on T1 and T2 Hawks and the Red Arrows have displayed the Hawk since 1980. BAE SYSTEMS export sales have created many jobs throughout the UK and the type operates very successfully around the world. XX154 has remained in active service until its final service flight at Boscombe Down on 19 December 2018. XX154 was retired to Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (BDAC) on 21 August 2019. Its final “flight” being delivered to BDAC as a under slung load carried by Chinook ZH892 from 27 Squadron RAF Odiham. XX154 Is today on public display to inspire future generations. – The journey of the first Hawk XX154 from inception to retirement is explained.
Speaker: Mr. Chris Hodson C.Eng, FRAeS, Head of Military Programs, Hamble Aerostructures Ltd
About The Speaker:
In 1977 Chris was a Support Engineer on the Hawk & Harrier projects. By 1985 he had moved on to be Divisional Production Project manager – Hawk. 1990 saw Chris as Program Manager – New Business & Military programs and by 2010 was Program Manager – Military Programs. By 2020 he was Head of Sustaining Programs.
He has co-authored the book ‘Sprit of Hamble’ a book that recounts the history of Folland Aircraft and of the Hamble companies that now occupy the site.
Venue: Brooklands Museum, (Campbell Gate Entrance), Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0QN
See Direction section above for more information.
Date: Wednesday 21 February 2024
Times:
Gates Open at 17:30
Optional meal start at 17:45
Lecture start at 18:45
Lecture end at 20:30
Registration: No registration required but you are asked to sign
in on arrival. £5 donation kindly requested from all except students and those under 21.
Contact: Mr Alan Simmons
Email: wraesmemsec@outlook.com
Tel: 01249 321785
January 2024 Lecture: Life In A Hornet’s Nest – Flying the F/A18 Hornet with the RAAF
Following on from his time flying the RAF F4 Phantom, which was the subject of his earlier talk ‘Chasing Bears in the Phantom’, Nick was chosen to represent the RAF as part of an Exchange scheme. He was posted to Australia to fly their brand new F/A18 Hornets on No 77 Squadron RAAF. Nick returns to tell us about his experiences mastering this remarkable fighter aircraft and his eventful time in a land Down Under.
Speaker: Nick Anderson
About The Speaker:
Nick Anderson is a recently retired Captain for Virgin Atlantic Airways who previously served in the RAF and RAAF for 19 years.
His father was an RAAF Sunderland pilot at Plymouth during WW2 and his Mother a WAAF Operations Officer.
He started off in the Air Training Corps, applied to the RAF aged 20 in 1974 and flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms for No43(F) Sqn at RAF Leuchars in Fyfe, Scotland. He was also a Fast Jet A1 QFI at RAF Valley and a qualified Weapons Instructor on the Phantom.
He then became an exchange pilot with the RAAF on the F/A18 Hornet at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales. His career concluded as an F3 Tornado pilot and Flight Commander with 111(F) Sqn at RAF Leuchars.
He retired as a Squadron Leader in 1993 and was gainfully employed with Virgin Atlantic Airways on the Airbus A340-300, A340-600 and A330 from May 1994 until May 2019.
His retirement from professional flying has given him the time to podcast with the:- Airline Pilot Guy show! – http://airlinepilotguy.com/ and despite his flying career he is still happily married after 42 years with 2 grown up lads.
Venue: Brooklands Museum, (Campbell Gate Entrance), Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0QN
See Direction section above for more information.
Date: Wednesday 17 January 2024
Times:
Gates Open at 17:30
Optional meal start at 17:45
Lecture start at 18:45
Lecture end at 20:30
Registration: No registration required but you are asked to sign
in on arrival. £5 donation kindly requested from all except students and those under 21.
Contact: Mr Alan Simmons
Email: wraesmemsec@outlook.com
Tel: 01249 321785
Weybridge Branch Contact Details
President: Mr Allan Winn, BE(Mech), FRAeS
Secretary: John Johnson
Contact: John Johnson
Email: wraesmemsec@outlook.com
Website: RAeS Weybridge Branch
Now on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/1466887870504134/
