Please find below details of all upcoming and previous lectures.
On-site lectures are typically held in the lecture theatre at MoD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JF, and begin at 17:15. Tea and coffee is usually served from 17:00.
Online lectures are held on Microsoft Teams Live and begin at 17:30. Each virtual event is open to join from 17:15.
Details about each lecture, including a synopsis and biography of the speaker, will be sent to all members of the RAeS Boscombe Down Branch (via the Branch mailing list) prior to the event. The information will also be available on our website and in the case of online lectures, the link to join the event will be included with the synopsis and biography.
Attendance continues to be free.
For more information, or to volunteer to deliver a lecture, please contact the Lecture Secretary lectures@BoscombeDownRAeS.org
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Fri19Aug201608:00Haslar Marine Technology Park
Branch Visit
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Tue13Sep201617:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Concorde - A Magnificent Aircraft
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Tue11Oct201618:00Boscombe Down Officers Mess
CANCELLED: 30th Sir Henry Tizard Lecture
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the branch regrettably has to announce the cancellation of the 30th Sir Henry Tizard lecture, which was due to be held on the 11th October 2016. We would like to thank those of you that purchased tickets for your support of the event. You will automatically receive a full refund of the ticket price shortly.
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Tue25Oct201617:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
UPDATED: The Use of Flight Simulation in Flight Test
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Tue08Nov201617:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Rivet Joint: Flight Testing the RC-135
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Tue22Nov201617:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
The Origins and History of the Royal Aeronautical Society
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Tue06Dec201617:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Flight Testing the E-Go
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Tue10Jan201717:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
A New Lease of Life for the Gazelle AH. 1
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Tue07Feb201717:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Carriers: The Future Flagships of the UK
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Tue21Feb201717:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Current Flight Test Activities at 41 Squadron
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Tue07Mar201717:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Lancaster Bale Out
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Tue21Mar201712:00Boscombe Down Location TBC
Joe Morrall Award Lectures
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Tue11Apr201717:15Boscombe Down Lecture Hall
Engineering the A380 and the AGM
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Fri12May201713:00The McKenna Lecture Theatre in Building 104N (Empire Test Pilots’ School)
Branch AGM
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Fri07Jul201710:00Wood Road, Larkhill
Wings Over Stonehenge
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Tue19Sep201717:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Aerial Archaeology
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Tue26Sep201708:00MOD Boscombe Down
2017 Annual Branch Visit - Safran Landing Systems and Jet Age Museum
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Thu05Oct201718:00MOD Boscombe Down
30th Sir Henry Tizard Lecture - 'Britain and the Jet Age: 1945 to 1965'
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Tue24Oct201717:30MOD Boscombe Down
IMechE/IET Joint Lecture: Fusion Future
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Tue07Nov201717:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Competition Gliding
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Tue21Nov201717:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: F-35 Ski Jump Testing
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Tue05Dec201717:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Reaction Engines
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Tue09Jan201817:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Nova Systems - Helicopters, Dark, Dust and Fog
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Tue06Feb201817:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron - End of an Era?
Further details for this lecture can be found here.
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Tue06Mar201817:15MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Australian Bush Flying
Further details for this lecture can be found here.
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Tue20Mar2018
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Tue10Apr201817:00MOD Boscombe Down
AGM & An Independent RAF - Inspiration or Aberration Lecture
Further details for this lecture can be found here
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Tue25Sep201817:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: The SH09 - From Koncept to Konstruction
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Tue09Oct201817:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Human Performance - Spatial Disorientation
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Thu25Oct201818:00MoD Boscombe Down, Officers' Mess
31st Sir Henry Tizard Lecture and Formal Dinner
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Tue06Nov201817:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Taranis and Beyond
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Tue20Nov201817:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: UltraFan
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Tue11Dec201817:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Joint Lecture ( RAeS, IMechE & IET) - Icarus Wing Suit
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Tue08Jan201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Wiltshire Police - UAV Operations
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Tue05Feb201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Open Skies
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Tue19Feb201912:00MoD Boscombe Down
Joe Morrall Award
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Tue05Mar201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Current and Future Air Traffic Management
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Tue19Mar201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: SHOL Trials
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Tue09Apr201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
AGM & Lecture: The Shackleton – a Navigator’s perspective
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Tue07May2019
Bonus Lecture: Poseidon P-8A
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Tue03Sep201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Racing Sails
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Thu12Sep201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Flight Testing the SR-71
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Tue08Oct201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Chasing Bears in the Phantom
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Tue22Oct2019TBCMoD Boscombe Down
Lunchtime Lecture: BepiColombo
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Tue19Nov201917:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Apollo 11
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Tue10Dec201912:00MoD Boscombe Down
Lunchtime Lecture: Giant Typhoon and Typhoon Restoration
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Tue21Jan202017:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Battle of the X-Planes: The Boeing X-32B – A Personal Perspective
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Tue04Feb202017:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Affinity - Supporting UK MFTS
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Tue18Feb202017:15MoD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Air Accident Investigation Branch
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Tue03Mar202012:15MoD Boscombe Down
Joe Morrall Award
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Tue15Dec2020
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Tue26Jan2021
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Tue09Feb202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: TSR-2 - The Bomber That Barely Flew
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Tue23Feb202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Structural Dynamic Integration of Weapon Carriers on Rotorcraft
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Tue09Mar2021Wed10Mar202117:15Microsoft Teams Live
Joe Morrall Award (PRIVATE EVENT)
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Thu11Mar202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture RE-RUN: Structural Dynamic Integration of Weapon Carriers on Rotorcraft
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Tue23Mar202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: The Art of Aviation & Defence Photography: Seeing the Unseen
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Tue13Apr202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Defence and Security in Difficult Times
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Tue07Sep202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Britain's First Space Rocket - The Story of the Skylark
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Tue19Oct2021
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Tue02Nov202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Operation Jericho 1944 - The Attack on Amiens Prison
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Tue16Nov202117:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Returning a UK-built Mosquito to our Skies
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Tue04Jan202217:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Flight Simulation at Warton - Past Success & Present Challenges
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Tue01Feb2022
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Tue01Mar202215:00Online *PRIVATE EVENT*
Joe Morrall Award
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Tue15Mar202217:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Obtaining Operational Approvals of RPAS Operations utilised by NATO
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Tue05Apr202217:30Microsoft Teams Live
Online Lecture: Lion Air Flight JT610/Boeing 737 Max 8 - Accident Case Study
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Tue26Apr202217:30Lecture Hall, MOD Boscombe Down
AGM Event: The Secret Spitfires with Norman Parker
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Tue25Oct202217:30MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs" - The World's First High-Speed Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft
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Tue29Nov202218:00MOD Boscombe Down, Officers' Mess
33rd Sir Henry Tizard Lecture
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Wed07Dec202212:00AV8 Cafe, Cotswold Airport
Branch Visit: ZeroAvia
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Tue31Jan202317:30MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Battle of Britain - The Making of the Movie
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Thu23Feb202317:30MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: The Royal International Air Tattoo - From Small Beginnings
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Tue07Mar2023TBCMS Teams
Joe Morrall Award 2023 *PRIVATE EVENT*
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Tue28Mar202317:30Branch Website
Recorded Audio Lecture: Technical Developments in Aeronautics (Tizard 1970)
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Thu04May202317:30MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: The Life and Career of Gp Capt Harry 'Bruin' Purvis
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Tue30May202317:40MOD Boscombe Down
Lecture: Experimental Test Pilot
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Wed20Dec202317:30BDAC, Old Sarum
EVENT | Branch Christmas Social at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
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Tue30Jan202417:30MOD Boscombe Down
LECTURE | The Westland Wasp HAS1 - Its Developments and Place in History
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Tue27Feb202417:30MOD Boscombe Down
LECTURE | ETPS at 80 - Opportunities & Challenges
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Tue18Jun202417:30BDAC, Old Sarum
LECTURE | Westland Aircraft and Rotorcraft – Secret Projects and Cutting-Edge Technology
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Tue21Oct2025Wed22Oct2025All DayNo. 4 Hamilton Place, London
RAeS Flight Simulation Conference 2025
Please visit the main RAeS event calendar for more details: https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/raes-flight-simulation-conference-2025/.
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Thu23Oct202512:30TUM Campus Garching, MW 1801, Boltzmannstrasse 15, 85748 Garching bei Muenchen.
Munich Branch: What does a test pilot actually do?
Reflecting on a career as a military test pilot at the UK MoD test centre Boscombe Down, Laurie Hilditch will examine what makes a test pilot and illustrates the diverse flying and ground activities experienced during his career. This covers testing a foreign fighter at short notice to contributing to the design and development of the Eurofighter Typhoon, clearing new weapons onto the Tornado and even simulating chemical attacks during training exercises for the Army and Navy.
Please visit the main RAeS site for further details: Munich Branch: What does a test pilot actually do?
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Thu23Oct202518:00 - 20:00 CESTHAW Hamburg
Hamburg Branch: Insights into future propulsion technologies.
The aviation sector has set ambitious targets to achieve net zero flight by 2050, there are several legislative, operational and technological pathways that will contribute towards this. Some of the greatest challenges are faced in developing solutions that will directly reduce the emissions of the aircraft.
This presentation will provide some insights into what technologies are being explored for future propulsion systems based on new and alternative fuels such as battery, hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels. It will explain how the incumbent primes are adopting different approaches to decarbonisation, while emerging companies are seeking to carve out niches with their disruptive technologies and business models.
No registration required - lecture in-person only.
For further details, please visit the main RAeS site page: Hamburg Branch: Insights into future propulsion technologies.
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Thu23Oct202518:30 - 20:30 GMTLondon - conference
Celebrating National Mentoring Day 2025
Organised by the alta Mentoring Steering Group, this event marks National Mentoring Day by spotlighting the transformative power of mentorship in the aviation and aerospace sector.
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Thu23Oct202518:30 - 21:30Share Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building, Bournemouth University
Bournemouth Branch Networking Reception and Lecture: Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) in the air domain - Past, Present and Future.
Defence and security operations across history have been associated with the physical domains of Land, Sea and Air. Space has become the most recent, and highly-publicised.
Operational success in these domains is increasingly dependent on the quality of information available to participants in operations. The electro-magnetic spectrum (EMS) is the main medium by which such information is collected and disseminated. The invention of radios in the late 19th century was followed by widespread adoption for communication. Within 50 years, the use of radar to detect vehicles and control weapons had made a significant impact on the success or failure of military operations. In more recent times, infra-red and laser systems have become key elements in a range of defence and security applications. Consequently, the EMS has become a domain in which participants in operations must maintain their own ability to use it, while - on occasions - denying or controlling their opponents' use of it.
There are many ways in which participants can conduct EMS Operations (EMSO), one of which is known as Electromagnetic Warfare (EW). EW itself is often divided into 3 broad areas: Electromagnetic Surveillance, Electromagnetic Defence and Electromagnetic Attack. The development of the equipment involved in these activities over the period 1900 to the present day provides insights into the innovations made to support past air operations and indicates some of the issues facing the development of air capability for the future.
Programme:
18:30: Drinks Reception
19:30: Lecture
20:45: Q&A / Discussion
21:30: CloseRegistration is required for this event. For further information and to register please click the link below:
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Thu06Nov202518:00Portland Building, Room P0.41 University of Portsmouth, St James Street, Portsmouth PO1 3AH
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Wessex Area Lecture: Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactors.
Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactors by James Bellingall Rolls-Royce. James will be presenting on the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design and the product's place in the civil nuclear market. The primary benefit of the SMRs is that they would help reduce our reliance on non-sustainable energy sources, quickly. After the talk, there will be a Q&A session where attendees will be able to ask questions. 6 for 6:30pm. Portland Building, Room P0.41 University of Portsmouth, St James Street, Portsmouth PO1 3AH. Non-members are welcome to attend our events but you will need to create a non-member account to do this; it’s free and will only take a few minutes. To do this, please visit http://www.imeche.org/my-account/Register
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Thu06Nov202518:15British Airways HQ Waterside (and Teams).
RAeS Heathrow Branch: Charles Abell Named Lecture
The Royal Aeronautical Society Heathrow Branch is pleased to announce and cordially invite you to join us at our upcoming Charles Abell Named Lecture, to be held on Thursday, 06 November 2025, at 18:15 GMT.
In this RAeS Heathrow Branch lecture, we are delighted to welcome Martin Maltby FRAeS, Chief Engineer, Rolls-Royce (Ret'd), to share his insight on ‘Investigating the Unthinkable: Total fuel exhaustion in Mid-Atlantic’. In brief, the speaker will discuss the root cause, the pilots' actions, and the subsequent formal inquiry into Azores Glider. The audience are invited to consider how they would have responded to the evolving situation.
The Branch is delighted to hold this event in a hybrid format, with the in-person session at British Airways HQ Waterside, and the virtual session via Microsoft Teams.
For further event details, please refer to the lecture flyer attached or the event's site here. To register, please visit http://tiny.cc/RAeSLHR, by selecting the in-person or virtual session. If your organisation blocks external URL shortener, please visit aerosociety.com/Heathrow, and browse under ‘Upcoming Events’. Alternatively, you may contact us at Heathrow@aerosociety.com if you encounter any issues during registration.
*** IMPORTANT NOTICE ***
For security and/or administration purposes, advance registration is required for all RAeS Heathrow Branch events. For in-person attendees, please note that British Airways Waterside is a secure venue, and you must present a photographic ID to be checked on arrival.
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Tue11Nov202519:00Westminster Theatre, Farnborough College of Technology, Boundary Road, Farnborough, GU14 6SB.
RAeS Farnborough Lecture: The Extraordinary Life of Air Commodore Ernest L Howard-Williams MC
The Extraordinary Life of Air Commodore Ernest L Howard-Williams MC by Conductor, Author and family member Anthony Inglis Howard-Williams.
This presentation tells the story of Anthony Inglis Howard-William’s grandfather, who besides falling out of his aeroplane at 500ft in 1916 without a parachute, and surviving, details his life from winning the MC for flying over The Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele in WWI, through inter-war engineering courses at 3 universities; spells at the Royal Arsenal where he invented the cylindrical bomb without fins and secondment to the staff college at Andover, whilst all the while trying to persuade the air ministry to adopt his ideas of University Air Squadrons, dive bombers and arguing for the death of the battleship. He was the first person to fly east to west (and back again) across Africa, and during WWII had appointments as number two to Dowding at Bentley Priory in 1939, with subsequent postings at Halton (where Anthony was born) and Blackpool. There are scandals, murders and intrigue in this story, as he battled to try and persuade others of his vision of aviation and war.
Anthony Inglis is one of the busiest and most eclectic of international classical music Grammy-nominated conductors. He has led more than 250 performances at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted royal concerts, is the Music Director of the London Concert Orchestra and for the Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. He is the author of A Family of Aviators at War: The Somme, Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, Night-Fighter Mosquitoes, Chinooks: The Story of Nine RAF Pilots From One Family.
7pm for 7:30pm.
Westminster Theatre, Farnborough College of Technology, Boundary Road, Farnborough, GU14 6SB. The Westminster Theatre is in the UCF Study Centre building close to the main entrance in Boundary Road.
£3 donation invited from non-members. RAeS members, Branch Friends, Students: free.
Contact jo.davies@raes-volunteer.org.
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Wed12Nov202519:30CS&TSoc
Cirencester Science and Technology Society Lecture: How Can AI Help Us Find Exploding Stars and Hungry Black Holes?
How Can AI Help Us Find Exploding Stars and Hungry Black Holes? Speaker Dr Heloise Stevance, Schmidt A.I. Fellow University of Oxford. 7:30pm. All lectures are open to the public: Entry for full-time students is free, other visitors are asked to make a donation of £3.