We are joined on the podcast for this episode by two guests from the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, OC BBMF and Flight Lieutenant Seb Davey, Bomber Leader. 

In an enthralling session Mark and Seb answer our questions about the Flight and talk us through what representing the RAF's volunteer historical unit involves, what sets the BBMF apart from both the wider service and civilian operators and how you go from flying an A400M Atlas to an Avro Lancaster. 

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 72: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with Sqn Ldr Mark Sugden and Flt Lt Seb Davey

The ultimate test of the great powers’ pilots, aircraft and powerplants in the interwar period, the Schneider Trophy seaplane contest pushed forward aviation design to new heights and directly led to the Spitfire and Merlin engine. 

W. Cox, a member of the trophy winning Supermarine team, takes us through each contest, starting with the pre-World War II contests and highlights how the key technological developments in aircraft design were represented in the race.

Please note, due to the age of this recording, there are periods of poor sound quality.

W. Cox addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 12 October 1965. The lecture was introduced by J. L. Nayler FRAeS FAIAA, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

Rewind – The Schneider Trophy by W. Cox

We're discussing some of the airshow updates of recent weeks (as well as the methods of airshow updates), the Solway's Beverley Campaign, and Dom "on a soapbox" Vickery is let loose with his thoughts....

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 73: Beverly, Blenheims and Bags

Listen to the Royal Air Force, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton in conversation with Air Marshal Sir Christopher Harper at a Royal Aeronautical Society Corporate Partners briefing, held on 9 April.

RAeS Corporate Partner Briefing: Fireside Chat with Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton RAF

In this podcast series from the Royal Aeronautical Society's monthly AEROSPACE magazine, Editor in Chief Tim Robinson, Deputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater and Features Editor Bella Richards analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the next (May 2024) edition of the magazine. Special guest this episode is outgoing RAeS President Kerissa Khan. Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

AEROSPACE NOTAM - May 2024

Round'em up Cowboy! It's been a while since we've pored over the RIAT participants list for you, so we decided to go back down the list of the last few weeks and chat about some of the highlights that are starting to come out now. Dom gives us a taste of the Abingdon nightshoot - although Abingdon has now been postponed, sadly - and then goes off on another of his trademark rants. Tom also tells us about his visit of the Swedish Air Force Flight School where they operate the SK.60.

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 74: RIAT roundup, Abingdon and Tom's Swedish Sorrow

In 1945 confidence in British aviation was sky-high. Yet decades later, the industry had not lived up to its potential. What happened? The years that followed the war saw the Brabazon Committee issued flawed proposals for civil aviation planning. Enforced cancellations restricted the advancement of military aircraft, compounded later on by Defence Minister Duncan Sandys abandoning aircraft to fixate solely on missiles. Commercially, Britain's small and neglected domestic market hindered the development of civilian airliners. In the production of notorious aircraft, the inauspicious Comet came from de Havilland's attempts to gain an edge over its American competitors. The iconic Harrier jump jet and an indigenous crop of helicopters were squandered, while unrealistic performance requirements brought about the cancellation of TSR2.

Peter Reese explores how repeated financial crises, a lack of rigour and fatal self-satisfaction led British aviation to miss vital opportunities across this turbulent period in Britain's skies.

Peter Reese wrote this lecture for the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust in 2023. The recording is courtesy of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

A number of Peter Reese’s books, including In Turbulent Skies: British Aviation Successes Setbacks 1945-1975, are available if you make a donation to the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Library Conservation Appeals. The minimum donation is £5 per book. To order, please visit https://forms.office.com/e/siWpX4w9eW

Classic Podcasts - Triumph Tears : British Aviation from 1945-75 by Peter Reese

In this podcast series from the Royal Aeronautical Society's monthly AEROSPACE magazine, Editor in Chief Tim Robinson, Deputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater and Features Editor Bella Richards analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the next (June 2024) edition of the magazine. Special guest this episode is new RAeS President David Chinn. Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

AEROSPACE NOTAM - June 2024

In another guest episode, we're joined by Squadron Leader Chris Wilson, Media Officer for RAF Cosford and the RAF Cosford Airshow. With another varied lineup both in the air and on the ground, we find out exactly what it takes to put on the air show as well as getting the lowdown on this year's event.

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 75: Cosford 2024 with Sqn Ldr Chris Wilson

In this episode, we preview the (then upcoming) Midlands Air Festival and Shuttleworth Military Festival, commend airshows for some late minute replacements for cancellations, and discuss if flying displays are getting too long...

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 76: Shuttleworth, RIAT, and low level DC-6s

In episode 77, we review two major airshows - Midlands Air Festival and the RAF Cosford Air Show, the highs, the lows, the good and the bads. After hearing Dom and Tom's thoughts on those, Sam tells us about his whirlwind trip to see Korea's F-4 Phantoms say Pharewell.

To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk

If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk

All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Episode 77: Reviews, More Reviews and Also Some Phantoms

The UK Airshow Review Podcast is an informal chat between the UKAR writing team that originally came about as a response to the effects that the COVID-19 crisis had on the UK airshow scene. We talk about our thoughts and feelings on the British airshow world, invoke memories and reflections from our experiences of the airshow and aviation hobby and offer informed - and not so informed - opinions on the goings-on in the industry.

We also host the series Display Frequency, some nine episodes of incisive, professional interview and analysis of the airshow industry hosted and produced by former UKAR Staff member Dan O’Hagan, a global sports broadcaster and Senior Commentator at the Royal International Air Tattoo from 2009-2012.

To read our reports, features and interviews from back when airshows were a thing, head to https://www.airshows.co.uk
If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at https://forums.airshows.co.uk

Episode 72: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with Sqn Ldr Mark Sugden and Flt Lt Seb Davey

UK Airshow Review

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