Air Vice Marshal Graham Skinner has had a long, varied and distinguished career in the Royal Air Force, specialising in engineering.

Passionate about aviation as a young boy, he joined the RAF straight from school. However, his exceptional abilities were soon recognised, resulting in his being sent to Bristol University to undertake a BSc in aeronautical engineering. Despite qualifying as a pilot with the University Air Squadron, Graham opted to continue his career in the Air Force specialising as an engineer.  This led to a highly-varied series of roles and challenges, ranging from keeping helicopters flying in the desert to maintaining supersonic fighters in a state of readiness; roles which subsequently encompassed logistics as well as engineering, and concluding with his appointment as C-in-C Logistics Command. His problem-solving contributions were recognised with the award of a CBE.

Graham Skinner’s interview reflects not just a history of dealing with changing technology but also the excitement and challenge of a career in engineering.

AVM Graham Skinner CBE was interviewed by Sir George Cox CRAeS as part of the Royal Aeronautical Society/National Aerospace Library’s oral history project ‘If I only didn’t do it that way…….” Capturing history from the horse’s mouth to inspire today’s aeronautical professionals. The recording was edited by edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

The transcript of the recording can be accessed on the National Aerospace Library's catalogue: https://raes.soutron.net/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/1116013

An interview with AVM Graham Skinner...a varied and distinguished engineering career in the RAF

The gang talk about the RIAT 2025 theme of "Eyes in the Skies", some updates for the season next year and some unfortunate news that's his the airshow world recently. We also try out a new format at the top of the episode.

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 83: Themes make the Dream

National Mentoring Day is celebrated on 27 October and has put a spotlight on the benefits of mentoring for everyone, no matter who they are or where they are in their career, for the past 10 years. This year, to celebrate, the Royal Aeronautical Society recorded this podcast in which we discuss mentoring with esteemed mentors, Wg Cdr Daniela Nowalski and Judith Milne FRAeS. The Society also welcomed some of the women that Daniela and Judith are currently mentoring to hear all about their experiences and how mentoring has benefited them.


National Mentoring Day 2024: alta Mentoring Spotlight

Having discussed at length on the podcast the controversial changes to the enthusiast's FRIAT package over the last few years, we gave the Royal International Air Tattoo's organising team the opportunity to join us for an episode and put forward their side of the story and explain to us why they have brough these changes in and what they see as the future of the FRIAT package. 

For this episode, Sam and Tom chat with Simon Hough, Head of Customer Experience and Peter Reoch, Head of Air Operations, to understand why the FRIAT experience has been changed and what it might look like in future years. 

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 84: FRIAT Q&A with RIAT's Simon Hough and Peter Reoch

In this special episode celebrating Black History Month 2024 at the Royal Aeronautical Society, we’re thrilled to welcome Jackson Smith, CEO of Fantasy Wings and a passionate advocate for diversity in aviation.
 
We’ll explore his professional journey as a Black pilot, the challenges he has faced, his achievements, and the vital role of representation in the industry. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the impact of diversity in shaping the future of aviation!II

Jackson Smith Interview - celebrating Black History Month 2024

In this special episode celebrating Black History Month 2024 at the Royal Aeronautical Society, we’re excited to welcome Elvis Tinago, an aerospace engineer and advocate for diversity and inclusion.
 
We’ll discuss his professional journey as a Black engineer, the challenges he has faced, his achievements, and the importance of representation in the industry. Join us for an engaging conversation about the impact of diverse voices in shaping the future of aerospace!
 

Elvis Tinago Interview - celebrating Black History Month 2024

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, Jack Richardson analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the latest (November 2024) edition of the magazine. In this episode, we also have Specialist Group Insight with Seth Moffat, Chair of the RAeS Flight Operations Group in conversation with Captain Robert Scott who discuss the upcoming single pilot operations conference. (Get in contact with FOG via membership@aerosociety.com) Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

(Note: podcast recorded on 30 October)

AEROSPACE NOTAM - November 2024

Former Engineering manager at BOAC and British Airways and Engineering Director at Cathay Pacific, Stewart takes us through the challenges of selecting and keeping aircraft in the air in both the Far East and in the UK.

Though starting life as a BOAC apprentice, Stewart spent his early years on secondment to Kuwait Airways and Malaysia-Singapore Airline and he tells us about life living away from home often as the only engineer certified to maintain the airline’s types.

Back in the UK, Stewart spent most of the 1970s at Heathrow dealing with the challenges posed by the unions, engineers and the fleet of Boeing 747s and 707s.

Steward finished his time as a full-time employee in Hong Kong as Cathy Pacific’s Engineering Director, working with Boeing, Rolls-Royce and his engineers selecting and maintaining over 60 wide-bodied aircraft and Dragonair’s fleet of narrow bodied aircraft.

Not ready for the allotment, Stewart returned to the UK to take up consultancies and board positions with many aviation companies including Rolls-Royce and Airbus.

Always a Committee man, Steward also discusses his term as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and the International Federation of Airworthiness. 

During the interview, Stewart shares some amusing and fascinating tales of the people he met and the challenges he faced during his varied career.

Stewart John FREng FRAeS talked with Keith Cameron in September 2024 for the Royal Aeronautical Society/National Aerospace Library’s oral history project ‘If I only didn’t do it that way…….” Capturing history from the horse’s mouth to inspire today’s aeronautical professionals. … . The podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

The transcript of the recording can be accessed on the National Aerospace Library's catalogue: https://raes.soutron.net/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/1116153

An interview with Stewart John FREng FRAeS on engineering for post-war airlines

Following the success of our recently added segment "what's in the photo behind us that the listeners can't see?", we decided to, accidentally, expand it out into an entire episode. We learn about Dom's Cub, Dan's Greyhound, Tom's Tiger and Sam's Mighty Dragon (quiet down at the back!), with some sprinkling of chat and experiences alongside. 

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 85 - What's in a picture?

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, Jack Richardson analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the latest (December 2024) edition of the magazine. In this episode, we also have Specialist Group Insight with Seth Moffat, Chair of the RAeS Flight Operations Group in conversation with Captain Robert Scott and Prof Don Harris, Professor of Human Factors, Coventry University who discuss airliner single pilot operations. (Get in contact with FOG via membership@aerosociety.com) Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

AEROSPACE NOTAM - December 2024

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 85 - What's in a picture?

UK Airshow Review

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