In the latest podcast in series from the Royal Aeronautical Society's monthly AEROSPACE magazine, Editor in Chief Tim Robinson and Deputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater are joined by freelance author Charlotte Bailey to analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the latest (June 2025) edition of the magazine. In this episode, we also interview incoming RAeS President Alasdair Wood FRAeS. Find out more at www.aerosociety.com

AEROSPACE NOTAM - June 2025

In this...surprising episode, Ian tells us about his weekend jolly to Miami for the Hyundai Air and Sea Show, which he told literally none of us about, and then we cover the Shuttleworth Military show and the Midlands Air Festival!

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 93: CSIan: Miami

UKAR Staffer, occasional podcast guest and all round great northerner Nigel Watson joins us to talk about the RAF's last airshow, RAF Cosford Air Show. We also go over a handful of airshow updates!

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 94: All Cos of Ford

After not liking the way the nationalised BAC was going, Arthur Webb left Weybridge and headed to the small, secret and innovative special projects office of ML Aviation then onto Marconi Space. Here he tells us a little about working on drones, the JP233 anti-runway bomb for the Tornado, Skynet 4 and ESA’s Eureka project.

Eur Ing Arthur Webb FRAeS was interviewed by Tony Pilmer FRAeS in 2024 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 Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.


An interview with…..Arthur Webb FRAeS on secret projects at ML Aviation and Marconi Space

When John Barnard was tempted to join Ferrari there was only one man that he wanted to cook-up his carbon fibres and do the stressing – Arthur Webb. They had a year to create the Guildford Technical Office (GTO) before the car needed to reach the grid. Of course, Arthur also had to go to Maranello and get the thumbs up from the great man, Enzo Ferrari.

Eur Ing Arthur Webb FRAeS was interviewed by Tony Pilmer FRAeS in 2025 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 Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.


An interview with…. Arthur Webb FRAeS joins Ferrari Formula 1 Racing

After leaving Ferrari, Arthur struck-out on his own as an engineering consultant, with projects ranging from trolley buses in post-Cold War Hungary to designing MRI scanner beds and defence work. One of clients, St Bernard’s Composites, liked working with him so much that they offered him the role of Technical Director with a seat on the board. Arthur recalls some of the interesting projects St. Bernard’s did with the likes of Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Martin-Baker and Imperial College.

Eur Ing Arthur Webb FRAeS was interviewed by Tony Pilmer FRAeS in 2024 and 2025 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 Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.


An interview with….. Arthur Webb FRAeS on consultancy and joining the board

A nice, tidy, does what it says on the tin airshow review episode: Dom recounts the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight, probably one of the airshows of the year, and Tom tells us (a bit belatedly) about his trip to celebrate the 100th anniversary of BAN Hyeres on the south coast of France (not a bit jealous).

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 95: Hyères and There

It's nearly time for RIAT, and that means Sam has a rant to go on...we talk about the state of accommodation around the show compared with others, and chat about some airshow updates. RIAT preview next week!

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 96: Be more accommodating

The forecast is dire, but the chat is pure fire. It's our long awaited and much-demanded RIAT 2025 preview. We chat about the banger of a final update and what we're looking forward to seeing the most. Enjoy this on you drive over!

If there's some annoying fan noise in the background, we make no apologies for podding in a heatwave.

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 97: RIAT 2025 Preview

From British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) and into BAE Systems (BAe), as one of BAe’s senior lawyers, Philip Riley FRAeS was well positioned to witness the people, the projects and the issues that shaped the British aircraft industry from the mid-1960s to the early years of the present century, living and breathing the roller coaster of amalgamations, nationalisations, mergers and privatisations that characterised the industry during those years.

Philip relished the opportunity to travel the world negotiating contracts and financial packages supporting the sale of aircraft such as the BAC One Eleven whilst working with some of the big names in aviation. During his early years at BAC, he decided to pursue a legal qualification - an ambitious move that ultimately led him to become a member of the company’s Legal Department as an in-house Solicitor. In that role he was involved in major contract negotiations, acquisitions and mergers including the privatisation of BAe, collaboration with Airbus partners and the amalgamation with GEC Marconi in 2000. In this conversation, Philip shares stories about the people he worked with and the challenges that the company faced. 

After retiring from BAE Systems, Philip remained passionate about aviation. He became the secretary of the Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee (formed by TAG, the operator of the airport) and subsequently became Chairman of that Committee. 

His enthusiasm for aviation heritage led him to play a role in safeguarding heritage within BAe and ensuring that BAe’s rich heritage was preserved and protected for future generations.

As a founding member and the first Chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Farnborough Branch, Philip has made lasting contributions to the Society. He has also served as Treasurer and a member of the Society’s Council, and was involved in the re-location of the Society’s library to Farnborough (from its London HQ) and in the establishment of the National Aerospace Library at Farnborough. Philip reflects on the town’s rich contribution to the UK’s aviation heritage and its continued importance in the field.

Philip continues to be to be active in the community, currently supporting RAF Odiham in commemorating its centenary and participating in the aviation section of his local U3A branch.

Philip Riley FRAeS talked with Julian Temple, Heritage Archivist for BAE Systems Heritage, on 30 September 2024. The podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS and is published by kind permission of BAE Systems 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.

A transcript of the interview recording is available on the National Library's Catalogue: https://raes.soutron.net/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/4182317


Philip Riley FRAeS…. a view of the top of the British aerospace industry, 1960s to the 1990s

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