Royal Aeronautical Society Podcast

Arthur’s highly successful career followed an unconventional path. He left school with a mix of GCEs, O Levels, and two A Levels, neither of which were Maths, but with plenty of practical know-how from his father. Describing himself as ‘vastly overconfident but vastly underqualified’, Arthur was unsure of his future until a careers adviser’s suggestion led him to Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Farnborough. In 1975, Arthur joined the Engineering Physics (EP) Department as an Assistant Scientific Officer, doing experimental research into helicopter transmissions. When the department closed in the early 1980s, he moved , now a Scientific Officer, to the Flight Systems Department, completing EP projects before working on aircraft hydraulic systems. This involved real aircraft which had to be cleared for flight, but ended after a Hunter aircraft suffered an engine failure on take-off. Both pilots ejected safely, but the project was transferred to RAE Bedford  leaving Arthur once again in search of a new post. He described himself as being ‘hawked around’ the Weapons Department before settling in Attack Weapons, where he worked on anti-tank systems and again flight clearance on real aircraft. His practical approach earned promotion to Principal Scientific Officer and involvement in international missile programmes. Though he credited luck, his skills were clearly valued. Arthur saw the RAE as more a family than a workplace, and joining the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) put him on the path to Chartered Engineer despite the lack of a degree. The CEng grew in importance as Farnborough became DRA, DERA, and finally QinetiQ, a period Arthur called a ‘Wild West’ of unclear strategy and scarce funds. After a disruptive split of staff between QinetiQ and DSTL, he chose QinetiQ, but the ensuing chaos left him feeling ‘crushed.’ He eventually moved to Aldermaston, where his weapons and aircraft clearance experience was valued. He then spent five satisfying years in work he found genuinely useful, a period of redemption that let him retire without the frustration of leaving Farnborough. Arthur’s interests included long-term involvement with the Air Cadets and research into Operation Chastise. What began as a paper supporting his RAeS application and pursuit of Chartered Engineer status eventually led to him serving as a technical advisor for a TV programme on the Dambusters. Reflecting on his career, Arthur felt a university degree at 18 wouldn’t have suited him. The informal apprenticeship at the RAE, guided by colleagues who recognized his potential, worked far better for his development. When asked about the biggest change he witnessed over his career, Arthur highlighted the shift in organisational culture. At the RAE, trials could fail without fuss, provided no one was harmed; by QinetiQ, the same incident would prompt a full inquiry. The RAE’s “suck-it-and-see” approach fostered risk-taking, allowing Technical Demonstrator Programmes to succeed through building and tinkering, often before fully understanding the systems. Arthur has written an account of the various phases of his career but has still to finish the “messy” bit.  He also enjoys writing aeronautical histories. His paper on the role of the RAE and the V1 was published in the RAeS’s Journal of Aeronautical History. Arthur Kearse CEng FRAeS was interviewed by Roger Cansdale FRAeS 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. A transcript of the interview recording is available on the National Aerospace Library catalogue: Arthur Kearse oral history interview | National Aerospace Library

In the latest podcast in the series from the Royal Aeronautical Society's monthly AEROSPACE magazine, Editor in Chief Tim Robinson and Deputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater analyse recent aviation, aerospace and space news - and preview the latest (January 2026) edition of the magazine. (Note podcast recorded in late December)

John Romain MBE is a distinguished engineer, display pilot, and commercially successful aircraft restorer whose career has placed him at the forefront of historic aviation. He began his journey as a technician apprenticeship at Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and British Aerospace before helping restore Graham Warner’s Blenheim and founding the Aircraft Restoration Company, which now employs over seventy people working on the maintenance and restoration of classic aircraft. As a pilot, John has flown an exceptional range of historic types, including the Lysander, Blenheim, B-17, B-25, Corsair, Me 109, Hurricane and numerous Spitfires. Romain's renowned skills at display filming have taken him into major film productions, notably serving as Tom Cruise’s stunt pilot in Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning and contributing to Dunkirk. John’s life story reflects one of modest beginnings, great endeavour and a dedication to preserving aviation heritage. John Romain MBE was interviewed by Keith Cameron 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 edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. A transcript of the interview recording is available on the National Aerospace Library catalogue: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-5eha4-19f1da8 The photograph of John Romain shows him sat in the Spitfire XI that he restored and first flew again in 2018. The aircraft, nicknamed “Eleven” and “L”, was named in honour of pioneering aviator Lettice Curtis. In 1948, Curtis famously flew the aircraft when she set the British women’s record for the fastest time over a 100-kilometre closed-circuit course, achieving a speed of 313.208 mph. The National Aerospace Library holds the certificate for Lettice Curtis’s record-breaking flight, along with a rich collection of papers and photographs documenting her life and work. These include material relating to her service with the Air Transport Auxiliary, her logbooks, and her post-war aviation career. You can find out more here: https://www.aerosociety.com/news/eleanor-lettice-curtis-a-british-aviation-pioneer

In the latest podcast in 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 latest (December 2025) edition of the magazine. Meanwhile, Seth Moffat, Chair of the RAeS Flight Operations Group talks to ex-Emirates Airlines Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Capt Alan Stealey about the global carriers' incredible history.

Concorde Test pilot Alan Smith’s path to BAC took him to flying Meteors and Venoms for the RAF and a colourful life in the pilot’s seat for smaller airlines in the late 1950s and into the 1960s. In this first interview, Alan Smith shares how he discovered his passion for aviation and recounts the early years of his RAF flying career, leading to his transition into civil airlines and ultimately becoming a Concorde test pilot. Through his stories, he brings to life the excitement of flying a wide variety of aircraft and the memorable pilots he met along the way. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1933, Alan Smith grew up beside the bustling Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard and started out as an apprentice plumber. But the skies were calling: on his 15th birthday in 1948, he joined the Air Cadets. A gliding course at RAF Ouston quickly earned him his A and B certificates, and he took part in cadet flights, including a memorable ride in a Lancaster at RAF Leuchars. Soon after, he won a flying scholarship, clocked 30 hours on Tiger Moths, and earned his private pilot’s licence by early 1951. As the 100th recipient, he celebrated at the Royal Aero Club in London, where Lord Brabazon of Tara - holder of Aviator’s Certificate No. 1 -  personally presented him with Certificate No. 27,000. Just weeks later, Alan left plumbing and the Newcastle shipyards behind to join the RAF. After basic training at RAF Cranwell, he began flying at No. 6 Flying Training School, RAF Ternhill, where he flew solo after just 60 hours on the Percival Prentice. Alan Smith recalls meeting Wing Commander Flying Downey at the bar of the officers’ mess whilst celebrating the milestone of his first RAF solo flight. He was then posted to RAF Middleton St George for advanced training on the Harvard, followed by a jet conversion course at 205 Advanced Flying School on the same Teesside airfield, flying the Gloster Meteor F.4 and T.7. He describes flying to Newcastle, diving over the city and being able to look down to see if his mother was in the back garden. Alan’s next posting was to 228 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Leeming for night-flying training, which included an exhilarating nocturnal flight in a de Havilland Mosquito, rendezvousing with a Meteor with no lights. He was then assigned to RAF Wahn near Cologne, West Germany, flying Meteor night fighters for two and a half years with the 2nd Tactical Air Force. He recalls incidents involving fellow pilots and one mission when he ran out of fuel and crash-landed after his hood became stuck. Back in Britain, his hopes of becoming an RAF instructor at the Central Flying School were dashed when the Commandant disapproved of his lack of sporting experience. Instead, he joined 89 Squadron at RAF Stradishall, flying de Havilland Venom Mk 3 night fighters. When the unit was unexpectedly disbanded, he was pleasantly surprised to be appointed Officer-in-Charge of Stradishall’s Station Flight, overseeing the dispersal of 13 aircraft of five different types. During this period, he also completed an Instrument Flying Rating course on a Vickers Varsity at RAF Debden. However, Alan did not see himself as a Career Officer and left the RAF in April 1959 after seven years’ service. Driven by his ambition to become an airline pilot, he next moved to London with his young family and studied for an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. He had to prove his skills all over again and passed with a twin-engine rating just eight months later.  Alan Smith talked with Julian Temple, Heritage Archivist for BAE Systems Heritage, on 1 March 2024. The recording was edited for podcast 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. Further interviews with Alan Smith will be released in future podcasts. A transcript of the interview recording is available on the National Aerospace Library catalogue: Alan Smith oral history interview | National Aerospace Library