Past Talks

Past Talks

We have enjoyed many interesting and moving stories from a huge variety of speakers over the years. Many have been reviewed and published in our quarterly magazine, Jabberwock. Below is a selection of the reports from the hand of Robert Heath, our regular reviewer. Just click on any of the titles to read about what we enjoyed ‘on the night’.

Please consider joining in with our future talk nights to hear fascinating speakers give first hand, revealing accounts about their lives, careers and organisations. You can attend the Talks in person at The Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton or by Zoom as they are ‘live streamed’. See our Talks website page by clicking HERE.

“The Lizzie (Lysander) and Westland”, by Paul Hand

November 2024

“The de Havilland Comet airliner – the 75th Anniversary of her maiden flight”, by Alistair Hodgson

October 2024

“Aircraft Procurement Misjudgements”, by Group Captain (Retd) Jock Heron OBE RAF 

September 2024

“Cold War under the sea”, by Iain Ballantyne

July 2024

“Bat Boat to Sea Harrier – 80 years of world-class aircraft from Kingston upon Thames”, by David Hassard

June 2024

“Luftwaffe Aerial Reconnaissance photographs (Adolph’s British Holiday Snaps)”, by Nigel Clarke

May 2024

Protecting Fighter Pilots from High g, by Sue Adcock (FAST Trustee – Farnborough Air Sciences Trust)

April 2024

Operation Corporate” – SBS Veterans and Robert Brooke

March 2024

“Flying the Vulcan – A personal experience”, by Sqn Ldr (Retd) Joe Marsden 

February 2024

“Teaching the systems to fly and fight the Westland AH64D Apache Helicopter”, by Mike Morison

January 2024

Early Aero Engines 1900 – 1920”, by Graham Mottram

November 2023

Naval Aviator and Test Pilot”, by Chris Taylor

October 2023

Flying the Hunter and other things”, by Sqn Ldr (Retd) Rod Dean

September 2023

The Queens Platinum Jubilee Flypast 2022, by Lt Cdr David Lilly, RN

July 2023

“Supermarine and turbojet fighters”, by Group Captain (Retd) Jock Heron, OBE

June 2023

“The RAF Germany Harrier Force” by Group Captain (Retd) Tim Brandt RAF

May 2023

“HMHS UGANDA in the Falklands War” by Nicci Pugh

April 2023

“RIAT – Some memorable moments and impossible challenges” by Tim Prince OBE FRAeS

March 2023

“From the Falklands to the Middle East” (A brief history of Sea King AEW 1982-2018), by Lt Cdr Richard Lewis (Retd) and Mike Yates ex- EMI Group Ltd

February 2023

“Sextant to SatNav” – Part 2, by Peter Griffiths

January 2023

“Tornado Combat Operations” by Michael Napier

November 2022

“The de Havilland Company” by Alistair Hodgson

October 2022

“Development of the P51 Mustang” by Squadron Leader (Retd) Rod Dean 

September 2022

“The Blackburn Buccaneer in Service” by Air Commodore (Retd) Graham Pitchfork MBE

July 2022

“A Bridge Too Far – and working for Richard Attenborough”, by Group Captain (Retd) Mike Jenkins

June 2022

“Wings over Lee – Aviation at Lee on Solent 1917 to 2022″ by Bob Wealthy of the Daedalus Aviation & Heritage Group

May 2022

“Exceptional Raids – Changing the Courses of Wars” by Wing Commander (Retd) Tony Davies

April 2022

TSR-2 Grandfather of Tornadoby Group Captain (Retd) Jock Heron, OBE

March 2022

“307 Squadron Project”

February 2022

“Taming Eagles: Disarming the Luftwaffe, 1945-1948″, with Chris Rogers

January 2022

RAF Presentation Team” with Warrant Officer Tommy Docherty and Aircraftman Catherine Brady

November 2021