The presentation reviewed the current state-of-the-art, and historical achievements, in laser communications (LOS/BLOS) in air and space. Current and future trends were discussed, as well as an outline of current and future developments.

Find out more about the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) objectives and activities.

Dale Tutt, the Scorpion Programme Manager, and Dan Hinson, the Chief Test Pilot, relate the story of the Textron AirLand Scorpion from a clean sheet design to the first flight of the Scorpion in less than 2 years.

The Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture is the principal event in the Society’s year, given by distinguished members of the US and UK aerospace communities. The 2014 Lecture will be delivered by Patrick M Dewar, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin International.

This Space Group lecture will be split into two parts and be given by Doug Liddle from SSTL and Steve Greenland from Clyde Space.

The Hon. Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, High Court Judge, Judiciary of England and Wales delivers the 2014 Beaumont Named Lecture and discusses the lessons learned from the Nimrod Review.

This presentation explored the medical services provided to European astronauts and examined the challenges that come out of this, the training of astronauts and the medical health care providers. It concluded with a view of future space medicine on exploration class missions.

John Holland-Kaye, CEO Heathrow Airport addresses the Society on the Sir Howard Davies Airport Commission and Heathrow’s ambition to expand.

He outlined how Heathrow’s expansion will bring economic growth, create jobs and apprenticeships, connect the UK to growth markets and support the local community.

Capt Eric 'Winkle' Brown HonFRAeS is a former test pilot who has flown 487 different types of aircraft; more than anyone else in history. He gives the inaugural lecture named in his honour at the RAeS FAA Yeovilton branch.

Prof Dr Heinrich Bülthoff from the Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics in Germany discusses the EU funded project ‘myCopter’.