This Historical group lecture is delivered by Philip Jarrett. In only four years from his first involvement with aviation in 1910, Cecil Howard Pixton established himself as a leading British pioneer aviator. He will forever be remembered as the first pilot to win the Schneider Trophy seaplane race for the Great Britain, which he did a century ago, on 20 April 1914, flying a Sopwith Tabloid. As well as describing that event, Philip Jarrett surveys his early flying with Avro, Bristol and Sopwith, and also looks briefly at his First World War career and his subsequent continued involvement in aviation.

Art Thompson, Technical Director, Red Bull Stratos, who orchestrated Felix Baumgartner's space jump presents to the RAeS about the Red Bull Stratos Project, where he outlines the rigorous flight test program, numerous setbacks and delays that threatened the success of the program.

Modern small satellites, taking advantage of the dramatic advances in commercial ‘off-the-shelf’ (COTS) technologies developed for the industrial and consumer markets, have developed capabilities that are rivalling their conventional large satellite counterparts but at considerably lower cost and shorter timescales to launch. This is changing the approach to space and enabling new business models. What is the reality of small satellite missions and how far can they go?

The rapid changes in technology as well as commercial and environmental pressures in Air Traffic Management are discussed. Dr Roberts also explores how these may impact on the human element of air traffic control and the implications this may have on safety.

AUDIO: TONY PARASIDA, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SERVICES & SUPPORT, BOEING DEFENSE, SPACE & SECURITY speaks at the Society for the 2012 Wilbur and Orville Wright Named Lecture. Thanks to Boeing for supporting the event.

The Wilbur and Orville Wright Lecture was established to honour the pioneering mechanical engineers who completed the first successful controlled powered flight on 17 December 1903.

The 2013 lecture saw Dr Tom Enders, CEO, EADS ask how we can build a thriving industry that supports a flourishing society.

This lecture examines the origins of the Royal Flying Corps who travelled to France in the aircraft they had. Driven by the necessity of war, there were resulting developments in tactics, equipment, communications and weapons in the first year of the Great War.

Richard Deakin, CEO, NATS speaks about the anticipated arrival of the Single European Sky, where air traffic is managed according to operational efficiency rather than national boundaries. What are the challenges and how do we find solutions that Europe can sign up to?

Art Thompson CEO, Sage Cheshire Aerospace and Technical Director for the Red Bull Stratos jump speaks at the Royal Aeronautical Society about the Red Bull Stratos Project.

This lecture covers the first ten years of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) up to 1950 when Civil Aviation in the UK was about to dispense with the age of Flying Boats and was shortly to move into the Jet Age with the Comet 1.