What role will unmanned aerial vehicles play in the years ahead? In 2002, Prof Ian Poll took the long view of UAVs, by drawing lessons from such figures as Sir George Cayley, the Wright Brothers and Samuel Langley. Arguing that the UAV is a concept whose time had come, he explored the key issues facing the exploitation of military and civil unmanned flight in 2002, pointed out opportunities and made predictions for the future.

Prof Ian Poll FREng FRAeS gave the Royal Aeronautical Society’s 91st Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture on 5 December 2002. The lecture was introduced by the then President, Lee Balthazor FRAeS, and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.