 Western Aerospace Centre
 In late November a full audience packed the large lecture theatre in the University of Bristol’s Chemistry department for a fascinating insight into the development of BAE Systems’ complex fighter aircraft from Tornado, through the current Typhoon, and looking ahead to Unmanned Aircraft. Billy Beggs, who leads the Future Concepts demonstration team, started by describing leading edge engineering and manufacturing techniques developed to make the current generation of fighter aircraft more affordable. Compared with Tornado, a Typhoon has a dramatically reduced parts count, tightly controlled production tolerances to achieve true interchangeability of structural components, a digital drawing suite and high levels of assembly automation which all combine to result in a build cycle time less than half that of a Tornado.
The next generation of aircraft will have even more demanding challenges of affordability and targets have been set to achieve further dramatic reductions in build and assembly cycles. Use of automated laser projection and positioning tools can eliminate the need for
expensive long-lead tooling and dramatically cut the process time for machining and assembly.
 Billy then described the previously classified UAV development programmes, which have been characterised by very rapid prototyping of technologies and demonstrators. The Kestrel, Raven, Herti and Corax UAVs have been developed in a remarkably short time, to prove stealth technologies, autonomous operation, and importantly to gain flight clearance from the CAA. A lively question and answer session was followed by a vote of thanks, given by Roger Taplin of Airbus UK, and a
buffet supper arranged by the University.
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