Malcolm Scott has been at the forefront of aerospace issues for nearing 30 years. His time in government saw him involved in discussions and negotiations that have helped secure the prosperity of the industry we know today. More recently, he helped create the Aerospace Technology Institute and I was delighted that he agreed to do a short Q&A for me to mark his retirement from the ATI and, in turn, the culmination of a fascinating career in aerospace.

His answers provide an insight into contemporary aviation and aerospace history and he is characteristically modest. But it is clear to see the huge impact that he has had on the industry, not least securing significant investment into the UK. I hope you enjoy his insights as much as I did.

Will Hilton is probably one of the youngest warbird pilots in the UK and he’s thoroughly enjoying himself. A passionate aviator, Will flies the big jets as a day job and warbirds ‘on the side’. It has required a lot of hard work and dedication and he has some interesting stories to tell. We met through the Air League – an organisation that has given us some brilliant opportunities.

Jenny Kavanagh, chief strategy officer of Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), is playing an integral role in leading the transition to zero-emissions flight. In this interview she gives an update on the work that CAeS is doing to enable a transition to sustainable air transport and also provides an insight into the many and varied projects the company is working on on.

Dave Unwin is a pilot, journalist and author and has written for aviation publications around the globe. Currently Pilot Magazine’s Flight Test Editor and the Editor of GASCO’s Flight Safety Magazine, Dave has considerable experience within aviation and has flown some pretty cool aircraft ranging from antique gliders and vintage biplanes to modern turboprops and jet fighters, via WW2 bombers and fighters. We have known each other for some time now, sharing notes on a range of issues and campaigning together to raise awareness of some topical issues such as cuts to Air Cadet Gliding.

The creation of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will be a welcome addition to the UK’s innovation ecosystem. Supporting high-risk, high pay-off research, ARIA will exclusively focus on projects with potential to produce transformative technological change. Yet for it to be successful it will need to establish and maintain strong links with the wider UK innovation landscape.

The Aviation Xtended podcast is going from strength to strength. Co-hosted by Pieter Johnson, Tim Robinson and Gareth Stringer, over 120 episodes have now been produced with many more in the pipeline. I joined the podcast as co-host on one of the early episodes and had a great time – Pieter, Tim and Gareth are passionate about aviation and aerospace and are brilliant communicators, always able to get the most out of the show’s many and varied guests. Pieter has kindly provided a few insights into the podcast via a Q&A which provides a ‘behind the scenes’ look at episode development as well as future plans.

Tim Robinson, Editor of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s AEROSPACE magazine, is one of the aerospace industry’s best-known journalists. In his time at the helm of AEROSPACE he has covered a range of issues and has always had a great ability to write for audiences with a range of backgrounds, from industry execs to young people involved in the varied youth initiatives of the Aero Society. We have known one another for many years and I was so pleased that Tim took a bit of time out to answer a few questions and offer his thoughts on some topical issues.

Global competition in aerospace remains as intense as ever. If the UK wants to remain a global aerospace leader then we need to do more. The UK offers a first-class and open ecosystem for innovation, driven by entrepreneurial start-ups and a depth of aerospace expertise unrivalled in Europe. But international competitors are gaining ground at an accelerating pace. This is a short ATI blog I wrote recently.

I have known Jenny since we started working together in the Autumn of 2015 to establish closer ties between the UK and Swedish aerospace sectors. It was brilliant working with her when she was Director of DIT Sweden and it’s been great that we have been able to continue to work closely together following her move to Saab.

I’ve known Chris for many years now and we’ve always bonded over our shared interest in history. Chris is a true adventurer; he’s spent many years travelling and has established himself as a successful TV historian and writer. In 2017 he created We Will Remember, his project that tells the stories of those involved in World War II.