RAeS Lecture in cooperation with HAW, DGLR, VDI & ZAL

The Lockheed U-2 is a strategic reconnaissance aircraft, which played a crucial role during the tense years of the Cold War. It came to fame when pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960. However the aircraft has been frequently updated, is still operated by the United States, and over more than 70 years it has seen action in most conflicts around the world, providing vital intelligence information to the US and its allies. Built by the famous Lockheed ‘Skunk Works" under the direction of Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, the U-2 was, and is, truly the most successful intelligence-gathering aircraft ever produced.

Chris Pocock is a British full-time writer, specialising in aerospace. He was the defence editor of AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS until retiring in mid-2018. He continues to write articles and commentaries on aerospace/defense issues. 

His interest in the U-2 started in the early 1970s with a visit to Davis-Monthan AFB, which was then the home of the US Air Force U-2 wing. In 1989, his first book on the Dragon Lady was published to favorable reviews, including from members of the US airborne reconnaissance community. 

So he continued to research the history, and follow the current operations, of this remarkable aircraft. In 1992, he helped to ensure that an original U-2C model and B-camera were preserved and transferred to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK. In 1997, he became the first foreign civilian to fly in the U-2. His largest book, 50 YEARS OF THE U-2, was published in 2005 to mark the aircraft's golden anniversary. He continued the story by publishing DRAGON LADY TODAY in 2015. This book was updated in a second edition in 2024. In 2025, he published SHADOW FLYER, a biography of Bob Ericson, one of the early and most notable U-2 pilots. 

The CIA’s chief historian said that Chris is “today’s foremost authority on the U-2 and its development.” 

 poster_2026_04_16_U2_spyplane.pptx (356 KB)

RAeS Lecture in cooperation with HAW, DGLR, VDI & ZAL

What does it take to design and build a spacecraft that can deliver cargo to the International Space Station?

This talk looks at the challenge from the following angles.

First, the engineering reality. Even for a cargo vehicle the bar is extremely high. Visiting the ISS requires strict safety and redundancy, and the integration of many disciplines: structures, avionics, GNC, propulsion, thermal control, software, operations, and many more. To create a safe and reliable capsule, one of the goals is to expose issues early, test aggressively, and fix problems quickly so the final vehicle is safe.

Second, the entrepreneurial side. Building a company as a startup in Germany means dealing with supply chains, financing, and recruiting strong engineers while building credibility in a conservative industry.

As conclusion, we look at what working in a startup means for engineers: you have increased responsibility, the ability to be hands-on, fast personal growth, and close collaboration with experienced experts. 

On 22nd August 1985, 55 passengers and crew on board British Airtours flight 328 lost their lives when a fire ripped through the cabin after an uncontained engine failure and abandoned take-off. Forty years later, the lecture reflects on the many advances that have taken place to improve cabin safety and passenger survivability. These include changes in fire safety, crashworthiness, cabin configuration and crew training – many of which are connected to Cranfield through the work of the late Professor Helen Muir, Frank Taylor and the Cranfield Impact Centre. Case study investigations include British Midland flight 92 at Kegworth, United flight 232 at Sioux City, Air France flight 358 at Toronto and culminate in the amazing story of those on board Japan Air Lines flight 516 which collided with a Coastguard aircraft at Haneda Airport in January 2024.

Graham Braithwaite is Director of Aerospace & Aviation at Cranfield University and Professor of Safety and Accident Investigation. He has over 30 years of experience in aviation safety, working with the likes of CAA, easyJet, Cathay Pacific, TUI, Airbus and Boeing on research and education projects. Graham joined Cranfield in 2003 to lead the internationally renowned Aircraft Accident Investigation course, which has now broadened into marine, rail, road, construction and healthcare. The activity was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2011 – the highest honour for a UK academic institution.

Graham served as an independent member of the TUI Safety Review Board 2011-25 and as Independent Safety Adviser to the British Airways Board since 2015. He became a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2006.