Royal Aeronautical Society
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Founded in 1866 The Royal Aeronautical Society, aka. RAeS is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.
The objectives of the The Royal Aeronautical Society include; to support and maintain the highest professional standards in all aerospace disciplines; to provide a unique source of specialist information and a local forum for the exchange of ideas; and to exert influence in the interests of aerospace in both the public and industrial arenas.
Throughout the world's aerospace community the name of The Royal Aeronautical Society is widely known and respected. Many practitioners from all disciplines within the aerospace industry use the Society's designatory post-nominals such as FRAeS, CRAeS, MRAeS, AMRAeS, and Grad RAeS.
The Staff of the Royal Aeronautical Society are based at the Society's headquarters at No.4 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ. Although centred in the United Kingdom, the Royal Aeronautical Society is a worldwide Society with an international network of 63 Branches.
History
The Royal Aeronautical Society was formed in 1866 by the 8th Duke of Argyll and a group of "aerial navigation enthusiasts". This unique group set about prompting heavier-than-air flight 37 years before the Wright Brothers made the first successful, powered flight.
From this start, the Society has striven to maintain its position as a leader, and provider of foresight, within the aerospace community. As a result, the Society and its members have, at many times during its history, been called upon to advise the government of the day and others on the best way forward. During the Second World War, for instance, the Society arranged meetings between aircraft industry leaders and the Services which allowed a free exchange of information.
The Society also set up a technical committee in the United Kingdom, staffed by Society members, on behalf of the Minister of Aircraft Production. This committee existed to answer any technical queries the minister had, but also allowed the members to avail the minister of any problems which they felt were impeding the war effort.
Throughout its history the RAeS can be shown to have stimulated the industry and been at the heart of advances in the state-of-the-art. Much of the pioneering work in many aspects of aeronautical study was either presented to, and/or published by, the RAeS. The Society's archives for the latter years of the 19th century show remarkable vision with early work on windtunnels and lightweight structures. One of the founder members had presented a paper in 1867 with the first recorded use of the term "jet propulsion", while in 1881 a member had stated that "it is definitely known that as this speed - 1,100 ft/sec [330 m/s] - is approached the resistance increases very rapidly". Later the Society published Sir Frank Whittle's early gas turbine studies long before his "new" propulsion system received any official support.
Over the course of aviation history there have been many endeavours around the world which have had Society members involved, often in key leadership positions. Throughout the Society's history and indeed today, lists of prominent members read as a "who's who of aerospace".
The Royal Aeronautical Society seeks to build upon its strong traditions and distinguished history to ensure that yesterday's achievements in aviation are the forerunners of many more to come.
Branches and Divisions
Branches are a regional embodiment of the Society. They represent a vital mechanism for the delivery of membership benefits and provide a global platform for the dissemination of aerospace information.
Divisions of the Society have been formed in countries and regions that can sustain a number of Branches. Divisions operate with a large degree of autonomy, being responsible for their own Branch network, membership recruitment, subscription levels, conference and lecture programmes.
External Links
- Official RAeS Site (http://www.raes.org.uk/homepage.asp)