Society News
New member
Name: Toby Apletree, Associate, 22
Location: Warton, Lancashire
Job title: Graduate Aerodynamicist, BAE Systems Air.
What inspired you into aerospace? My grandad was an aerospace engineer in his younger years. Even as far back as my preprimary school years, he was a huge source of inspiration to me and I think it is entirely fair to blame my aviation obsession on him. He would take me to air museums, airshows and host aircraft recognition competitions all throughout my childhood. I suppose that was the catalyst to a runaway love for aerospace engineering and becoming a private pilot!
What is the best thing about your current role? Aerodynamics was a technical specialism which I have always had a particular soft spot for. The Accelerate Graduate Scheme at BAE Systems allows me to rotate around the copious and varied projects the company has to offer. The opportunity to apply my passion and learning on a really wide variety of very high-profile projects is unparalleled. In particular, I had the great opportunity to be a part of Team Tempest; an opportunity I had only dreamed of and a truly once-in-a-generation chance to get involved in a future combat air system project from ‘the start’.
What made you join the Royal Aeronautical Society? Given my passion for both flying and aerospace engineering, I knew this was the society I was destined to become a member of. In fact, as soon as I started at BAE Systems, applying to RAeS was one of the very first things I did (supported and encouraged by the company too!). I had also won the Royal Aeronautical Society Prize upon graduating from the University of Sheffield; it was great to have my hard work recognised! Looking to the future, however, I am very keen to become professionally registered as a Chartered Engineer with RAeS.
What do you hope to get out of your membership with the RAeS? Being the society for true aviation lovers and professionals, I am very much looking forwards to meeting some great like-minded people. I recently got involved in the AeroChallenge 2021 quiz, which was brilliant fun and so I would certainly like to make the most of all opportunities like this. I am also keen to keep tuned-in to all the lectures and seminars and appreciate all the great work and stories from around the industry.
What three items would you take with you to the space station? To pass the time on those long evenings, perhaps a couple of copies of some old Flight journals and maybe a Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft to keep the obsession honed in. I would also certainly take a good SLR camera with a good lens for great shots of our planet (and probably nosy shots of various world aerodromes). Finally, a photo album filled with pictures of loved ones (family, friends, pets), with plenty of room to add the highly contrasting photos of space station life, to reflect on the beautiful planet we are surrounded by day-to-day.
What’s your favourite aircraft? I have been dreading the response to this question… they are all beautiful in their own purpose-built right! Even a Hunting H126 or PZL M15 Belphegor is attractive in some right. Though having worked as a powerplant engineer, tinkering with Merlin engines on an Avro Lancaster (NX611) and a de Havilland Mosquito (HJ711) through my university summers, the Lancaster is certainly in the running. Also, having been brought-up just down the road from RAF Coningsby (this certainly contributed to the aviation bug), I think the Eurofighter Typhoon has to take the joint lead.
Who is your biggest inspiration? As mentioned, my grandad was certainly the inspiration which kicked-off my career. However, this question is a great opportunity to appreciate just how many great inspirations there are in the aerospace sector. Whether that is the ever-impressive Elon Musk, or more historical figures such as Kelly Johnson, Artem Mikoyan and Geoffrey de Havilland. All of these figures and some of the truly brilliant people I am privileged to work with are all great inspirations to me.
Piece of advice for someone looking to enter your field? An obvious one, which was very important for me, is to always keep pressing through adversity and give your work everything you’ve got. I had no idea just what I was capable of until a dose of perseverance and tenacity lead to my understanding of complex principles to ‘click’. So ask lots of questions and don’t underestimate the expertise of those around you.