Society news
Name: Kush Sutaria AMRAeS, 26
Location: Leicester, UK.
Job title: Airbus Zephyr Flight Crew and Battery Engineer.
What inspired you into aviation? I began flying Cessnas from a young age as there was an airport just round the corner from my house and flying had always interested me. I had also always had a fascination with spacecraft and rockets. As I got older I developed an interest into how these vehicles work and how they are designed and built, which led to me becoming an aeronautical engineer.
What is the best thing about your current role? I get to be both an engineer and a pilot on a project genuinely at the cutting edge of aerospace technology. The Zephyr is a solar electric UAV which flies for months at a time above 70,000ft, where you can see the blackness of space in the cameras. As we are the first to do this, we are learning new things about stratospheric flying all the time and are developing the processes and procedures on how this type of aircraft should be operated. I also get to be very hands-on, working with our battery system, testing the batteries, integrating them to the aircraft and working with our cell manufacturers to continuously improve our batteries.
What made you join the Royal Aeronautical Society? Membership of the RAeS was a way for me to be a part of a society of aerospace professionals and to recognise my experience and education in the field. I had attended some lectures from the RAeS during school and university and once I was in the aeronautics field I wanted to be a part of the leading society in this industry.
What do you hope to get out of your membership with the RAeS? The RAeS has provided me with a way to keep up to date with the latest news, trends and tech in aerospace, as well as network with other professionals. I regularly read AEROSPACE magazine, attend lectures when possible and network with other members. What three items would you take with you to the space station? My noise cancelling headphones to listen to music, a Kindle loaded with books and a mojito to enjoy the view with!
What’s your favourite aircraft? Tough choice, and I may be stretching the definition of ‘aircraft’ here, but I’m going to go for the X-15 rocketpowered aircraft. Mach 6 and 300,000ft are just absurd numbers and with 1960’s technology would be both exhilarating and terrifying. I highly recommend the book At the Edge of Space by Milton Thompson for an insight into the design and operation of the X-15, and a look at what the early days of true experimental test flying were like. Close second would probably be the U-2 spyplane.
Who is your biggest inspiration? I love to read the biographies of Apollo astronauts and engineers. The fast pace of innovation then, the willingness to take risks, courage required and dedication to their mission during that time motivates me in my work.
Piece of advice for someone looking to enter your field? Once you start working in the industry, really get stuck in and be willing to learn new skill sets, even if it’s not your department or area of expertise. Being skilled in multiple disciplines makes you a very valuable asset, gives you a greater understanding of your project and will open the door to more opportunities.