The Second Century Papers: Looking Ahead in Aeronautics—18

“It is need, rather than discovery which stimulates progress, and the key to industrial success is the choice of application rather than priority in research” Sir Robert Cockburn, Director of RAE, 1968 At the first meeting of our Society in January 1866, James Glaisher advised us to “exclude any matter that may seem useless in forwarding the science, or that has the slightest chance of giving rise to ridicule …” this warning was timely and relevant to this theme for to consider the long-term future with as much rationality as is required for short-term forecasting and planning studies, is a valuable exercise in restraint as well as in imagination. So many avenues of possible development are technologically interesting, but in economic terms are sterile and unrewarding. One emerges with a deep conviction that certain areas of research and development may be in a dominant position in their influence on future aviation growth. Two of these are noise control and the evolution of composite materials. Although fairly obvious it seems important that they and some others be given the financial support which they deserve.