Ron Smith

Ron Smith was educated in Aeronautical Engineering at Southampton University gaining a BSc, MSc (Rotorcraft & V/STOL Aircraft), and PhD. He joined Westland Helicopters Ltd from October 1975, becoming Head of Future Projects from 1980 to 1991.

He learned to fly in 1978, owning aircraft from 1982 up to 2015, owning five different light aircraft and gaining some 770 hours on mostly tailwheel aircraft. He has taken off and landed around 40 types, about half of which he has flown solo.

Ron was Chairman of the RAeS Rotorcraft Group from 1991-93. Whilst at Westland, Ron was a Member of the Design Committee of the American Helicopter Society and subsequently served on the AHS Technical Council. He is a past winner of the RAeS Alan Marsh Award and is Member of the Institute of Physics and a Fellow of the RAeS.

Ron is a current member of the RAeS Historical Group Committee and of the AHS. Other memberships include Light Aircraft Association and the Vintage Aircraft Club. He is also a Member of the Royal Photographic Society.

Having retired at the end of 2012, Ron also produces legacy aircraft web pages in support of the BAE Systems Heritage Group, published on baesystems.com.

His over-riding interests are in old and obscure light aircraft and in aviation photography and history. Widely travelled having spent time in British Guiana as a child and travelled on business to The US, Russia, Poland, South Africa and Australia and elsewhere.