Overview
The engineering stories behind some of the gadgets which have appeared in 007 are even more remarkable than the tales of espionage and adventure themselves, as a fascinating evening will reveal next month.
On 21 February, the Institution will celebrate the remarkable life and achievements in aviation and aerospace engineering of Wing Commander Ken Wallis, the creator of the autogyro, ‘Little Nellie’ which was featured in the film You Only Live Twice.
Ken Wallis, will share with members the remarkable engineering research and development story behind his creation of his Wallis autogyros for reconnaissance, R&D, surveillance and military purposes.
The Wallis autogyros have held all 20 of the UK official world records for autogyro speed, time to climb, altitude, range and duration. Other Wallis autogyros are operated as workhorses, by day and night, mostly in specialised remote sensing military and civil roles. A specially silenced Type WA-117 has been used in the Loch Ness investigation and on special photography in Saudi Arabia. A Type WA-120, fitted with a multi-band photographic pack of four cameras, illustrated exploration of he surface of the Earth in a specialist exhibition on exploration for the Science Museum. The little aircraft have also been operated at sea, from Naval patrol craft too small to carry a helicopter.
Described as a family vice, aviation and engineering have been in the blood of the Wallis family for over a century: the first Wallis aircraft, the ‘WALLBRO’ monoplane was completed by his father and made at Cambridge in 1910, and now nearly 97, Ken is still flying his own autogyros.
Book now to secure your place at this unique and fascinating evening
Programme:
17:30 – Registration and welcome drink at the Mech Bar
18:30 – Lecture
19:30 – Q&A
20:00 – Carriages