“I was four when I was first interested in aeroplanes, it’s as early as I can remember anything.”
“It was the 1950’s when I was a child, an exciting time before the space age. Everything that happened during that period was record breaking. I remember hearing about NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programmes, seeing how incredibly brave the astronauts were and thinking… what heroes.”
Back then I experienced that feeling of seeing something that had never been done before, and that feeling carries through with me to today. It’s what I feel when I speak about Tempest – it’s never been done before and there’s the excitement of doing something that’s never been done.Drew, FCAS Engagement Executive
Drew spent almost 30 years in the RAF as an Air Electronics Officer and shares how he enjoys seeing the technological advances we’re making on the FCAS programme.
“Aeroplanes and people inspire me every day. That wee 4 year old boy in me still gets excited every time I walk into the hangar.”
“It’s unbelievable how far we’ve come in such a short time. I used to sit in the back seats of aeroplanes, but Typhoon, F-35 and Tempest don’t have seats in the back any more!”
“We used to do a lot of things differently. A working lifetime ago, I remember using a chinagraph pencil on a CRT screen and measuring speed by the distance between the dots. Now that sort of information is processed at incredible speeds and displayed inside the helmet visor.”
“I love dealing with the people working on the programme; I’m in awe seeing the degrees of capability and confidence. Being here lets me hear the younger perspectives and it’s fascinating, and educational, to see young people’s reality today.”Drew, FCAS Engagement Executive
In his role at BAE Systems Drew has presented to over 4,000 individuals in and outside of the company this year alone! And he’s not slowing down.
“My job’s about spreading that excitement. I’m not an engineer, but I do have direct operational experience; the core of my task is to bring those people from the office out, so they can step back and realise just how amazing it is.”
“Reminding people of that excitement and the significance of what we’re doing. We’re providing equipment to the young men and women who are going into harm’s way on our behalf. And we’re all involved, no matter where you’re at on FCAS you’re connected to everything.”
Drew presents to a huge range of audiences, from individuals to crowds, from Princes to apprentices, from Generals to politicians, and from veterans to school children.
“Being part of this programme alone is a highlight for me. Showing people around every day and getting to come in and talk about that aircraft [Tempest]. I do a lot of talking to school kids, I love seeing their eyes light up. It’s easy for that feeling to be infectious when you’re genuinely enthusiastic.”
“For me who’s loved aeroplanes for 60 years, it means a lot being involved in something that will be flying in 60 years’ time. I may not see the aeroplane into operational service, but I’ve got my sights set on the combat air demonstrator, when that flies it’ll be a huge moment. It cements the fact it’s real, in people’s minds.”
“I’m lucky to have had that moment with Nimrod; I saw first flight, and got to fly throughout the early flight test programme. I know what that experience feels like.”
“I’ve been excited by, and involved with aeroplanes for half the time they’ve been around, they’ve been a part of my entire life, being here now, well I’m the luckiest person in the business.”Drew
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