Air Cdre L.S. 'Linc' Taylor OBE MA BEng(Hons) FIKE FCMI RAF, Assistant Chief of Staff, Capability Delivery Combat Air, Royal Air Force, will talk about the F-35B Lightning II, the RAF's latest jet fighter aircraft.

The F-35B will be flown off the new QE Class carriers which are manufactured and presently undergoing sea trials. The main interest for everyone will be the introduction of the aircraft into service and how it will be flown from the carriers. First delivery to nearby RAF Marham will be later this year, the RAF's 100 year anniversary. This event will be a topical ships and planes event, in the defence of our Nation.

Air Cdre Taylor’s main Lecture will include summary of the UK’s F-35 programme and of the challenge and opportunities ahead; background to the programme; why we need F-35; achieving initial operational capability in 2018; and the future of the UK’s F-35 programme.

An overview of the Carriers by Lloyds Register’s Ian White QEC Project Manager, Naval Centre of Expertise, Marine & Offshore, will precede the main lecture. Ian’s talk will discuss how the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and represent a step change in capability, enabling the delivery of increased strategic effect and influence around the world.

Date: Wednesday 16 May 2018

Time: Light refreshments of tea and cake to be served at 18:00. Talk starts at 18:30

Venue: Granta Room, Granta Centre, TWI, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AL

All welcome. Free to attend. Booking essential.

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS MEETING on the event webpage. No Registration = NO ENTRY. Deadline for online applicants is Friday 11 May. Places limited to 250. Please note for STEM, schools, colleges and squadrons, send your final list to Alan Shand by Wednesday 9 May latest. For more information or directions, please contact: Tom Howes, TWI, tel 01223 899523 or Alan Shand (LR Consultant) alan.shand1@virginmedia.com

A poster to advertise this event can be downloaded here.

This event is organised jointly by the Eastern Counties Branch of The Welding Institute and the Royal Aeronautical Society Cambridge branch.