An interview with Sir Donald Spiers HonFRAeS…from graduate apprentice to MOD Controller of Aircraft

Sir Donald Spiers HonFRAeS talks about his early life before sharing stories from his remarkable career in the aerospace sector including some personal recollections of encounters with politicians. After retirement, Donald continued to share his knowledge and experience in the field of aerospace including serving as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Here are the significant points from the interview:

• Born 1934 in Wimbledon.

• Left Raynes Park County Grammar School aged 18

• National Service. Army paratrooper for 2 years, mostly in Egypt

• Read Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge

• Graduate Apprenticeship with de Havilland Engines

• In late 1950s moved to the Air Ministry to do Operational Research

• Officer in Scientific Charge of early trials of the Hawker Kestrel

• OR work in the Middle East with the RAF

• Scientific Advisor to the Far East Air Force based in Singapore

• Left OR to enhance career prospects by getting into Project Management as AD Hawk

• Then moved to Jaguar, Tornado, Eurofighter and Typhoon. Chairman of NAMMA

• Retired at 60 as MoD’s Controller of Aircraft

• Post retirement involvement with the future of the Farnborough Airfield

• Held a number of non-executive directorships with companies including European Helicopter Industries and TAG

• President of the Royal Aeronautical Society

• Trustee and Chair of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

Sir Donald Spiers HonFRAeS was interviewed by Roger Cansdale FRAeS as part of the Royal Aeronautical Society/National Aerospace Library’s oral history project ‘If I only didn’t do it that way…….” Capturing history from the horse’s mouth to inspire today’s aeronautical professionals. The recording was edited by edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

The transcript of the recording is available on the National Aerospace Library's catalogue: https://raes.soutron.net/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/183614