There can be no doubt that Sir Sydney Camm has left an enduring legacy, both within the aerospace industry as a whole and in the RAF in particular. Indeed, the fact that the RAF has been flying one or more aircraft designed either in part or wholly by Sir Sydney Camm for the majority of the 75 years of our existence provides ample testimony to the extent of that legacy (Fig. 1). A military theme for this paper would therefore seem to be entirely appropriate.

The challenge, of course, stems from the reduced threat of global war and the rather greater likelihood of further conflicts such as that seen in the Gulf (Operation GRANBY). These developments have required the RAF to undertake a radical reappraisal of its size, composition and operational posture.