From laminar flow research to pioneering greener aviation: an academic career in aerodynamics and aerospace engineering - an interview with Prof Ian Poll OBE FREng FCGI Hon FAIAA FRAeS

Taking up the challenge of greening aviation, undertaking fundamental research and guiding university departments, in this fascinating interview, Prof. Ian Poll reflects on a remarkable career spanning pioneering aerodynamics research, university leadership at Cranfield and Manchester, research work at NASA Langley, and the challenge of making aviation more sustainable with Greener by Design.

After seeing no future projects in the 1970s Hawker Siddeley Aviation’s Military Future Projects office, Ian recalls his early research into laminar flow at Cranfield and how he rediscovered the phenomenon of attachment line contamination – work that attracted international interest and remains relevant today. He remembers presenting this research at his first major conference, where a lively debate with leading figures in aerodynamics sparked his enthusiasm for academia. He also recalls, during his PhD work, a memorable conversation with Sir Frank Whittle, as they drank tea while sitting on the floor of the Cranfield 8’x6’ wind tunnel.

After Cranfield, Ian spent a formative year at NASA Langley, conducting research on low-drag technologies and developing ideas with applications to the Space Shuttle, while building professional connections that opened up new opportunities and influenced his later career.

He went on to become Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Manchester, where he spent a decade helping to develop the department, before returning to Cranfield in 1995 to lead the College of Aeronautics through a period of major change, redevelopment and expansion.

He discusses the creation of Aerospace Cranfield Ltd and its X-48 blended-wing-body programme, and the creation of the National Flying Laboratory, which gives students the unique opportunity to experience an aircraft behaving badly.

At the turn of the millennium Ian highlighted the two opportunities that faced aviation – the inevitable rise of UAVs and the green agenda. He reflects on opportunities missed, including the potential for Cranfield to become a world centre for UAV research.

Ian concludes by discussing his involvement with the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Greener by Design initiative from its very early days, bringing engineers, academics and policymakers together to address the challenges of sustainable aviation, as well as his time as President of the Society. He explores the complex issue of contrails and expresses his frustration that more is not being done to implement solutions that are alr