The speaker for the evening was Alan Merriman who spoke of the development of Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft from the flying bedstead through to the operational Harriers

Covered was engine development where the thrust to weight ratio became the idea for vertical lift.  The RAF became interested because of the fear that runways would be bombed and STOL and VTOL aircrafts could continue to be operational.  However, later development of the Tornado offered better load capacity and carried a navigator and all terrain radar.