u3a Subject Advisers and Subject Networks

11 Nov 2025

The Last Flight: Memorials to Fallen Aviators

In honour of Remembrance Day – 11 November

Each year on the 11th of November, people around the world pause to reflect on the immense sacrifices made in times of war. For those of us with an interest in aviation, the day carries an especially poignant meaning. It reminds us of the thousands of airmen and airwomen who took to the skies in fragile machines, often embarking on missions from which they never returned. Their courage, service, and sacrifice are immortalised in memorials, large and small that stand as enduring tributes to their memory.

High above the River Thames in Surrey stands the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, a tranquil and deeply moving place of remembrance. Unveiled in 1953, it commemorates over 20,000 airmen and airwomen of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth air forces who lost their lives during the Second World War and have no known grave.

Their names are engraved along graceful cloisters open to the sky, a powerful symbol of both loss and freedom. From its terrace, the view stretches across the landscape those aviators once defended. The memorial’s air of serenity contrasts with the peril they faced, reminding visitors that the cost of peace was measured in courage and lives unreturned.

The Runnymede Air Forces Memorial

WyrdLight.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Battle of Britain Monument, London

Along the Victoria Embankment in London, the Battle of Britain Monument pays tribute to ‘The Few,’ the pilots and aircrew who fought for Britain’s survival in 1940. Its detailed bronze frieze captures the determination and tension of aerial combat with pilots scrambling to their aircraft, ground crew preparing fighters, and radar operators tracking enemy raids.

© Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/2702868
Detail of the Battle of Britain London Monument, Victoria Embankment, taken Sunday, 20 November, 2011

It is not merely a work of art, it is a story told in bronze. Each November, visitors pause beside the monument, poppies in hand, reflecting on how these young men, some still in their teens, faced overwhelming odds and prevailed. The monument stands as a testament to unity, courage, and resilience.

Scattered across the British countryside are the quiet remains of wartime airfields with concrete runways reclaimed by grass, old control towers weathered by time. Yet many of these places still serve a solemn purpose. Local communities have raised small airfield memorials, often simple stone plinths, propellers, or plaques, marking where aircrews once flew from and where some took off on their final missions.

At villages like Elsham Wolds, East Kirkby, and Leeming, people still gather on Remembrance Sunday to read the names, lay wreaths, and tell the stories of those who came from afar, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Poles, and Britons who shared the same sky and the same fate.

Each local memorial connects today’s world to a living memory, a reminder that war was fought not in distant fields alone, but from the very heart of our communities.

The open sky, ever-changing yet eternal, remains aviation’s greatest metaphor. In memorials, we often see the imagery of wings, upward-pointing columns, and sweeping arcs with designs that speak of aspiration, courage, and transcendence. To look upward during the two-minute silence on Remembrance Day is to share in that symbolism, a collective act of memory for those who never came home.

11 Aug 2025

Joby Makes its Move

In a landmark step for the future of urban air mobility (UAM), Joby Aviation announced it will acquire the passenger division of Blade Air Mobility for $125 million. This move is more than a business deal, it’s a strategic acceleration of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) integration into real-world air transportation.

Joby has developed the four-passenger S4 eVTOL capable of speeds up to 200 mph and aims to launch aerial ridesharing in partnership with Delta Airlines and Uber as soon as next year. Blade’s passenger operations, serving 50,000 customers annually through 12 terminals, including prime New York City locations will remain under its brand, but now function as a wholly owned Joby subsidiary. This positions Blade’s existing clientele as some of the first U.S. passengers to experience eVTOL service.

Joby S4

Image: Copyright Joby Aviation

The acquisition addresses three core challenges in eVTOL deployment: infrastructure, demand generation, and regulatory certification. Blade’s existing terminal network at major airports and heliports provides immediate, high-traffic launch sites, which are critical for scaling UAM services. For passengers accustomed to premium helicopter transfers, eVTOLs offer a quieter, zero-emissions alternative that can expand the market for short-hop urban and regional travel.

From a technology standpoint, Blade becomes a proving ground for Joby’s ElevateOS software, designed to match riders and aircraft much like Uber connects drivers and passengers. Integrating this system into Blade’s operations will give Joby real-world data to refine scheduling, routing, and passenger experience, which are key to making eVTOL operations seamless and reliable.

Regulatory momentum also supports this shift. In July, the FAA released guidance for certifying eVTOL and other powered-lift aircraft, covering designs under 12,500 pounds, up to six passengers, and battery-electric propulsion. These performance-based standards open flexible pathways for developers to achieve airworthiness certification, potentially speeding time-to-market.

Joby’s international ambitions add another layer to the story. Before its U.S. debut, the company plans to launch operations in Dubai under a six-year agreement with the Road and Transport Authority, an early showcase of eVTOLs in a forward-looking city eager to embrace UAM solutions.

The broader significance of this acquisition lies in its role as a catalyst for the UAM ecosystem. eVTOL aircraft are poised to reduce urban congestion, cut emissions, and redefine short-distance travel. But technology alone is not enough as market adoption depends on public trust, accessible infrastructure, and regulatory clarity. By merging Joby’s cutting-edge aircraft with Blade’s established customer base and prime operational footprint, this deal accelerates the shift from concept to reality.

If successful, the integration of eVTOL into Blade’s network could be one of the first large-scale demonstrations of UAM in action by turning airport transfers, city-to-city hops, and regional connections into fast, sustainable, and commercially viable options. It’s a vision of future aviation that’s no longer just on the horizon - it’s preparing for takeoff.