December 2024 – The RAeS Toulouse lecture on “Airbus Story – Insights into People, a Plane and Progress” was presented by David Velupillai, former Marketing & Communications Director at Airbus Corporate Jets.

The Sixties were a golden age of aerospace. As they ended, in 1969, with first flights of the 747 and Concorde, as well as the first moon landing, a new era of supersonic flight and widebodies beckoned. In the same year, Airbus launched its first aircraft, the A300. Airbus’ founders knew that they would face many challenges. They recognised that the way forward lay in European co-operation. And, they sensed that they needed something different to succeed in a competitive market – one dominated by the American companies Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed. Visionaries with determination and courage, Airbus’ leaders succeeded in channelling existing European expertise and resources into creating a new concept – the first large-aircraft with just two engines. They went on to build a modern airliner family.
And today, Airbus Aircraft makes half the world’s airliners.