Ben Riley, a final year Mechanical Degree Apprentice, is working on leading technology within the PROTEUS framework, which is allowing him to gain experience across many different areas including aircraft design, requirements and customer engagement. This is in addition to his contribution to project deliverables.
Before joining Leonardo, Ben completed A-Levels in maths, physics and product design. He said that he was fascinated by the opportunity to directly contribute to the design and development of aircraft, which he had seen as a child overhead in the skies over the town of Yeovil. This inspired him to undertake an engineering degree apprenticeship at the company.
On the future technology he is part of, Ben commented: “The ability to operate a platform without a physical presence on board is extremely challenging. However, it is also hugely exciting from an engineering perspective.
“PROTEUS has given me the chance to contribute to solutions, as well as better understand the difficulties in producing such a complex system. The technology being used and developed on the programme, and the innovative solutions and ideas excite me, especially with regard to the aircraft’s modular payloads and the subsequent benefits these offer.”
Uzair Afzal, is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering Degree Apprentice, who studied A-Level maths, physics and chemistry in Bradford. With an enthusiasm for engineering and aviation, Uzair is new to the PROTEUS team, but his primary focus is on the area of fatigue, particularly on the feasibility of usage-based monitoring.
He explained that his interest in working on future technologies in the aerospace domain has been further ignited “by the amount of innovation there is among the department. There is the desire to produce something that is not only ahead of its time now, but is also futureproof and can be upgraded when wanted.”
Uzair and Ben have also been working on the development and production of a 3D-printed wind tunnel model – to help replicate the actions of an aircraft in flight – as part of his university honours project.
Today the wind tunnel design they are creating would enable the production of wind tunnel models at a fraction of the price and timescale, when compared with wooden models.
Ben said: “The modular design can easily be updated through the installation of new 3D-printed panels which further reduce the impact of any aircraft design changes [to PROTEUS] and allows us to utilise a more flexible work method to aerodynamic development.”
Involving trainees throughout Leonardo’s programmes at various stages of an aircraft’s lifecycle, provides fresh perspectives, creative solutions and inventive views to the company’s future programmes.
Furthermore, having the likes of Ben and Uzair working across PROTEUS leverages new skills and enthusiasm, which is instrumental in driving Leonardo’s innovation and competitiveness in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.
