Michael Overd was presented with the Vertical Flight Society’s President’s UK Award for Lifetime Achievement, in recognition of decades of dedication to the industry, which has inspired him since his childhood in Langport, when his father worked as a rotary wing structural test specialist at the company in Yeovil.
The accolade arrives at a pivotal moment for UK aerospace, as Leonardo is the UK’s last remaining end-to-end helicopter manufacturer. Over the course of four decades, Michael’s expertise contributed to the development of the helicopter's rugged and robust capability, to give British Armed Forces the edge on the modern battlefield.
The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) is the world’s oldest and largest non-profit technical organisation, dedicated to advancing vertical flight technology, including helicopters, eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and drones.
Speaking about his award win, Michael said: “I am honestly so honoured to have been nominated for this award and it was a wonderful surprise. I still find my work interesting and exciting, so the fascination doesn’t end. For example, a few weeks ago we witnessed what we believe is a world first in the maiden flight of Proteus, our autonomous helicopter demonstrator. It was an incredible sight and as the craft slowly lifted off the ground, it validated years of hard work and expertise that our team had put in. It performed a perfect six-minute hover with no human intervention.
“It isn’t just about getting a prototype flying, this needs to be underpinned by rigorous processes to prove to the regulator that the technology is sustainable and safe. The AW149 is designed to survive where it matters most. Our focus has been on designing-in survivability from the outset. It has a robust undercarriage design which is able to withstand the very high descent rates typical of military requirements. As the only military rotary wing manufacturer in the UK, with a unique skillset gained from over 100 years of designing, developing, testing and manufacturing military aircraft, Leonardo has an unmatched ability to simulate tests like this. Those processes are the result of hard-won experience here at Yeovil and that’s why our expertise has stood the test of time.”
Michael’s own journey at the ‘Home of British Helicopters’ began in 1982, when he joined the company’s undergraduate training scheme, then went on to work on the design, development and certification of new and novel rotorcraft systems and technologies. His subsequent career saw him support the certification of landmark programmes such as AW101 Merlin and Future Lynx right up to his current role as UK Product Engineering Director.
Aside from his own professional achievements working at the centre of the strategic development of Yeovil’s engineering and certification, Michael has remained a committed champion of the next generation of engineering talent. He recognises that young people are under unprecedented pressure to carve out careers amidst tough competition but wants to urge them to be unafraid to try new things to avoid missing opportunities.
Michael said: “If you wait until you feel ‘ready’ you might miss the opportunity. The industry is full of exciting paths – take any opportunities that arise. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect scenario’, as this rarely exists and you could miss out by waiting for it. Don’t be afraid to try something you’re not quite sure you can do yet; that’s probably a sign that you’re pitching your challenge at about the right level. You can learn and grow as you progress, so seize the moment.”