June 23rd is International Women in Engineering Day and we’ve taken the opportunity to talk to four women involved in aircraft engineering here at YAM, to learn more about their passion for the subject

Fiona Hedges

I’ve spent the last 35 years working for BAE Systems, starting out at the Brough site on Hawks before moving to Warton, to join the Typhoon Avionics Team, working in Turin, Munich and Madrid.
This was followed by several years on the Nimrod MRA4 programme, then a role on the F-35 Lightning II Programme in Texas. I relocated to RAF Coningsby in 2011 as the Typhoon Engineering & Technical Services Manager with Engineering Teams spread across RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth. During this time my role included a few years spent on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster (fighter jets and heritage aircraft in one role!)

In my spare time I work as a Ground Crew Engineer to XV250 MR2 Nimrod at the Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. I’m also part of the PR Team supporting Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and am an active STEM Ambassador for both BAE Systems and the East Midlands STEM Ambassadors Team.
I was lucky enough to be brought up in an area where aviation was everywhere you looked. Local schools were named after the Famous Aviatrix Amy Johnson and there were regular air shows at the local Aircraft factory at Brough, East Yorkshire.
Being a woman within the industry was initially quite difficult, as there were very few female engineers in the aircraft industry and attitudes for many years were archaic. Over the years, it has moved forward, despite still being a mainly male dominated industry. Female acceptance has come a long way, especially with more awareness through STEM events.
My advice for women and girls looking at careers in engineering is – do it! it is an exciting industry, with so much to learn and do – design concepts, manufacturing, flight trials, production, flying and maintenance and more. There is nothing you can’t do; the opportunities are endless.

Hannah Bandy

I am a member of the Nimrod team and joined the museum with no engineering experience. When the Nimrod arrived in 2010, I and my then fiancé Phil became founder members of the Nimrod crew. Phil had many years of experience at RAF Kinloss on the Nimrod fleet so I decided to learn what I could and become a proper member of the team. Now, 13 years later, we still come along, together with our daughter Kimberley in tow.

I have been trained as Crew Chief and in engine ground running, as well as the regular maintenance tasks. I’ve taken part in the aircraft taxi runs down the runway too. I’ve also led tours, done crowd control and got the teas in. I am proud to have had the honour of playing Last Post at the museum in remembrance of veterans recently passed and those who lost their lives in service of their country.
My favourite memory is marshalling the Nimrod into position on one of the taxi run days. The sight of a large aircraft coming straight at you with all engines roaring certainly gets the adrenalin going!
When I’m not at the museum, I work as a teacher and take part in marathons and triathlons. Being part of the engineering team is a major part of our life. The team is more than a group of people though; we’re a Nimrod family.

Eloise Widd

I am a volunteer aircraft engineer at the Yorkshire Air Museum. I have been a volunteer for almost 5 years and during that time I have been fortunate enough to work on a wide variety of aircraft.
From a young age, my Grandparents would bring me to the Museum. From their enthusiasm and love of aircraft, grew mine. At school, I took Engineering at GCSE and A Level, where I was one of only two girls in my year to take the subject. While it was not always easy to be in a class full of 15-year-old boys, outnumbered 25:1, I finished as one of the top in my class both times “.

Starting as an Air Cadet, I completed my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Volunteering section at the Museum and I enjoyed it so much I decided to keep coming back.
Primarily working on the Handley Page Victor, I assist with the maintenance and operation of the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems to keep the aircraft in its “live” running capabilities.
While all the jobs are rewarding, all the hard work feels like it is paid off when I am able to take part in the live engine runs. Luckily these are needed on a regular basis to keep everything working so these days are the icing on the cake.
I joined the Museum with very little engineering experience but plenty of enthusiasm and willing to learn. When I started volunteering my aim was to join the RAF as an aircraft engineer. While my career path has not progressed that way, I am still able to fulfil a great passion of mine and help be a part of preserving history. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of the Yorkshire Air Museum.
If I were to give any advice to any girl aspiring to pursue engineering either as a career or a hobby I would say: “Know your worth, stand tall and do what you love.”

Marie Taylor BEM

How does a former Petty Officer Wren Writer (Pay) end up doing Aircraft Engineering? I sometimes ask this myself.
In the early 2000’s I was coming to the Air Show and meeting up with some people I had made friends with through Ray ‘Mac’ McElwain from the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group, who at the time were based at Elvington.
One afternoon it was raining, and we were all sheltering in the back of the Whirlwind, when I was asked why I didn’t join them. I said I had no engineering skills at all but was then asked if I could paint and clean. I said yes and suddenly found I had volunteered!

I started working with them and then, when they moved to Doncaster, I wanted to still be involved with the Yorkshire Air Museum, so I came with Mac and he introduced me to George Astley who took me under his wing and got me doing work on the Dakota. I put all the screws and nuts in under the wings to attach them.
Later he taught me how to cover and patch the material planes which included the Dakota and the Devon and I helped to skin the Auster, SE3, BE5 and with Mac to construct the Eastchurch Kitten.
On his passing I became the go-to person for anything to do with material on planes. I also have, through the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group, gained an NVQ in Aircraft Engineering and was one of only a couple of women to complete this course.
As, I believe, the first female to join Aircraft Engineering at Elvington I have had the usual repartee from the lads and being one of the few ex RN doesn’t help either but we have a great working relationship and I enjoy coming here and being part of the team. I hope to be able to do this for many years to come and hopefully pass on the skills I have to someone else.
The next task I have to do is patching the Messerschmitt and the Dakota!