Lucas Aerospace: Brushless Generators for Aircraft

Abstract

English Electric’s Aircraft Equipment Division (AED) won the Queen’s Award in 1966 for work which had led to lighter and more reliable electrical generating systems for aircraft. From the point of view of subsequent technological change, this achievement may be seen in the context of a long-term trend towards improved power-to-weight ratios in aircraft generating systems and the evolution of a technologically mature product. In assessing this strand of technological development the present case-study provides an interesting insight into the process of capitalisation of the benefits of success in the face of substantial changes in the structure of the UK aircraft equipment supply industry. The study also gives some indication of how an innovating organisation’s performance has been influenced by wider aspects of its operating environment, and specifically the role played by technology licence agreements.