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Sir Donald Spiers HonFRAeS talks about his early life before sharing stories from his remarkable career in the aerospace sector including some personal recollections of encounters with politicians. After retirement, Donald continued to share his knowledge and experience in the field of aerospace including serving as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Here are the significant points from the interview:\n\n\u2022\tBorn 1934 in Wimbledon.\n\u2022\tLeft Raynes Park County Grammar School aged 18\n\u2022\tNational Service. Army paratrooper for 2 years, mostly in Egypt\n\u2022\tRead Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge\n\u2022\tGraduate Apprenticeship with de Havilland Engines\n\u2022\tIn late 1950s moved to the Air Ministry to do Operational Research\n\u2022\tOfficer in Scientific Charge of early trials of the Hawker Kestrel\n\u2022\tOR work in the Middle East with the RAF\n\u2022\tScientific Advisor to the Far East Air Force based in Singapore\n\u2022\tLeft OR to enhance career prospects by getting into Project Management as AD Hawk\n\u2022\tThen moved to Jaguar, Tornado, Eurofighter and Typhoon. Chairman of NAMMA\n\u2022\tRetired at 60 as MoD\u2019s Controller of Aircraft\n\u2022\tPost retirement involvement with the future of the Farnborough Airfield\n\u2022\tHeld a number of non-executive directorships with companies including European Helicopter Industries and TAG\n\u2022\tPresident of the Royal Aeronautical Society\n\u2022\tTrustee and Chair of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust\n\nSir Donald Spiers HonFRAeS was interviewed by Roger Cansdale FRAeS as part of the Royal Aeronautical Society/National Aerospace Library\u2019s oral history project \u2018If I only didn\u2019t do it that way\u2026\u2026.\u201d Capturing history from the horse\u2019s mouth to inspire today\u2019s aeronautical professionals. The recording was edited by edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS. \n\nThe transcript of the recording can be accessed on the National Aerospace Library's catalogue: https://raes.soutron.net/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/183614