Celebrating 100 years of aviation in the West of England
An easyJet Airbus A319 was today named “Sir George White” to commemorate 100 years of aerospace design, engineering and manufacturing in the Bristol region.
Today’s ceremony, which is the launch event for centenary celebrations of aviation in the West of England, was marked with a VIP champagne reception at Bristol International Airport, a commemorative flight over the city of Bristol, and a ceremony at Airbus’s engineering and manufacturing site at Filton.
Sir George White founded the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) at Filton, near Bristol, in February 1910. From these humble beginnings, globally significant enterprises that are now major parts of UK aviation giants Airbus and Rolls-Royce plc, and an environment that supports aerospace suppliers across the country, was born.
Sir George’s pioneering spirit also lives on in the world-class scientific research to be found throughout many UK universities and industrial sectors.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “It gives me great pleasure to support the celebrations marking the centenary of aviation in the West of England. Since the Bristol Aeroplane Company was founded by Sir George White, the industry has pioneered some of the most significant technological developments and innovations. Today, Bristol and the South West can be proud of its position as one of the world’s leading centres for aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing. It is truly a British success story. And its position in the UK economy will only be enhanced as we look to sectors like aerospace and advanced technology to underpin strong, sustainable growth in the future.”
