Ten of the greatest British design classics by SIR JAMES DYSON

From the British submarine to the Mini and Frank Whittle's Gloster E28/39, Sir James Dyson pays homage to his top ten design classics

1. NEW BRITISH SUBMARINE

BAE SYSTEMS

I've been watching the progress of the new fleet of British submarines at Barrow-in-Furness since 1997, when BAE announced they would be making them. They're particularly noteworthy for the development of sonar technology, a milestone in British engineering: a submarine such as HMS Astute (launched in 2007) sitting in the English Channel is able to detect ships leaving New York harbour 3,000 nautical miles away. Behind her enormous exterior is a mass of top secret, world-class engineering. I understand that tens of thousands of rubber-like tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature. Imagine: a 7,400 ton submarine making less 'noise' than a baby dolphin.

Behind the new British submarine's enormous exterior is a mass of top secret, world-class engineering

2. COLOSSUS, THE FIRST COMPUTER

TOMMY FLOWERS

World War II proved Britain's engineering prowess. A marvellous example of necessity breeding invention is found in Colossus: the first programmable, digital computer of the modern age. Colossus was used to break encrypted messages generated by the German Lorenz teleprinter.
Designed by British engineer Tommy Flowers, along with colleagues from the Post O ffice Research Station in London, the machine was used from 1944 at Bletchley Park, home to the famous Enigma code-breakers. It worked by imitating the encryption it was designed to break, determining patterns in the German code.

3. MINI

BMC

First made in 1959, the Mini is a remarkable piece of engineering

Designed for the British Motor Corporation (BMC) by Sir Alec Issigonis, the Mini followed the Suez fuel shortage in 1956 and the quest to outdo the German bubble car boom. Leonard Lord, head of BMC, decreed: 'We must drive them o ff the road by designing a proper miniature car.'
First made in 1959, it's a remarkable piece of engineering. Mounting the engine transversely and nestling the gearbox in the sump fitted the car into a 10x4x4ft cubic space. The suspension used compact rubber cones, not traditional springs, for a more comfortable ride and go-kart-like handling. The door pockets are said to fit a bottle of Gordon's Gin, Issigonis's favoured tipple.

4. CT BRAIN SCANNER

The CT brain scanner was the first machine to give a detailed picture of patients' brains

EMI

The computerised tomography (CT) machine was developed in 1971 by EMI, which ploughed money into research and development following the success of the Beatles, or so the story goes.
It was invented by Godfrey Hounsfield, who won the Nobel prize in 1979. The scanner was the first machine to give a detailed picture of patients' brains, working through 180 angles (each separated by just one degree). EMI's scanner, first installed at Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon in 1972, was the most significant advance in radiology since the X-ray.

5. ANGLEPOISE LAMP
G CARDWARDINE

The Anglepoise lamp was designed in 1932 by George Cardwardine, who found a new application for a spring he'd developed while working on suspension systems as an automotive engineer. When applied to a lamp, these springs mirrored a human arm, moving easily in every direction, yet remaining rigid when set in the correct position. More than 70 years later it remains a fixture on o ffice desks.

British industrial designer Kenneth Grange has designed a number of modifications to the Anglepoise lamp, staying true to the classic design in expanding the function. I use his Type 75 design, with a circular base and an added swivel ball to adjust the shade angle.

The first jet-propelled aircraft, the Gloster E28/39, took off from RAF Cranwell, using Frank Whittle's engine, it flew fast and low, even outperforming the Spitfires that fought the Battle of Britain months earlier

6 GLOSTER E28/39

FRANK WHITTLE

Frank Whittle's idea for a jet engine was first overlooked, then underestimated, until his engineering genius and sheer perseverance won through. In 1928, aged 21, Whittle wrote his thesis Future Developments In Aircraft Design. He believed 'the turbine had the potential to be the prime mover for jet propulsion'.

Just 13 years later, the first jet-propelled aircraft, the Gloster E28/39, took off from RAF Cranwell. Using Whittle's engine, it flew fast and low, even outperforming the Spitfires that fought the Battle of Britain months earlier. Whittle's idea did away with the complex system of propellers and myriad moving parts. At its core was one moving part: a spinning turbine and compressor. His brilliance changed the world.

In 1953, Joseph Bamford devised the Backhoe Loader - effectively a tractor with a loader attached to the front and an arm and bucket mounted on the back. This was refined further in 1957 with the JCB Mk 1

7.JCB DIGGER

JOSEPH BAMFORD

As the first European manufacturer to apply hydraulic power to loaders and excavators, the machines and design ingenuity of JCB revolutionised construction and agriculture in Britain and all around the world. It's now difficult to find a farm or motorway excavation site without one.
In 1953, Joseph Bamford devised the Backhoe Loader - effectively a tractor with a loader attached to the front and an arm and bucket mounted on the back. This was refined further in 1957 with the JCB Mk 1, the forerunner of the single all-purpose vehicle we know today. He even had electric kettles fitted to all his diggers, so operators wouldn't have to leave the cab for lengthy tea breaks.

8 MOULTON BICYCLE

ALEX MOULTON

The original 1962 Moulton was faster, smaller and more comfortable than conventional models

Having built suspension systems for cars (including the Mini), Alex Moulton has since spent half a century years developing the perfect small-wheeled bike. The original 1962 Moulton was faster, smaller and more comfortable than conventional models, thanks to the half-sized wheels and high-pressure tyres. The aerodynamic drag is lower and riders pedal faster with less eff ort. The frame is a lattice of small tubes, and the canny design is far more robust than conventional diamond frames. My model, made of the same stainless steel tubing as a fighter jet, weighs just 20lb.

9 HOVERCRAFT

CHRISTOPHER COCKERELL

The main obstacle to speedy travel - on land or water - is drag. Others had toyed with the concept for many decades before, but Sir Christopher Cockerell designed the first air-cushion vehicle, or 'hovercraft', in the Fifties. His SRN1 created a sensation when it was launched in 1959. Gas turbine engines powered the lift fans, which sucked in air and forced it down into a space beneath the vessel. The air cushion was contained within a flexible rubberised skirt.
Driven forward by aircraft propellers, the hovercraft was highly manoeuvrable and could reach speeds of 62mph. It is the versatility of the hovercraft that appeals to me most - it can travel across most flat surfaces, making almost anywhere accessible.

10 SCIENCE MUSEUM BRIDGE

WILKINSON EYRE

The glass bridge at the Science Museum is a challenge to conventional notions of design and engineering. Created by architectural engineers Wilkinson Eyre, it shows the limits to which materials can be manipulated. Its glass planks are suspended by a series fine steel wires. Channelling the wires through stress gauges and incorporating sound and fibre-optics makes it interactive - you notice the impact of your steps on the materials. The bridge is an experiment in putting the users at the centre of the design. Some people have commented afterwards that crossing it is like walking on water.

New aircraft design puts passengers face-to-face in rows for budget travel

Air travel is being overhauled with a new aircraft design which plans to seat passengers facing each other in rows. The controversial design is intended to save space and money and could see 50 per cent more passengers packed on to each plane. Howard Guy, director of the UK company Design Q, acknowledges that some people will not be happy with the plan, but says they will be able to pay less for any inconvenience.

The new design could see more passengers on each plane

and ticket prices lowered'

Having passengers face each other is not an ideal situation,' he said. 'But this will see increased revenue for the operator and more economical tickets for the passenger - so by keeping both happy, this concept makes an attractive alternative.

'Sure the passenger can choose a flight facing forward in a traditional seating position, but he or she will have to pay more for the luxury.'

Mr Guy predicts that the design could see a 50 per cent increase in the number of passengers on board and a 30 per cent reduced cost per seat.

However, he did concede that the seats would not be comfortable for passengers on flights of more than two hours.

Military personnel are used to travelling in rows facing each other

Our thoughts are really to do with short-haul journeys - anything from 30 minutes to 80 minutes. As the seats will be designed for less occupancy time, passenger comfort will be reduced on longer trips,' he said.

Another downside to the seating design is that food carts would not be able to pass down the plane as the aisles are too narrow, so food distribution would be difficult.Although the idea has caused a negative reaction among many travellers, others have voiced their opinions in support of the idea.

Mr Guy said: 'Military personnel are used to travelling in that way and have had a positive reaction to the idea.

Earlier this year Ryanair looked into vertical seating options

Many other forms of transport use this layout to maximise space, even VIP's private jets, so why not use something similar for short plane journeys?'

The lighter seating would mean that planes use less fuel and more passengers could travel on each flight which could significantly lower the price of fares.

Design Q is not the only company looking at alternative ways to transport passengers in planes.

Ryanair recently claimed it was looking into having standing areas and bar stools located at the back of some of its flights so passengers could travel on flights of less than an hour and a half for free.

BOEING is the world's leading aerospace company

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

Boeing has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation. We continue to expand our product line and services to meet emerging customer needs. Our broad range of capabilities includes creating new, more efficient members of our commercial airplane family; integrating military platforms, defense systems and the warfighter through network-centric operations; creating advanced technology solutions that reach across business units; e-enabling airplanes and providing connectivity on moving platforms; and arranging financing solutions for our customers.

Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 160,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. This represents one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere. More than 83,800 of our people hold college degrees--including nearly 29,000 advanced degrees--in virtually every business and technical field from approximately 2,800 colleges and universities worldwide. Our enterprise also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide.

Heritage of Innovation

his site describes the legacy of The Boeing Company. It tracks the development of the companies that merged to become a single enterprise as the twentieth century ended.

Workers at these companies built passenger planes, helicopters, warbirds and missiles, satellites and spacecraft. They sent astronauts to the moon and brought cultures together in harmony aboard the International Space Station. Their inventions blazed the trail for today's new technologies.

Choose your takeoff point from the links on this page and join us as we push the envelope of time and space.

Boeing in Brief

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

Boeing has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation. The company continues to expand its product line and services to meet emerging customer needs. The broad range of capabilities includes creating new, more efficient members of its commercial airplane family; integrating military platforms, defense systems and the warfighter through network-centric operations; creating advanced technology solutions; and arranging innovative customer-financing solutions.

Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 160,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries, with major operations in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, southern California and St. Louis. Total company revenues for 2007 were $66.4 billion.

Boeing is organized into two business units: Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Supporting these units is Boeing Capital Corporation, a global provider of financing solutions; the Shared Services Group, which provides a broad range of services to Boeing worldwide; and Boeing Engineering, Operations & Technology, which helps develop, acquire, apply and protect innovative technologies and processes.

Boeing Commercial

Airplanes

Boeing has been the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for more than 40 years. With the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in 1997, Boeing's leadership in commercial jets, joined with the lineage of Douglas airplanes, gives the combined company a 70-year heritage of leadership in commercial aviation. Today, the main commercial products are the 737, 747, 767 and 777 families of airplanes and the Boeing Business Jet. New product development efforts are focused on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the 747-8. The company has nearly 12,000 commercial jetliners in service worldwide, which is roughly 75 percent of the world fleet. Through Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, the company provides unsurpassed, around-the-clock technical support to help operators maintain their airplanes in peak operating condition. Commercial Aviation Services offers a full range of world-class engineering, modification, logistics and information services to its global customer base, which includes the world's passenger and cargo airlines, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. Boeing also trains maintenance and flight crews in the 100-seat-and-above airliner market through Alteon, the world's largest and most comprehensive provider of airline training.

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems

Boeing is the world's second-largest defense company. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems provides end-to-end services for large-scale systems that combine sophisticated communication networks with air-, land-, sea- and space-based platforms for global military, government and commercial customers. The company offers an extraordinary range of defense and space systems products and services. It designs, produces, modifies and supports fighters, bombers, transports, rotorcraft, aerial refuelers, missiles and munitions and is on the leading edge of military technology through its unmanned systems development efforts. Integrated Defense Systems also supports the U.S. government on several programs of national significance, including the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program, the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program and NASA's International Space Station. The company has become the systems integrator for several new programs, including the U.S. Navy's Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Program, the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems and Joint Tactical Radio Systems, the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals for the Department of Defense, and SBInet, a critical component of the Secure Border Initiative managed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Boeing Capital Corporation

Boeing Capital Corporation is a global provider of financing solutions। Working closely with Commercial Airplanes and Integrated Defense Systems, Boeing Capital Corporation arranges, structures and/or provides financing to facilitate the sale and delivery of Boeing commercial and military aircraft, satellites and launch vehicles. With a year-end 2007 portfolio of approximately $6.5 billion, Boeing Capital Corporation combines Boeing's financial strength and global reach, detailed knowledge of Boeing customers and equipment, and the expertise of a seasoned group of financial professionals.

Shared Services Group

Shared Services Group allows business units to focus on profitable growth by providing the infrastructure services required to run their global operations। The group provides a broad range of services worldwide, including facilities services, employee benefits and services, staffing, recruitment, wellness programs, enterprise help desk, security, fire protection, site operations, disaster preparedness, construction, reclamation, conservation programs, virtual workplace, creative services, transportation, business continuity and the purchase of all non-production goods and services. It also offers comprehensive travel services to Boeing employees and corporate customers through the Boeing Travel Management Company. In addition, Shared Services Group manages the sale and acquisition of all leased and owned property through the Boeing Realty. By integrating services, Shared Services Group delivers greater value, creates "lean" processes and operations, leverages buying power and simplifies access to services for all of Boeing.

Engineering, Operations & Technology

Boeing Engineering, Operations & Technology supports Boeing's business units and growth strategy by providing the right people, technologies, processes and performance at the right time and in the right place across the company worldwide। This strategy is delivered in various ways by the primary organizational groups -- Phantom Works, Intellectual Property Management, and Information Technology, and its leadership role in the Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Information Technology process councils. Through all its activities, Engineering, Operations & Technology helps ensure the future success of Boeing by winning strategic new programs, providing innovative technology and process solutions, transforming Boeing into a global network-centric enterprise, enhancing and protecting the company's intellectual capital, and fostering a culture of innovation.