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UID:S4DxVZ@events.aero
DTSTAMP:20261010T171329Z
DTSTART:20270427T183000Z
DTEND:20270427T200000Z
SUMMARY:Loughborough Branch: First Waltz - building Blue Danube\, Britain's
  first atomic bomb
DESCRIPTION:Dr Jonathan Aylen\, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Manchest
 er Institute of Innovation\, presents an in-depth account of the developme
 nt and engineering of Blue Danube – Britain's first atomic bomb\, which 
 entered service with the RAF during the Cold War.\nThis lively and surpris
 ing lecture pieces together how Britain's nuclear deterrent was constructe
 d through pragmatic engineering solutions to novel problems. The presentat
 ion reveals the real-world challenges faced during development\, including
  difficulties in shaping conventional high explosives and ensuring the fre
 e-fall bomb could actually leave the aircraft. Notably\, Britain's nuclear
  posture was at one stage threatened by a shortage of clockwork components
 .\nThe engineering effort drew on an unexpected coalition of British manuf
 acturers: a maker of railway tank engines in Leeds\, a firm producing hot 
 water bottles in Barnsley\, and various obliging engineering firms in Sout
 hern England. This account is based on extensive research into Cold War te
 chnologies and demonstrates how Britain's early atomic bombs were construc
 ted using innovative industrial solutions.\nDr Aylen's expertise spans res
 earch on Cold War technologies\, innovations in rolling mill technology\, 
 revolutionary computer applications at British Rail\, and guided missile d
 esign. He is a visiting researcher at the University of Manchester and a r
 ecent President of the Newcomen Society.\nRAeS Members\, Associated Branch
  Members\, and students attend free of charge. All other attendees are enc
 ouraged to make a donation of £3.
LOCATION:Holywell Park\, Loughborough University\, Loughborough
URL:https://events.aero/gb/events/loughborough-branch-first-waltz-building-
 blue-danube-britains-first-atomic-bomb
GEO:52.7600000;-1.2440000
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