The following article was originally published by Leonardo MW Ltd.

Last week saw the conclusion to a spectacular series of events that marked the Royal Air Force’s Centenary, RAF100 - a campaign which Leonardo has been very proud to support. The campaign has been ongoing since 01 April, the date on which the Royal Air Force was formally created in 1918.
On 20 September, a Leonardo team representing sites from around the UK, attended a series of poignant First World War commemorations in St Omer, France, and the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium. 
St Omer is known as the ‘spiritual birthplace’ of the Royal Air Force with its operational base for most of the First World War on the outskirts of town, the Bruyères Aerodrome next to the local race course. Four current-day RAF squadrons, represented on the day, trace their beginning directly to the aerodrome. 
Our team attended a service of commemoration at the St Omer Cathedral, a local exhibition, then a memorial service at the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, during which schoolchildren laid flowers at the RAF and other air service graves.  The day closed with a dedication ceremony, unveiling a plaque at the Aerodrome in the presence of ministers, personnel of all ranks, and The Viscount Lord Trenchard, the grandson of 1st Viscount Trenchard, the first Chief of the Air Staff and the ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’. The strength of the UK - France relationships then and now were demonstrated by the warmth of the hospitality from the local community, and by the fly-pasts by both Air Forces. 

Few partnerships between our business and the Royal Air Force are as enduring as our partnership with 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron.
 
This squadron is dedicated to ensuring Typhoon remains a world-leading multi-role combat aircraft and sees RAF personnel working alongside our people to deliver its capability.
 
Today, this partnership sees us working alongside 41 Squadron personnel on Project Centurion, which will ensure Typhoon is equipped to replace the Tornado GR4 when it retires in 2019.
 
The squadron's connections to both Typhoon and Tornado go back to 2006 when it operated the Tornado F3 and GR4, before becoming a Typhoon squadron in 2013.
 
The squadron served with distinction in the Second World War, operating the Supermarine Spitfire built by our predecessor companies.
 
One of its pilots, Flt Lt Eric Lock, was the most successful RAF pilot during the Battle of Britain.

Many of us will be aware that on Sunday 1 April the Royal Air Force launched RAF100, a national campaign to mark its 100th year. 

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier gave lectures in London and Edinburgh to launch the campaign, and there have been some great interviews and programmes on the BBC over the last week, including with our customers at RAF Stations throughout the UK.
Reflecting on its proud record of serving the nation, the RAF100 campaign focuses on 3 themes which will: COMMEMORATE the service and sacrifice of those who have gone before; CELEBRATE its service men and women who continue to aid and protect people around the world; and INSPIRE the next generation, helping them to fulfil their potential and their future aspirations.
Leonardo is proud to be an official partner of the Royal Air Force for RAF100. We have a strong heritage over the past 100 years of helping the RAF maintain operational advantage through innovation in the design, development and production of airborne capability.  Many people working within our business have either joined us following a career with the Royal Air Force, or they continue to serve as Reserves or active members of their local Air Cadet Squadrons. 
Centenary events, activities and initiatives will run nationwide from April to the end of September 2018.  The enduring intent of the initiative, to inspire young people towards careers in aerospace and engineering, will run well into next year and beyond. This is obviously something that our business is already very active in supporting. We look forward to celebrating this very significant milestone with direct participation in initiatives and events throughout 2018, including:

• Leonardo is contributing to the RAF100 legacy 'Inspire' appeal, through its contribution as an official sponsor.
   
• We hosted the RAF100 STEM team on our STEM stand at the Big Bang in Birmingham in March.
   
• Edinburgh STEM Ambassadors demonstrated their immersive work experience programme at the Chief of the Air Staff’s Parliamentary launch of RAF100 in Edinburgh last week, together with Edinburgh Engineering, Sales and Communications representatives.
   
• STEM Ambassador exhibition and demonstration at RAF Cosford Air Show in June.
   
• Leonardo STEM stand at RAF National Static Aircraft Tours on Horse Guards Parade in London (6 – 9 July) and at Glasgow Science Centre (31 Aug – 2nd Sept).
   
• Leonardo heritage, present day activity and 'look to the future' captured in imagery and demonstration at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July, plus STEM presence in the TechnoZone.
   
• Potential Engineering demonstration with Typhoon at the Royal International Air Tattoo and IMW Duxford in September.
   
• Co-delivery with the RAF and headline sponsorship of a STEM day at the National Museum of Scotland in August, together with sponsorship of the RAF Benevolent Fund Scotland dinner.

In addition to the STEM events we are involved in, a few of the campaign’s major activities will include:
 
RAF100 Parade and Fly Past – London – 10 July
100 aircraft, representing the RAF’s history, will fly over Buckingham Palace and thousands of servicemen and women will take part in a parade through London.


RAF100 Augmented Reality Flypast App
From May, an app will become available enabling people to 'collect' aircraft and build their own flypast.  More information to follow….
 
More information on RAF100 can be found on RAF100 the Royal Air Force website: https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/

Please find below just a few of the projects through which we have supported the RAF over the years: