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Iain Gray at Cranfield

Iain Gray in front of Cranfield University's training aircraft

Iain Gray

Born 1957

Iain Gray

Sir Iain Gilmour Gray, aeronautical engineer and businessman. A leading advocate for the aeronautics and space industries in the UK.

Engineering Achievements

Managing Director, Airbus UK 2003-2007 and most notably led the development and industrialisation of the Airbus A380 wing which was designed at Filton and manufactured at the Airbus Broughton factory in North Wales. The Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger aircraft carrying 545 passengers, with a range of 8000nm (15000km).

Led the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board (which subsequently became Innovate UK) as its first Chief Executive. He led the development of support means for technical innovation in business and the allocation of collaborative R&D funding across all business sectors.

He joined Cranfield University in 2015 as Director of Aerospace continuing the university’s strong heritage in applied research and teaching for the aviation sector, and leading strategic relationships with the world’s major aerospace industry organisations.

His Life

  1. 1957 Born in March in Leslie, Fife
  2. 1965-69 Age: 8-12 Hazlehead Primary School, Aberdeen
  3. 1969-74 Age: 12-17 Aberdeen Grammar School
  4. 1974-79 Age: 17-22 Studied Engineering at Aberdeen University, graduating BSc (Eng)
  5. 1979 Age: 22 joined British Aerospace Commercial Aircraft (Airbus) in structural and aerodynamic engineering
  6. 1992 Age: 35 Project management positions, including International Collaboration; next generation supersonic commercial transport; BAe involvement in the Future Large Aircraft (FLA – now A400M) military transport programme
  7. 1997 Age: 40 Director Future Programmes and Director Strategy and External Affairs
  8. 2000 Age: 43 Director Engineering
  9. 2001 Age: 44   Senior Vice President, Engineering
  10. 2004 Age: 46 Managing Director and General Manager Airbus UK and Head of A380 Wing. 
  11. 2007 Age: 49 Awarded Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal
  12. 2014 Age: 56 Awarded CBE in January for services to Science, Technology and Innovation
  13. 2015 Age: 58 Joined Cranfield University as Director of Aerospace
  14. 2023 Age: 66 Awarded Knighthood KBE in July for services to the Aerospace Industry
  15. 2025 Age: 68 Inducted into Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame

More Information

Technology Strategy Board Annual Report and Accounts 2013/14 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-strategy-board-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014

Wikipedia Iain Gilmour Gray. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Gilmour_Gray

Cranfield University. https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/university-management/university-executive/professor-sir-iain-gray

Aerospace Bristol. https://aerospacebristol.org/

Interview with Professor Iain Gray, IT Archives. https://archivesit.org.uk/interviews/professor-sir-iain-gray/

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