key stakeholders, established to secure the future of the UK aerospace industry in the face of an ever changing, and increasingly competitive global landscape. General statistics As of 2021, about a quarter of large communications satellites manufacture takes place in Britain. History The early interest in aeroplanes The desire by private individuals, often amateur gentlemen, to fly as a hobby provided the initial stimulus to the UK aviation industry. By October 1913 there were over 80 private airworthy aeroplanes, more than the airworthy planes in the recently formed Royal Flying Corps. Before the First World War there were no regular air services and commercial aviation only really started in 1919 after the development of suitably sized aircraft during the First World War. Whilst it was the military market that really was the source of aviation development, in the years leading up to 1914 it was, in the UK, rather sporadic. In 1909 development on behalf of the Government was stopped as being too costly. In April 1911 Britain had only 6 military aeroplanes, 2 of which were obsolete. The French War Department owned 208. However, by the start of WW1 the Naval Wing of the R.F.C. had 93 and the Military Wing had 179. Pre-1900 1862: First flight of an observation balloon in Aldershot, Hampshire 1875: First flight of the Aerial Steamer, a tethered aeroplane 1879: First flight of the British Army's first balloon, the Pioneer 1890: British Army Balloon Factory is established 1893: First experimentation by British Army of a man-lifting kite 1896: First flight of Frost Airship Glider 1900 to 1909 1907: First flight of British Army Dirigible No 1 1908: First flight of British Army Aeroplane No 1 1909: First flight of De Havilland Biplane No. 1 1910–1914 As a new technology, there was a great deal of interest from a variety of sources but often it was individuals just enthused by aviation. Between 1909 and 1914 there were about 200 active constructors, although many of them only made one or two planes. But even the production of the larger firms was not very substantial, British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, one of the largest produced just over 200 planes between 1910 and 1914. Most of the aviation pioneers, such as Geoffrey de Havilland, Thomas Sopwith, Richard Fairey, Robert Blackburn, Frederick Handley Page, A.V. Roe and the Short Brothers had a training in engineering and their companies were