The story of Sir Stanley Hooker
In the Second World War his work on the Rolls-Royce Merlin increased its power by 30 per cent, and helped win the Battle of Britain.
Later he led the design team that produced engines for Concorde and the Harrier Jump Jet. But in the 1950s and 1960s there were frequent cancellations: 'Over a period of years we were in, we were out, we were in, we were out. It was more like a boat race than a policy to follow.'
Sir Stanley died earlier this year. This special programme is based on an extended interview he gave Jonathan Lewis in 1981.