Geoffrey Lilley

Geoffrey Michael Lilley (16 November 1919 – 20 September 2015) was an aeronautical scientist known for his work on jet engine noise reduction. His pioneering work led to him being known as the 'father of aeroacoustics', and he played a key role in the development of Concorde.

Career In 1940 Lilley joined Vickers-Armstrong at Weybridge and Supermarine in Southampton, where he worked briefly with Sir Barnes Wallace. His work covered both aircraft design and high-speed bombs.

During the War period he served during his time off working with the Home Guard in London and studied for a BSc by evening classes. He was awarded MSc from Imperial College London in 1945. After the war he worked on the design of wind tunnels for commercial research, one of which remains in use by British Aerospace.

Lilley helped found the College of Aeronautics in Cranfield in 1946 and his work on aircraft research led to him being appointed Professor of Experimental Fluid Mechanics in 1961.

In 1963, Lilley was appointed Professor of Aerodynamics and Astronautics at Southampton University.

Lilley was appointed OBE in 1981 for services to government. In 1983 he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Aeroacoustic Medal of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

After his retirement in 1983, he continued to accept visiting professorships, and worked for NASA at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering.