Aircraft

Aerospace group Cobham’s life president and former chairman and chief executive, Sir Michael Cobham, has died aged 79.

Sir Michael (left) was chief executive of Cobham from 1969 to 1992 and chairman from 1969 to 1995, the year in which he was awarded a UK knighthood title of honour.

His career with what would later become Cobham began in 1944, when he joined as personal assistant to the general manager of Flight Refuelling. He took on the role of contracts manager in 1955.  When his father, Sir Alan Cobham, retired in 1969, he took over as chairman and managing director and continued in these positions as the group expanded, becoming FR Group in 1985 and Cobham in 1985.

He also served as president of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), vice president of the Air League and Assistant to the Court of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN).

Sir Michael studied at the London School of Economics and Cambridge University and received a Doctor of Engineering from Bournemouth University in 1994.