A University of Glasgow aerospace engineer has been presented with a prestigious award from the Royal Aeronautical Society.
 
Professor Konstantinos Kontis of the James Watt School of Engineering received the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society at an event at the Society’s headquarters in London on Wednesday 26 November.

A portrait of Professor Konstantinos Kontis
 
The Royal Aeronautical Society has been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1909. The Society’s Awards Programme recognises and celebrates individuals and teams who have made an exceptional contribution to aerospace.
 
The Honorary Fellowship is conferred on those whose careers, leadership, inspiration and impact marks them out as among the most eminent, widely recognised and influential aerospace professionals of their generation.
 
Professor Kontis’ Fellowship recognises his pioneering contributions to high-speed flows, plasma flow control, and the development of advanced diagnostic techniques for characterising complex flow and thermal fields.
 
A Fellow and former Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), he has led international collaborations advancing net-zero technologies and has helped reshape global aerospace research and innovation.
 
Professor Kontis has held senior leadership positions, including Dean for Global Engagement (East Asia & China) at the University of Glasgow, and serves on international advisory boards that influence aerospace strategy and education worldwide.
 
Professor Kontis, who holds the positions of Mechan Chair of Engineering and Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the James Watt School of Engineering, said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an award regarded as one of the world’s highest distinctions for aerospace achievement, reserved for only the most outstanding contributions to the aerospace profession.
 
“To me, this award is above all a tribute to the many colleagues, collaborators and students with whom I have had the privilege to work, and to the excellence of our teams at the University of Glasgow and our international partners. It reinforces my commitment to serving the global aerospace community and to inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists to advance a safer, more sustainable future for aviation and space.”

David Edwards FRAeS, Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said: “The Royal Aeronautical Society is proud to recognise the exceptional achievements of the 2025 Honours, Medals, and Awards recipients. Their dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence, has made significant contributions to advancing aerospace. Their work embodies the highest standards of our industry and inspires progress across the global
aerospace community.”
 
Alisdair Wood FRAeS, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society said: “We would like to pay tribute to the outstanding individuals and teams in this year’s Honours, Medals, and Awards. These recipients represent the pinnacle of achievement in the aerospace sector and their contributions not only advance our industry but inspire the next generation of aerospace pioneers. We acknowledge their remarkable accomplishments and celebrate their impact on the global aerospace community.”

First published: 27 November 2025

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