Investment in new aeroplane technologies is the key to the UK maintaining its status as an aerospace leader, according to a report. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) said the country's research and development spending has "flat-lined" since the 2008 financial crisis. It said that made the UK's position vulnerable to China, India and Brazil. It urged the creation of a research centre to test ideas such as pilot-free planes and solar-powered flight. "The UK aerospace sector already employs over 100,000 people around the country and is worth over £29bn a year to our economy, but we need to take...