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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0207.PDF
APRIL IO, 1909. FLIGHT AT THE MANSION HOUSE. CONSIDERABLE success attended a meeting which was held at the Mansion House on Monday last, under the auspices of the Aerial League, to consider the position of Great Britain as regards aeronautics, especially, of course, from a national defence point of view. The Lord Mayor presided and there was a very large attend- ance, while among the speakers were Lord Montagu Admiral Sir Percy Scott, Dr. Hele-Shaw, Major Baden- Powell, Col. Templer, and Sir Hiram Maxim. The Lord Mayor, in opening the meeting, confessed that he had been doubtful at first as to the value of air- ships, but wonderful things were happening every day, and Britannia must be mistress of the air even as of the sea. Mr. Stephen Marples, the hon. secretary of the League, then read letters from Vice-Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, Lord Charles Beresford, Viscount Curzon, and others, regretting their inability to be present, but expressing sympathy. Lord Curzon's letter pointed out that, to a country possessing a maritime frontier, the navigation of the air must be attended with vital signifi- cance. Mr. Marples explained the position of the League and its methods of work, and concluded that to think Imperially we must begin to think aerially. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu moved the following resolution :—" That this meeting of the citizens of London, held at the Mansion House, regards with con- siderable anxiety the rapid development of the science and practice of aerial navigation by other nations, and deplores the backwardness and apathy shown by this country regarding this new means of communication, which is of vital importance from a commercial as well as from a national defence point of view; and .pledges itself heartily to support the object of the Aerial League of the British Empire." He was convinced, he said, that unless public opinion was roused we should bitterly regret a few years hence that we had not taken measures to provide ourselves with aerial weapons of defence. Very few people realised that within five years the insularity of our country might be destroyed. Two big Powers were building dirigibles and experimenting with aeroplanes solely for war purposes. That was a serious situation. We were on the threshold of great changes in the method of warfare, and unless the country did wake up it might be in con- siderable danger in a very short time. Admiral Sir Percy Scott, in seconding the resolution, said the British Nation should at once proceed to form a two-power standard in airships. He also stated that he had designed a gun for use against airships, which, if it could be laid well, would play " Old Harry " with airships at a distance of 6,000 ft. These airships would come over in the dark, and it would therefore be impossible to see them, so that it would be necessary to meet flying machines with flying machines. He thought a national aerial defence fund would render real aid to the country. Dr. Hele-Shaw said there was a great future for the League in educating the public to aeronautics, and Major Baden-Powell lamented the lack of encouragement to invention in the way of prizes, and thought the offer of a prize of ^"1,000 for the first machine to fly a mile would prove a great incentive to progress. Colonel Templer suggested that a fund should be started privately, to construct a dirigible which could then be presented to the Government. Sir Hiram Maxim referred to the results he had ob- tained in his own experiments, and said that he thought, at the present rate of progress, we should certainly have, a few years hence, machines capable of travelling at sixty miles an hour, and carrying a load of 1,500 lbs. The resolution was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor for presiding was passed, on the proposition of Admiral Sir G. Fremantle, seconded by Colonel H. S. Massy. ® © * ;' AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. OFFICIAL NOTICES TO MEMBERS. A meeting of the Committee was held on Tuesday, 6th inst., at 166, Piccadilly, W., when there were present: Mr. Roger W. Wallace, K.C., in the chair, Mr. Griffith Brewer, Mr. Ernest C. Bucknall, Mr. Martin Dale, the Earl of Hardwicke, Mr. V. Ker-Seymer, Mr. C. F. Pollock, Mr. Stanley Spooner, H. E. Perrin (Sec). At the conclusion of the Directors Meeting, Mr. Roger W. Wallace, K.C., was unanimously elected Chairman of the Club for the ensuing year. New Members. The following new Members were elected :— L. S. Amery. Hon. Mrs. Walter Paton. T. Barclay. Frank Spencer. Mrs. M. Bruce-Williams. New Aero Club Prizes. The Committee of the Aero Club have decided to offer prizes for short flights made by flying machines at their grounds at Shellbeach. Four prizes of ^25 each will be given for the first four flights of 250 yards. Three prizes of £50 each for the first three flights of 1 mile in a closed circuit. British Michelin Cup. The rules governing the competition for the Trophy offered by the Michelin Tyre Co. are now practically complete, and they will be published shortly. Entries will be received on and after May 1st. The competition is open to British subjects manipulating a British-built flying machine, but during the first year the motor may be of foreign manufacture. Balloon Contests at Hurlingham. The following dates have been fixed for Balloon Contests at Hurlingham :— Saturday, May 22nd, 1909: International Balloon Contest. Wednesday, June 23rd, 1909 : Cup presented by the Hon. Mrs. Assheton Harbord. Saturday, July 10th, 1909 : Hedges Butler Challenge Cup. Saturday, July T7th, 1909: Cup presented by Hon. C. S. Rolls. HAROLD E. PERRIN, Secretary. The Aero Club of the United Kingdom, 166, Piccadilly, W. 209
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