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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 0261.PDF
29 JANUARY 1954 FLIGHT 11 ERIC, THE VERY GENTLE KNIGHT NOW this very gentle Knight, Eric, prepared to defend his isalms against the barbarian invaders. "What is the strength of my forces?" he asked. " Four thousand and fifty gallant men and true," said his Chief Statistician. " Arm them mightily to withstand every blow that the enemy may deliver " But, sire, in all the land we have only two dozen skilled armourers. All our forges and furnaces are already at work ..." "Then do your best. Fashion the helmets of solid brass, make the suits of armour so strong that neither lance nor arrow will wound. Arm their steeds too with the finest and heaviest chain mail. I am a man of peace." "But, sire, the task is far beyond our resources." "Those who defend my realms," said the Knight Eric, "must be the most heavily accoutred in all Europe." The Chief Statistician sighed, slowly shook his head and withdrew. A month later the barbarians attacked and seventy-three knights rode forth to do battle, their fine armour gleaming in the sun, their plumes flying. Eric, watching from the battlements of his castle, saw them, counted them and turned incredulously to the Chief Statistician. "How many knights have we?" he asked. "Seventy-three armed as you have directed, sire, and three thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven without weapons and therefore hors de combat." Eric turned pale. He saw his seventy-three knights surrounded by thousands of barbarians. He saw them fall from their mounts and lie gasping like landed fish. "Why, oh why," groaned Eric, "do they not get to their feet and fight like men?" "Alas, sire," said the Chief Statistician, "their armour is too much for them." As one by one the knights were slain Eric buried his face intiis hands and wept. "To think," he said, "that we might have put four thousand men and horses into the field!" "Four thousand and fifty, sire," said the Chief Statistician. Folland Aircraft Limited, of Hamble, Hampshire, in their programme of research, design and prototype development, take into account national resources, man power, mobility and readiness for defence. FOLLAND
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