1ST FLIGHT IN BRITAIN

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11931, 24 January 1936, Page 4

IST FLIGHT IN BRITAIN

ASCENT OF SCOTCH DOCTOR IN BALLOON OVER 151 YEARS AGO The first flight in Britain was made by a Scotsman 151 years ago, said Lord Sempill in a speech at the 271st anniversary dinner of the Royal Scottish Corporation at the Connaught Rooms, London, says the Daily Telegraph. Lord Sempill later told a representative of the Daily Telegraph that it was popularly believed that the first flight was made by the Italian, Lunardi. “This is not so,” he added, “the honour belongs to a Scottish doctor named Tytler. He made an ascent in a hot air balloon at Edinburgh. Although he did not remain long in the air, the flight was quite successful.”

In his speech Lord Sempill recalled an earlier Scottish experiment, when an Italian undertook to fly on wings from Scotland to France with despatches from James IV. In the presence of the King he leapt from the walls of Sterling Castle, but landed in the Midden. He explained that his wings had contained the feahers of fowl, which naturally had a greater affinity for the midden than for the air (laughter).

Mr W. M. Miller, secretary, said the King had sent his annual subscription of 50 guineas to the Corporation, and that the chairman, Sir Eric Geddcs, had contributed 100 guineas. The contributions totalled more than £4472.

Sir Eric Geddes suggested that the reason for Scotsmen occupying so many big positions in England was a matter of strategy. Unable to beat the English properly at war, the Scots adopted the method of peaceful penetration. Sir Eric said he wondered why the Abyssinians did not repeat these tactics, and leave their country.