BRITAIN’S FIRST FLYER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22807, 17 February 1936, Page 2

BRITAIN’S FIRST FLYER

SCOTSMAN AND BALLOON The first flight in Britain was made by a Scotsman 151 years and three months ago, said Lord Sempill in a speech at the two hundred and seventyfirst anniversary dinner of the Royal Scottish Corporation, London. Lord Sempill later told a representative of the Daily Telegraph that it was popularly believed that the first flight was made by the Italian, Lunatdi. “ 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 dispatches from James IV. In the presence of the King he leapt from the walls of Stirling Castle, but landed in the midden. Ho explained that his wings had contained the feathers of fowl, which naturally had a greater affinity for the midden than for the air. (Laughter.) 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.