HISTORY OF FLYING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 5

HISTORY OF FLYING

HOW MAN CONQUERED THE AIR ADDRESS TO AERO CLUB In 10 years’ time airplanes will be as common as motor-cars are now, said Mr. D. E. Harkness, lecturing last evening to members of the Auckland Aero Club. The time would also come, he said, when provision for municipal airdromes would have to be made. Mr. Harkness contrasted the progress made in civil aviation in Australia with the lack of headway made in New Zealand. He considered that the apathy of the Government toward aviation was to be regretted. Had prizes been offered in New Zealand, as in the Commonwealth, better progress would have been made. In a very entertaining address, Mr. Harkness also dealt with the history of flying, going back as far as the days of Greek mythology, when he humourously remarked: "Two Greek gentlemen tried to fly with eagle feathers, but the sun melted the wax and they were dashed to death on the rocks below.” FIRST AIR JOURNEY The first air journey by human beings was also related. It was made in a fire balloon at Paris in 1793. The passengers had a lively trip. but landed safely a mile and a-quarter from their starting-point. People had little idea of the composition of air in those days, said Mr. Harkness. and thought that flying could be developed to allow them to travel to the moon and the stars. The more recent history of flying was also touched upon. Mr. Harkness describing the type of machine used in the early part of the war, and tracing the progress since made. Mr. Harkness, after answering a number of questions, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.