The Ninth Lanchester Memorial Lecture was given by Professor W. A. Mair, MA, FRAeS, on “STOL—Some Possibilities and Limitations” in the Society's Lecture Theatre on 12th May 1966. The Chair was taken by the President, Mr. A. D. Baxter, MEng, CEng, FRAeS. Before the lecture he presented the Society's Gold Medal for 1965 to Professor M. J. Lighthill, DSc, FRS, FRAeS, for “his outstanding original work in many fields of Aeronautics”, explaining that Professor Lighthill had been unable to be present at the Wilbur and Orville Wright Memorial Lecture in December 1965 when the Society's main awards for the year were presented.

The President then said that this was the first meeting of the Society since his installation as President and it was a very pleasant way to start his year in office with first, the presentation of the Gold Medal to one distinguished scientist and second, the introduction of another as the Lanchester Memorial Lecturer.

There would be many members of the Society who would remember Dr. Lanchester, his attendance at lectures and his contributions to the discussions. It was true, however, that the real stature of such men was rarely recognised at close quarters and often only in the light of later developments was the importance of their work realised. It was 20 years since Dr. Lanchester's death and their Memorial Lecture was in its ninth year. Each year, each President had added a tribute to this great man. He was a man of many parts—a scientist, musician, poet and engineer and aeronautics owed much to him. It was fitting that the Lecture had established a tradition of surveying some field of research associated with aerodynamics, in which Lanchester was so eminent. He thought that Lanchester would approve of both the subjects discussed and the distinguished men who had honoured his memory by presenting them. Before introducing Professor Mair he wished to welcome Mrs. Lanchester and Mr. George Lanchester and his wife, and Mrs. Mair.

Professor Mair must be well known to most of them. After graduating in Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge in 1939 he had joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, where he scent some six years in the Aerodynamics Department doing research on high subsonic speed, both in the wind tunnels and in full-scale flight. In 1946 he had gone to the University of Manchester as Director of the Fluid Motion Laboratory and since 1952 he had held the Francis Mond Chair of Aeronautical Engineering at Cambridge. His chief interest there had been mainly in low speed aerodynamics and his authority in that field was widely recognised. In 1963 he had been appointed Chairman of the Powered Lift Committee of the Aeronautical Research Council.

Humanity with all its fears
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy Fate.
Longfellow.

12th January 1966, is the one hundredth birthday of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain.

The story of the first hundred years of the Aeronautical Society began with long data-less periods of unfulfilled hopes. Like the paradoxical supersonic aeroplanes which arrive at their destinations before they are timed to take off, the story of the Society was started fifty years before it began, by Sir George Cayley, who wrote a famous paper on Aerial Navigation, laying down the fundamental principles of heavier-than-air flight.

On 29th March of this year, The Society of British Aerospace Companies celebrated the completion of fifty years' activity. It was on 29th March 1916 that The Society of British Aircraft Constructors was incorporated —junior to The Royal Aeronautical Society and The Royal Aero Club, but senior by two years to the Royal Air Force. The Society continued under that title until 26th February 1964, when its name was changed to “Society of British Aerospace Companies.” The new title retains the well-known initials SBAC but more accurately covers the wide range of interests of the Society's Members—not only the manufacture of aircraft, but of engines, missiles, electronics, hydraulics and pneumatics, electrical equipment and all other components and materials essential to such a technologically advanced industry. The new title also brings the Society into line with comparable associations in the United States, France, Germany, and Italy.

This article is intended to examine the Plowden Report as it affects the man in industry—is there a future for him, where will he go and what should he do? This is obviously a matter of vital importance to members of our Society and it is hoped that what follows will be constructive, although it is written in the atmosphere of an impending General Election with an apparent hiatus in any constructive thinking in Government circles on the matters which affect us most.

The appointment of the Plowden Committee was regarded by many people in the industry as an earnest of the Government's intention to end the waffling and indecision which has plagued us for many years.

There are some members of the Society who will remember Claude the Condor with some affection, and not a few with a sense of apprehensive hope, as the great stuffed, sombre bird soared slowly and silently on a thin wire at No. 7 Albemarle Street. It hung above one end of the long table in the Library, directly over the chair in which the President sat in Council and Annual General Meetings, its raw red neck straight out and its eyes looking down in a gluttonous glare, for the taxidermist had done his job well.

At most Annual General Meetings, and some Council Meetings, someone would be sure to question the suitability of Claude to preside over the affairs of such an august body as the Royal Aeronautical Society. Those with streamline minds asserted it was a drag on free discussion.

It is, of course, a very great honour and pleasure for me to act as Honorary President of the Royal Aeronautical Society in its Centenary Year. This would be true even if I did not know the first thing about aviation but for someone who enjoys flying and takes a close interest in the whole subject of aeronautics this is a very special experience.

I have already been able to extend a very warm and cordial welcome to all the delegates attending this Congress but I want to repeat how delighted the Society is to have so many distinguished guests from abroad. Aeronautics is one of the few truly international activities right through from research and development to the carriage of passengers and freight all over the world.