17 JANUARY 1964, Page 16

WHO FLEW FIRST?

SIR,—To my letter of January 3, I should add that Percy Pilcher made his flights in 1895 'after various consultations with Otto Lilienthal.'

It was from Saturday, August 6, till August 1910 that the greatest of British aviation meetings took place on the Lanark race course described then as 'the finest yet organised in Europe' and 'the first flying meeting to be held in Scotland.' It was a won- derful undertaking which demonstrated the per- sonalities and the possibilities of aviation.

1 was interested to note Mr. Phillips's mention of a flying meeting at Rheims in July, 1909. In that year Bleriot flew from Calais to Dover and Farman soon afterwards made a long-distance flight.

• JAMES CALDWELL

The White House of Speen, Aylesbury, Bucks.