In this lecture, which the Council of the Aeronautical Society, through Mr. Griffith Brewer, have done me the great honour to ask me to deliver before you, I propose to consider the rôle of speed or fast flying in aeroplanes.
As soon as aeroplanes were able to fly, the next preoccupation of designers was to make them fly as fast as possible. In order to stimulate constructors, Mr. James Gordon-Bennett created his International Aviation Cup, destined to consecrate every year the fastest flying machine. This contest, held yearly since 1909, will give us a valuable basis to examine the lessons which aviation has been able to draw from pure speed.