I feel it a great honour to have the privilege of addressing the members of the Royal Aeronautical Society on the subject of Airship Piloting, especially in view of the interest you have taken in furthering and generally assisting in the development of all types of aircraft.

Although the airship has hitherto not occupied the thought and brains of Aeronautical Engineers to the same extent as the aeroplane and seaplane, I feel sure the confidence and support of the Society will lead to a more general and scientific interest being taken in lighter-than-air craft, which is bound to result in more rapid progress in the near future.

I hope the discussion to follow will provide the foundation for solving some of the problems that will have to be faced, when piloting the airships over routes to various parts of the world, where totally different atmospheric conditions are likely to be encountered.