To write a paper on the work of the Royal Aircraft Establishment is a formidable task. To summarise the programme of work of the Establishment would either provide material for a series of lectures or, if compressed to a single lecture, would lead to a cursory and superficial treatment. I make no apologies, therefore, for not attempting any sort of complete survey. Within the scope of this lecture all I intend to do is to give a brief description of the RAE, what it is, what it does and how it is organised and then to consider a few items drawn from three of the RAE's research programmes, which have been selected to show some of the characteristics of the RAE and the kind of work which goes on there.

The first series of items to be presented fall in the field of the slender wing. The great potentiality of the slender wing for a wide range of applications was apparent from the time the concept was first considered. What I want to stress is the enormous range of detailed researches which are required before such a concept can be used in practical designs.