Ladies and Gentlemen I am sorry there are not seats for everybody but the size of the audience is an obvious compliment to our lecturer I really don't think Mr KNUTE FLINT needs any introduction At the age of 33 he has probably as much, or more, helicopter experience as any living man He was in command of probably the first fully operational helicopter squadron in the world m China in 1945, and personally has some 2,500 hours flying experience mainly on helicopters For the last 7½ years he has been operating his own helicopters m partnership with Mr H B Armstrong, their joint organisation is now operating 10 helicopters with a total annual utilization of about 10,000 hours which in this stage of development is a fairly formidable total

Three hundred and eighty Members and their Guests were present at the Eighth Annual Dinner of the Association held at the Dorchester Hotel, London, W 1, on Thursday, September 9th, 1954

Prior to the reception by the President and Mrs MENSFORTH, some 250 attended the lecture given by our distinguished American guest, Mr KNUTE FLINT, of Bahamas Helicopters Limited A full report of the lecture is recorded in this issue of the Journal

Senior representatives from the three Services and many leaders in aviation attended the dinner as private guests The Official Guests of the Association were, The Right Honourable Lord Brabazon of Tara, P C, G B E, M C, Chairman of the Air Registration Board, and President of the Royal Aero Club, Sir Miles Thomas, D F C, M I Mech E, M S A E, Chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, Lady Thomas, Mr J J Parkes, A F R Ae S, President of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, and Managing Director of Alvis Limited, Mrs Parkes, and Mr E Bowyer, C B E, Director of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors Mr and Mrs Knute Flint were also, of course, honoured guests of the Association, and it was a great pleasure to welcome with them a large party of our American and Continental friends