Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my privilege this evening to introduce to you MR IVOR SIKORSKY, the eminent engineer responsible for the design and development of the helicopters bearing his name He is going to talk to us about the recent developments of these aircraft

I think it is correct to say that MR SIKORSKY IS the earliest pioneer of helicopters alive today, having been engaged upon experimental work with this type of aircraft as far back as 1910, and he also has the distinction of being the first to produce the helicopter as a realistic and practical aircraft

We have to thank two of our Council Members—Dr Bennett and Wing-Cdr Brie—for suggesting to MR SIKORSKY that he should give us this talk and we all very much appreciate MR SIKORSKY’s gesture in consenting to do so

On behalf of the Association may I extend a very cordial welcome to all our guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my privilege to introduce to you today MR FITZWILLIAMS, whose subject is “Some work with Rotating Wing Aircraft”

MR FITZWILLIAMS is a founder member of the Helicopter Association and a member of our Council and has been engaged on various aspects of rotating wing development over the past nine years, first with Mr PULLIN at Messrs G & J Weir Ltd, and later with Mr HAFNER at the Ministry of Supply He is now Helicopter Engineer of the Westland Aircraft Company

During the latter part of his time with the Ministry he was in charge of the rotating wing section of the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at Beaulieu I understand that this period supplies the bulk of the material for his talk and I feel sure we shall find it both interesting and entertaining

On behalf of the Association I extend a cordial welcome to our guests