The Second Century Papers: Looking Ahead in Aeronautics—10

In the first contribution to “Looking Ahead in Aeronautics” Dr. Küchemann writes “The task of viewing the prospects over a whole century may be regarded as being at once impossible, presumptuous and not without a touch of the absurd”, which lies close to the first response of the present author. But on reflection, the very impossibility of reliable prediction a century ahead surely stands to change the tune somewhat. Over this large time-scale, bold flights of fancy into the unknown must take equal place with cautious realism and an author may presume to feel released from some at least of his usual conditioned restraints. In turn, yielding of constraint strengthens the writer's arm, until, not without a certain sense of trepidation, one is at length tempted to plunge into the guessing pool along with a goodly company of fellow men.