New Medals of the Royal Aeronautical Society

Abstract

Two new medals have been founded by the Royal Aeronautical Society, to be known as the British Gold Medal for Aeronautics and the British Silver Medal for Aeronautics. These medals have been founded following a request front Lord Amulree, when Secretary of State for Air, that the Royal Aeronautical Society should give; some award for outstanding feats in aviation. A permanent Committee has been appointed to consider the awards of the medals, consisting of six members of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the chairmen of the Royal Aero Club and the Air League of the British Empire. The design of the Gold Medal incorporates a portrait of Sir George Cayley and his first model aeroplane of 1804, and the design of the Silver Medal incorporates the Henson and Stringfellow machines. The medals will be awarded for an achievement leading to advancement in aeronautical science and will be confined, so far as possible, to subjects of the British Empire, but other nationals will not be excluded. The expenses of founding these two medals have been defrayed by the president, Mr, C. R. Fairey. The first awards of the British Silver Medal for Aeronautics have been made for the following achievements which have led to advances in aero nautical science: Capt. C. F. Uwins, for reaching a world record height in a heavier-than-air craft of 43,976 ft. on September 16, 1932; Squadron Leader O. R. Gayford, and Flight-Lieut. G. E. Nicholetts, who flew from Cranwell, England, to Walvis Bay, South Africa, non-stop on February 6–8, 1933, a distance of 5,340 miles.