Britain's Future in Space

Extract

Captain Frank Barnwell is to be remembered as one of the pioneers of practical aviation. His love of flying inspired him and eventually killed him, for it was in an aircraft of his own design and construction that he eventually met his end; but his record of service to aeronautical design shows that he was much more than a brave and gifted amateur aviator. He was a professional engineer, a realist who foresaw the practical application of aeronautics to useful purpose. In an age when many considered aviation an interesting hobby of little practical importance, Barnwell set himself the task of designing aircraft for practical purposes.