THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IDEA I The first number of the well-thumbed file of _Flight_, carefully kept by “Theta” up to the present day, bears date July 30, 1910, just two years after the first public flight in the world. At that time this particular public-schoolboy was thirteen years of age. His interest in aviation, however, dated from considerably before that period, and its first manifestation took the form of paper gliders. Beyond the fact that they could be manipulated with marvellous dexterity and that they could be extremely disturbing to the rest of the class in school, no more need be said. In December 1910 “Theta” felt that he had a message on airships to convey to the world, and he communicated it through the medium of the school Journal. Thenceforward he wrote regularly on flying topics for the Journal, and for four years acted as its Aeronautical Editor. Throughout 1911, with two school friends, he also assisted in producing _Aviation_, a cyclostyle sheet of small circulation proudly claimed as “the first monthly penny Aviation journal in the world.” Therein the various types of machines were discussed with all the delightful cocksureness of youth, and various serial stories based on flying adventures duly ran their course. For some years he pursued the construction of model aeroplanes with an assiduity that may well have been fatal to school work and games, and that was kept up until the German power-driven model drove the elastically-propelled machines into the realms of toydom. A motley crowd of enthusiasts used to gather every Saturday and Sunday in one of the great open spaces of London for the practice of their craft--nearly all boys in their teens, occasionally one or two grown-ups with mechanical interests. When the War came the group broke up. Some of them took up real aircraft construction; others became attached to the Air Service, naval and military, as mechanics. At least two became flying officers. In July 1911 “Theta” obtained his first Pilot’s Certificate, from an Aero Club which he had assisted in founding. The document is perhaps sufficiently interesting to reproduce: No. 1 X.Y.Z. AERO CLUB: PILOT’S CERTIFICATE I hereby Certify that “Theta” has passed the required tests for the above-named Certificate. The tests have been witnessed by the undernamed: R. H. W. and J. H. C., who are Members of the X.Y.Z. Aero Club. The tests are as follows:-- 1. Flight of 100 yards. 2. Circular flight of any distance provided the machine does not touch the ground and lands within fifteen yards of the starting-point. 3. Or (alternative) flight of any distance when machine flies not less than six feet higher than the starting-point. 4. Flight lasting at least eight seconds. The above tests have been approved by the members of the Club.