24 September 1901

Aviation, , , , , ,
Newton House, 118–119 Picadilly, Mayfair London W1J
Newton House, 118–119 Picadilly, London. English Heritage Building ID: 424292

24 September 1901:¹ During a balloon ascent at the Crystal Palace, the Aero Club of Great Britain was founded by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera Hedges Butler, and Charles Stewart Rolls, modeled after the Royal Automobile Club. The Club was established to “. . . . the encouragement of aero auto-mobilism and ballooning as a sport.” In 1910, the club was granted the title, Royal Aero Club.

From 1931 to 1966, the Royal Aero Club was located at 119 Picadilly, London W.1.

Frank Hedges butler (left, Vera Butler (center, and Charles Stewart Rolls (center, rear)
Charles Stewart Rolls (left) and Miss Vera Hedges Butler (center) in the gondola of a gas balloon. The lady at right has been identified by a reader as the Hon. Mrs. May Constance Assheton Harbord (née Cunigham), who was the first woman in the United Kingdom to earn an aeronaut’s certificate. The gentleman to the rear is not known at this time. Date and location not known. (Unattributed)

¹ Date cited by Frank Hedges Butler in Fifty Years of Travel by Land, Water and Air, Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers, New York, 1920, at Page 374

© 2016, Bryan R. Swopes

Share this article:

About Bryan Swopes

Bryan R. Swopes grew up in Southern California in the 1950s–60s, near the center of America's aerospace industry. He has had a life-long interest in aviation and space flight. Bryan is a retired commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor.

2 thoughts on “24 September 1901”

  1. Lady on the right is Lady Asheton Harbord – a keen balloonist and some say ‘special friend’ of Rolls.

Comments are closed.