the aeroplane system that it became apparent to me that it would
be possible to make a machine light enough and powerful enough to
raise itself without the agency of a balloon. From the first I
was convinced that it would be quite out of the question to
employ a balloon in any form. At that time the light high-speed
petrol motor had no existence. The only power available being
steam-engines, I made all my calculations with a view of using
steam as the motive power. While I was studying the question of
the possibility of making a flying machine that would actually
fly, I became convinced that there was but one system to work on,
and that was the aeroplane system. I made many calculations, and
found that an aeroplane machine driven by a steam-engine ought to
lift itself into the air."

Sir Hiram then went on to say that it was the work of making an
automatic gun which was the direct cause of his experiments with
flying machines. To continue the report:

"One day I was approached by three gentle- men who were
interested in the gun, and they asked me if it would be possible
for me to build a flying machine, how long it would take, and how
much it would cost. My reply was that it would take five years
and would cost L50,000. The first three years would be devoted
to developing a light internal-combustion engine, and the
remaining two years to making a flying machine.

"Later on a considerable sum of money was placed at my disposal,
and the experiments commenced, but unfortunately the gun business
called for my attention abroad, and during the first two years of
the experimental work I was out of England eighteen months.