HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE | Australian Inspiration

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE – on the development of the flying machine

My objective is and has been for years to make the lightest and most compact flying machine that would carry me at 25 or 30 miles per hour for 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour. Current events show this is not at all an ambitious project. Want of an elementary knowledge of oil machines baulks me and causes much misdirected effort. I doubt my ability to acquire that knowledge, and feel like a fireman trying to hew out a donkey pump…

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE - on the development of the flying machine

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE – Scientists in Nineteenth Century Australia, A. Mozley Moyal

The people of Sydney who can speak of my work without a smile are very scarce.

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE - Scientists in Nineteenth Century Australia, A. Mozley Moyal

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE – on the development of the flying machine

It is the Australians that walked, rode, drove bullock drays, buggies and motor cars that are really interested in the evolution of the flying machine and who will see the thing through and keep it up to date. But with politicians or squatters I do not see how I can ever be anything but a circumstance.

HARGRAVE, LAWRENCE - on the development of the flying machine