1910 was an exciting time in aviation. It was less than 7 years since the Wright Brothers had made their first powered flight. Only the previous summer, on 25 July 1909, Louis Bleriot was the first person to fly across the English channel. It was against this background that the first Scottish Flight Meeting took place at Lanark racecourse over 8 days in August 1910, and only the second International Flight Meeting to be held in Britain.

From the 6th to the 13th August, 17 aviators from 7 countries demonstrated their 'aeroplaning' to massive crowds, and competed for various prizes. 22 competitors were invited but some failed to make it. A railway company accidentally set fire to 2 aircraft in transit to Lanark!

The flight meeting attracted 250,000 people over the event. A railway station was constructed at Lanark racecourse to handle up to 50,000 people a day attending. Altogether 14 special trains a day were organized for each day of the show; there has never been anything like it since.

Competitors travelled from 7 countries to attend:

• America
• Britain
• France
• Holland
• Italy
• Peru
• Switzerland

A number of cash prizes were awarded for achievements over the week, and a number of world and British records were achieved:

• fastest over a measured mile or kilometre
• Greatest Altitude
• Speed competition (5 circuits of the course - 9 miles 300 yds)
• Slowest Circuit competition
• fastest single cross country flight
• Long distance Competition
• fastest songle circuit
• cross country flights
• starting competition
• delivery of despatches (dropping an orange closest to a given mark)
• weight carrying competition
• General Merit

In all £8060 was awarded in prizes; £7960 to pilots and £120 to competitors assistants. The most prize money was won by Mr Cecil Grace who collected £1950. A world record for altitude was made by Mr J A Drexel, achieving 6750ft. Mr J Radley set a British record for speed, flying at 58.32mph on the Wednesday. Signor B Cattaneo set a British long distance record by making a single flight of 141 miles 188 yards without touching the ground.

Altogether the meeting was a great success.