It was 112 years ago this month when an airship touched down in front of Cardiff City Hall, stunning crowds who had gathered to watch. The man behind the landing has lent his name to a Cardiff high school and pub, and was a pioneering aviator and airship builder hailing from Cardiff.
Ernest Willows, born in Newport Road, made headlines when he landed an enormous airship, 'Willows 2', on the open field in front of City Hall on June 4, 1910, receiving a warm welcome from the crowds that had gathered from his home city.
'Willows 2' was an improved version of Ernest's first airship, the 'Willows 1', which he built in 1905 at just 19 years old. He flew the airship, which was powered by a motorbike engine, from East Moors to the east of Cardiff, with the balloon staying in the air for 85 minutes on its first flight.
