For many years the claim has been put forward that the Royal Aeronautical Society is the oldest aeronautical body in the world through its unbroken existence since its inception on January 12th, 1866. This is a proud title—though not perhaps so proud as that of being the most active and up-to-date—which it has interested the writer to examine in the light of various documents bearing on the history of similar French societies which he possesses in his own collection of early aeronautical literature or has found in the admirably complete historical library at 7, Albemarle Street. In the hope that these researches may prove of interest to others, and of assistance to future historians, he has set down the results here in the form of notes on the various French societies, grouped under the four heads into which they seem to fall, the authorities for various statements made being inserted in brackets.