He created many improvements to the plough, built a unique model of the triple expansion engine powered by electricity and was one of the original members of the Scottish Aeronautical Society.

Inspired by a visit to Blackpool for England's first ever Aviation Week in October 1909, he returned to Rothesay ready to design and build his own sophisticated monoplane similar to Bleriot's but with an engine built by the Alexander Brothers in Edinburgh that was 4-cylinder, air-cooled and with water-cooled valves.

The Baird monoplane, once completed in his own shop in the summer of 1910, went on show at an exhibition in the Esplanade Flower Garden at the front of Bute.

Scottish aviation history was about to be made when in the very early morning of 11 September 1910, the Baird Monoplane was taken by a Mr Scott on his horse-drawn wagon to Ettrick Bay – with its wide expanse of sand reminiscent of the Kitty Hawk N.C. site chosen by the Wright Brothers for their historic flight.

In the sunshine and amid the wide aspect of Ettrick Bay the first all Scottish heavier than air powered plane sat ready to for an attempt at history.

Flight Magazine on 24 September 1910,[2] described it as follows: "Mr Baird was seated in the machine and on the engine being started the plane travelled along the sands at good speed.

While his monoplane did leave the ground for a few seconds its lack of control and airworthiness does not constitute it as a flight per se; nonetheless Andrew Baird had realised his dream.

The Baird of Bute Society works to support its vitally important mission of inspiring young people to aspire to achievement in their lives through its many scholarships, national awards and school programmes.

Most importantly, the society is focused on employing the entrepreneurial achievements of Baird to "inspire" the youth of Bute and Scotland to "aspire" to greater things.

Enterprise and mentorship programmes, awards and scholarships are offered to assist in the promotion and development of youth academic-centered entrepreneurial skills and pursuits.

More information is available at https://www.bairdofbute.co.uk/baird-of-bute-society/ A Scottish charity registered at the Office of Scottish Charity Registration and established to proudly celebrate the achievements of Andrew Blain Baird, a son of Bute, who historically achieved the “First Attempted All-Scottish heavier-than-air powered flight” in September 1910 in a flying machine of his own construction.