AIR CONQUEST

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 7

AIR CONQUEST

A DECADE DF PROGRESS The air race from New York to Pari* organised on May 21, the -tenth anniversary of Colonel Lindbergh’s first solo crossing, is a striking recognition of progress in the air,. writes Major C. G. Turner, in the ‘ Daily Telegraph.' The race is promoted by the French Air Ministry, directed by M. Pierre Cot. : Small air races and gymkhanas have served their chief purpose; the spur of competition must now also serve modern practical aims in air transport, which are Continental and oceanic. Three years ago the Federation Aeronautiq uo Internationale instituted a capital-to-capital record category, and two such records have alredy been officially recognised. This year two great long-distance air races will be held, and each will be a practical test of aircraft on important routes. „ 1 » The first will be the England-Johan-nesburg air race, to start on September 29. It is an all-British contest, for which so far there are 13 entries. The route is not in the present official capital-to-capital record category. On October 25 will begin the longest air race every held, the Paris-Saigon-Paris international contest, promoted by the Aero Club of France and the Aero Club of Indo-China. The prize money amounts to about £16,000. The distance to be flown is 13,600 miles. The route will be by way of Bag* dad and Allahabad on the way out, • the return by the same route, but with a stop at Cairo. The first hop,, Paris to Bagdad, is 2,400 miles. So far no British machine has been entered. # . Records are now officially recognised over the following capital-to-capital routes: — New York-San Fran- Rome. Rio de Janelr% cisco. London-Cape Town, London-Sydney. Paris-Saigon. Paris-Antananarivo Amsterdam-Batavla. (Madagascar). Rome-Cape Town. Friedrichshaven-Rio de Tokio-New York. Janeiro. London - Buenos Aire** The principle officially adopted i« that capital-to-capital records will be recognised where the distance exceed* 1,250 miles. Conditions for the Paris-New York race have not yet been announced, but it may be assumed that they will _ not call for a non-stop flight, whilst it i* probable that only aeroplanes and fly-ing-boats will be admitted. The cost of participation will ba heavy, and no doubt the prizes will ba big ones. ' : All the principal aircraft producing countries now have in development types of aircraft qualified to take part in such a contest.