THE AIR DERBY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1928, Page 7

THE AIR DERBY

THE SCHNEIDER CUP. The Schneider Cup seaplane race, which is again'arousing the interest of many, lias now become the blue riband of the air It is awarded to the country whose seaplane averages the greatest sliced over a triangular course oi about 200 miles, after undergoing preliminary tests in taking off, landing, ami seaworthiness. The Jacques Schneklor Maritime Aviation Cup, to give it its full name, was originally _ to be awarded to the nation which won it three times in live years, but a movement was set afoot to make it a- perpetual award, since a second trophy would not have the same value as the first. Early this year, the IntcrnationIv Aeronautic Federation decided that the permanent possession of the cup should be given to the country which gains three successive victories, the contests to be held every two years. The first race for the Schneider Cup was held at Monaco on April 16th, 1913, when there wore four entrants, Provost, Garros, and Espanet (France), and Weymann (America). Espanet dropiKid out after the first round ; Weyniann stopi>ed after covering 200 kilometers, but Provost made a non-stop ilight to the end, except that he crossed the finishing line on the water The judges asked him to roily part of the last lap, but Prevost argued for about three-quarters of an hour before doing so. The delay was counted in his flying time, so that his last round occupied li hours. For the distance, ho took 3hrs. 17min f 22sec. This initial victory, of 45 miles per hour, went to France, ■but- was surpassed during the following year, when H. Pixton (Britain),-cover-ed the distance at an average speed of 86 miles per hour. The war then intervened, and it was not until 1920 that Bologna, with 107 miles per hour, registered the first Italian victory.

In 1921. his compatriot, di Brigantc, increased the speed to 111 miles,.per hour. Baird then saved the trophy from Italy by winning the next contest for Britain, with a speed of 146 miles per hour. In 1923, Lieutenant Rittenhouse (America) turned it into a military contest, and registered an hourly speed of 177 miles. Two years later, Lieutenant Doolittle, a famous American airman, raised the speed to 232 miles per hour, and in 1926 Major di Bernhardi gave Italy another win at 246 miles per hour. The 1927 contest, as will lie remembered, proved a triumph for Britain. when Flight-Lieutenant Webster won the race at the terrific speed of 207 miles per hour, after all the Italians had Icon forced down. Preparations are under way for next year’s ‘•oldest, when a further speed record is anticipated.