SPEED RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1931, Page 5

SPEED RECORD

BRITISH SUPREMACY PROVED.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, September 14. A world speed record of 379.05 miles per hour, a 100 kilometres world record of 342.70 miles per hour, and a Schneider course reeo d of 340.08 miles per hour—these briefly, are the achievements of British personnel and material* during an afternoon of amazing flying yesterdey. 'The remarkable speeds attained w" 1 be surpassed in a lew days, when a Rolls-ito.vce engine being specialy designed for an attack on the record! is fitted into one of the new supermarine planes for a flirt! er attem; t by Stainforth. The 100 kilometre record was also previously held by Britain, established by Flight-Lieutenant Boothman in the first two laps of his flight round the Sc hneider course. The w'hole seven laps constituting a distance of 218 miles, involved 21 turns on the triangular course, and were flown by Boothman at a speed exceeding that of the British winner in the last race by ov-. r 7 miles an hour. Although all the foreign competitors were withdrawn from the contest yesterday’s flying constituted it most thrilling display, and high prftisfe is given to Stainforth aiid Bobthinan for the superb nerve and judgment by both of them. It Is interesting to note that Boothman, in winning, the Schneider race, achieved an avenge speed of more than seven times greater than the winner of the first Schneider race in 1913, namely 840 miles per hour, as against 45.55 miles an hour. An enormous crowed ivas gre' tly thrilled by the spectacle of yesterday’s record breaking, which is everywhere recognised as having again established Britain’s complete superiority in the science and technique of high-speed flying. The share of the engineers and designers in the triumph is net overlooked in the press comments to-day.

The King has sent his congratu'ations to Squadron-Leader Orlebar Flight-Lieutenant Boothman, FlightLieutenant Stainofrth and all the officers and men of the high-speed flight on their victory in yesterday’s Schneider Trophy contest, and on their achievement of a new world’s high-speed record The Royal Aero Club to-day issued the official speeds, of Stainforth’s attempts on the international three kilometre record, which differed somewhat from the figures announced immediately after the event which were based on stopwatch readings The speeds, as measured by the automatictiming device required by the inter-nat-iona I regulations, show that Stain--forth accomplished a mean speed for the four runs of 379.05 miles all hour, or 610.01 kilometres an hour. The new record!, therefore, is slightly more"' than the' recost v of 35?.T1mTes," an hour set up in 1921) Ly Squardon* Leader Orlebar. If the weather conditions are favourable, Stainforth will mak a further attempt this week on the world speed record. Pending the result

this attempt, it is uncertain whether yesterday’s record will be submitted to the Federated Aeronautique Internationale.