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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1244.PDF
SEPTEMBER 18, 1919 \ SCHNEIDER CUP : Starting up. "Flight' Copyright. The Fairey seaplane is here seen just before getting away from the beach. after 12, another aero engine is heard, and shortly the Fairey seaplane, piloted by Lieut.-Col. Vincent Nicholl, D.S.O., roars across the Pier. The machine appears to be fairly fast, but one can imagine Mr. Fairey praying for a bit of a breeze, so that the general sturdiness of his machine may be taken advantage of for negotiating a sea. At present, Bournemouth Bay is as smooth as a mill pond. The Fairey proceeds towards Swanage, presumably to make a trial tour of the course. In a few minutes she appears again, and is run on to the beach just east of the Pier, where her tanks are replenished. In the meantime, about 20 minutes past 12, two machines approach at a good pace. They are soon identified as the Spad seaplane and the Savoia flying boat, piloted by Le Cointe and Janello respectively. Racing neck and neck, they pass the Pier, the Spad just outside the pierhead and the Savoia close to the beach. They also disappear towards Swanage, and a little later return and alight, the Savoia having to swerve to avoid a rowing boat whose occupants do not appear to realise the risk the)' are running, nor the danger they are to the pilots. The Spad alights between the two piers and for a time appears to be tail-chasing on the surface, affording in the meantime a good opportunity for the bathers in the vicinity of the lifts to have a look at her. Presently, however, the pilot opens his throttle and comes taxying along at a fairly high speed. In a few minutes the Spad is moored to one of the buoys just east of the Pier, where usually the Supermarine passenger- carriers -are anchored. The Savoia is taken in tow by a motor boat, and after a visit to the Ombra, is also brought to rest near the Pier. The next machine to arrive is the Supermarine " Sea Lion," which comes along at a great pace and disappears in the direction of Swanage. As the French Nieuport which was expected at Cowes on Tuesday is now known to have come to grief in the Channel and to have been taken back to Havre, only two more competitors are yet to come : the Sopwith and the second Nieuport. Just before one o'clock a machine is seen in the direction of Hengistbury Head. From its great speed, it is generally thought to be the Sopwith, but as it crosses the Pier, one can see the name" Avro." It is Captain Hamersley, who has come over to see the race, and to stand by in case any of the British competitors are unable to start. Considering its comparatively low power, the Avro appears to be extremely fast. After a few evolutions the machine makes a landing just beyond the Ombra. The heels of the very long floats touch first, and the machine is jerked to a horizontal position, commencing a short series of longitudinal undulations that somehow are reminiscent of a buck-jumping Texas pony. However, there does not seem to be any tendency for the machine to turn over on her nose, and she is soon taxying along, being apparently quite easy to steer on the water. It is noticeable that of the seaplanes the Fairey, with its short floats, tail float and water rudder, is able to steer on the sea at lower speeds than the others. At 1 o'clock the Supermarine boat comes to rest east of the Pier, having made an excellent landing. This splendid little flying boat appears to handle equally well in the air and on the sea, and for a flying boat she is certainly very fast. Five machines are now at rest just to the East of the Pier : the THE SCHNEIDER CONTEST : The Sopwith seaplane. 1246 " Flight" Copyright.
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