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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0394.PDF
JULY 19, 1923 machine really can do, for until it was officially placed " outof the flying " through one of those irritating mishaps— referred to in detail later—it was putting up a splendid per-formance. Having thus preambled, we will now proceed to report the progress of the race from start to finish. For thetimes, etc., of the competitors we would draw our readers' attention to the tables appearing on p. 395. The Start at Hendon In many ways the start for this year's King's Cup Race was an improvement on last year's. For one thing, if did not take place quite so earl 7 in the morning, while the summery conditions prevailing and the pleasant, familiar, surroundings of Hendon were much more acceptable than the cold reception experienced last September at Croydon. Not very many people turned up at the aerodrome to see the start on Friday—just a few hundred, and many of these were friends of those directly, or indirectly, connected with the race. There were, however, many well-known faces to be seen among those present, including Major-General Sir Sefton Brancker—as full of aeronautical energy as ever— who, with Lieut-Col. L. F. Blandy and Colonel F. Lindsay Lloyd, officiated as steward ; Brig.-General Sir Capel Holden (who acted as Judge) ; Air Vice-Marshal Sir William Salmond, At 10 ack-Emma precisely George Reynolds dropped hisflag, and the first man, Lieut. W. H. Longton on the Sopwith " Gnu," started ofl for Birmingham, F. L. Robinson on theBoulton and Paul P.9 following him 43 seconds later. The next away, 43 seconds later, was H. C. Biard on the Super-marine " Sea Eagle " amphibian. This comparatively large machine carried four passengers besides the pilot, which nodoubt accounted for the fact that it did not take off as quickly as the other machines did. After an interval of about half an hour F. P. Raynham lefton his Martinsyde F.6, still yellow and looking heater and speedier than ever—the Martinsyde, that is, not Raynham. Inless than a minute C. D. Barnard was sent off on the D.H.9c, with its entrant, Princess Lowenstein Wertheim, suitablyattired in leather flying kit, as passenger. Harry Tate's D.H.9c, piloted by H. S. Broad, followed some five minuteslater—the air seemed thick with D.H.'s just at this tiine ! A. F. Muir, on the Surrey Flying Services D.H.9, also with apassenger, was next away, and two minutes later S. Cockerell made a splendid take-ofi on the Vickers " Vulcan." • AnotherD.H., Lieut.-Col. Darby's " A.D.C." 9A, with Rolls-Royce " Eagle " engine, piloted by R. H. Stocken, followed eightminutes later. " Bettine " was well out of sight before A. S. Butler's D.H.37—the graceful lines of this maghine were much I THE KING'S CUP: Mr. A. J. Cobham being congratulated on having secured second place. Inset, theNapier " Lion "-engined D.H.9 passing over the winning line. etc. Of course, most of the entrants were to be seen having a final look over their entries, prominent amongst these being Sir Samuel Instone, Lieut.-Col. F. K. McCtean, Mr. George Robey and Mr Harry Tate—the two latter " stars " looking very proud and hopeful of their mounts and jockeys. Mention must also be made of " Long Tom," who now must be looked upon as " the " Aero Bookie. Weather conditions wqre very nice, there being a clear sky and a light south-westerly wind. It is true that as the "morning advanced the heat became rather trying, both to competitors and spectators, and visibility was poor in places owing to the haze. By 10 o'clock all was ready for the start, the first half-dozen machines having been lined up in good time and with note- worthy absence of " bustle." Three non-starters were announced, as follows : Bert Hinkler and the Avro " Viper," G. Powell (D.H.34), and H. H. Perry (D.H.9A with Napier " Lion "). The Avro " Viper," it appears, had received certain alterations after the handicaps had been announced, and was thus disqualified. Powell's D.H.34 could not be spared from its official duties on the London-Continental air service, and Perry's mount had, the evening before, stood on its nose whilst being " man-handled," and thus broke its propeller—another one suitable for use with the " Lion " could not be obtained in time. admired—piloted by H. Hemming, got away, and not without incident, for he had to dodge several photographers who were out on the 'drome in the path of the machine. Last year's winner, F. L. Barnard, on the Instone D.H.4A " City of York," with two passengers looking rather hot in the cabin, got away next, and after a wait of nearly 20 minutes the last three were despatched in quick succession. These were George Robey's D.H.9-" Lion," piloted by A. J. Cobham, F. T. Courtney on the Siddeley " Siskin," and L. L. Carter on the Gloucestershire " Grebe." The last two, both fitted with Siddeley " Jaguars " started within a few seconds of each other, Courtney getting off with a spectacular climbing turn, and Carter " zooming " in fine style. As soon as the last machines were out of sight everyone departed and Hendon settled down to a normal but perspiring condition. At the Controls Hendon-Birmingham (91 miles) ALTHOUGH it was a perfect summer's day, comparativelyfew people turned-up at Castle Bromwich aerodrome to witness the arrival and departure of the King's Cup com-petitors. The Lord Mayor (Sir David Davis) and the Lady Mayoress were among the many prominent Birminghamcitizens who motored over to see the fun. A fairly thick haze 394
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