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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0440.PDF
smiling. Meanwhile news was received that the D.H. 34" observation 'plane " had come to grief just outside, at Carville. A safe enforced descent had been made in a field,but a deep ditch at the end collected a few souvenirs of this veteran air liner, but not, fortunately, of its human cargo.Hemming arrived at 14 h. 10 m. 21 s., and 25 mins. later Baggs came in, landed, but, like Courtney, was " bagged "by the ditch, and also put out of the race. " Come on Steve " arrived two hours later and completed the list. Barnard(C. D.) was so behind time, however, that he decided to retire, thus leaving only four in the race. Renfrew, 385 miles.—The first to reach " half-way house "was Barnard, some 2£ hrs. after he was expected. Jones came along about 50 mins. later. Hinkler and Hemmingboth crossed the line together—but from opposite directions, and it looked at first as if there would be only two left in therace ! Here a stop was made for one hour before the com- petitors proceeded to Shotwick, via Blackpool Tower. Shotwick, 578 miles.—Although Barnard was leadinghere, Jones had gained a few minutes from Renfrew, while Hemming got ahead of Hinkler by 17 mins. Bristol, 697 miles.—Barnard was still leading at Bristol,and got in 45 mins. ahead of Jones, who had thus lost what he had previously gained. Hemming came in third, followed27 mins. later by Hinkler. While waiting for the arrival of the competitors, the spectators at Filton were treated toa fine exhibition of flying by C. F. Uwins, on a Bristol Fighter. Croydon, 804 miles.—Many more people turned up atCroydon to see the finish of the first day's race, and when Barnard arrived at 18 h. 59 m. 17 s., he got quite an enthusi-astic reception as he landed. When he got out of the machine, however, he was absolutely exhausted, and had to be assistedto a seat for a short rest beiore he could tell of his ordeal. Jones came in second 55 mins. later, and he, too, had a sadtale to tell after receiving a hearty welcome. At 21 h. 15 m. 41 s. just as it was getting dark, Hemming returned to the fold,and looked more than glad to be back. After a wait of 28 mins.—and by then daylight had packed up—Hinklercame in with the help of landing flares, etc., and so brought a long and tiring day to a close. After landing, he decidedto retire from the race, as it was useless for him to continue, seeing that he had lost so much time. In the meanwhile,the R.A.C. officials had announced that it was proposed to hold a " Consolation " race the next day, for those competitorswho had fallen out of the race. Two prizes of ^150 and £50 each would be offered, and five entries were received then andthere—but more of this anon. Second Day, July 4 Saturday's story is short and sweet and easily told, since but three competitors were left in the race and considerably improved weather conditions made their going comparatively easy. Once again only a few people turned, up at Croydon for the start, which was not quite so early as on the first day. The first man away was Barnard on the " Siskin," his zero hour being 7 h. 41m. 31s. He was followed by Hemming, on " Sylvia," who, having lost so much time on Friday, left JULY 9, 1925 Croydon 44 mins. 51 sees, after Barnard. Jones was still atscratch, and followed Hemming by 16 mins. 20 sees. The three remaining King's Cuppers having thus been speedilydespatched, preparations were made for the Croydon Stakes Consolation Handicap. For this the King's Cup course wascut down to 520 (more than half the total distance) so as to include Bristol, Shotwick, Blackpool (turning point), andCroydon. Although this race finished after the King's Cup winner returned home, we will deal with it right away and,so to speak, get on with the horses. At 10 a.m. the first two of the five entries were dispatched.These were the two D.H.60 " Moths," with Cobham and Hope up. Perry, on the " Airdisco" Avro, went away next at10 h. 19 m. 55 s., followed by Sempill on the D.H.51 at 10 h. 45 m. 50 s. The last off was Hinkler on the Avro 504N. The times of arrival of these five at the controls were :— Bristol : Cobham, 11 h. 15 m. ; Hope, 11 h. 25 m. ; Perry,11 h. 35 m. ; Sempill, 11 h. 51 m. ; Hinkler, 12 h. 2 m. 24 s. Shotwick : Cobham, 13 h. 16 m. 18 s. ; Hope, 13 h. 28 m. 30 s.;Sempill, 13 h. 34 m. 1 s. ; Perry, 13 h. 34 m. 13 s. ; Hinkler, 13 h. 52 m. 12 s. Harrogate :' Cobham, 14 h. 59 m. 23 s.;Hope, 15 h. 13 m. 5 s.; Sempill, 15 h. 13 m. 15 s.; Hinkler, 15 h. 24 m. 53 s.; Perry, 15 h. 27 m. 8 s. The return toCroydon was made in the following order : Sempill, 17 h. 26 m. 11s.; Cobham, 17 h. 29 m. 33 s.; Hinkler,17 h. 34 m. 16 s.; Hope, 17 h. 49 m. 11s.; Perry, 17 h. 53 m. 49 s. It thus provided a fairly close finish, andin many ways made up for an otherwise somewhat dull day's sport. Now to follow the progress of the Big Three. At BristolBarnard was well in front, and gaining on Hemming, who came in next. Jones, however, was gaining a few minutes and goingwell. At Shotwick barely an hour separated Barnard, still leading, from Jones, but Hemming had dropped to thirdplace. By the time they reached Renfrew Barnard was some 51 minutes in front of Jones, while Hemming was slowlylosing ground. At Newcastle Barnard increased his lead once again to an hour, and nearly the same interval separated Jonesand Hemming. Strange to say, there was not the slightest change in their position when Barnard and Jones arrived atHarrogate, but Hemming lost another five minutes or so. Thus it was, that at 16 h. 0 m. 29 s. Barnard hurtled intoCroydon and, for the second time, won the King's Cup. He made an excellent landing, and as the machine was broughtup to the enclosure the fairly large crowd that had by now assembled to see the finish rushed forward and greeted himwith hearty cheering. Once out of the machine he was carried shoulder high to the Cup, which the Duke of Sutherlandpresented to the successful entrant, Sir Eric Geddes, who handed it, with a few words of thanks, to Barnard. Just1 h. 23 m. 16 s. after Barnard crossed the line, Jones—now Squadron-Leader according to that day's Gazette—got home,and he, too, was given an enthusiastic reception. The pro- ceedings were brought to a close at 6.10 p.m. by the returnhome of Hemming, who had, it was admitted by all, put up an extremely plucky and creditable performance. And so ended our first Eliminating Air Race ! ADVANCED TRAINING MACHINE : This Bristol biplane with Bristol Jupiter engine is used at the Bristol Flying School for the advanced training of pupils, and as such is, perhaps, the highest-powered training machine in regular use. For school purposes, however, the speed of the Jupiter is cut down to a certain figure, so that the actual power normally developed when used in a school machine is not the full power of the engine. 440
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