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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0585.PDF
AUGUST 4, 1927( EXPRESSED statistically, the account of the King's Cup Air Race would read as follows : 26 entries, 16 starters and 6 machines to finish the race. Regarded in this somewhat cold-blooded way, the race was undoubtedly what is colloquially expressed as a " wash-out." The absence of ten machines at the start, or at least of nine machines, since one of the ten was actually on the starting line, is in the main accounted for by the peculiar effect of this year's handicapping formula, which all but ruled out a large number of the machines entered. The reasons for the falling out of 10 of the 16 starters will be referred to later, but first it may be of interest to show why so many entries were withdrawn as a protest against their handicaps. The following table was prepared before the race, and is based upon the assumption that the three de Havilland " Moth X " machines were capable of a speed of 103 m.p.h. Actually at least one of them, Mr. Butler's, was a good deal faster than that, but even the lower figure serves to show how the formula worked. (The formula was given in The Aircraft Engineer in last week's issue of FLIGHT, and thus there should be no need to repeat it here. The actual curve from which the constant K for air-cooled engines was calculated was published in FLIGHT of June 2, 1927.) Taking as a basis a speed of 103 m.p.h. for the " Moth X " machines, and giving the rest the handicap allowances which they obtained in accordance with the formula, the machines would have to do the following speeds in order to finish level with the three " Moth X's." :— No. 6 ..4 .. 27 ..5 . . 9 .. 26, 18, 15 12 .. 10 .. 2 . .3 .. 22 ..23 .. 8 ..13 .. 14 ..24 .. 19 .. 7 .. 1 ..16 .. 20 ..25 .. 21 .. 11 .. Machine and Engine Anec II, " Cherub "Halton biplane, " Cherub " C.L.A 4, " Cherub "Moth, " Cirrus I " . . Moth, " Cirrus I " . . Moth, " Cirrus II ".. Avian, " Cirrus II " Widgeon III, " Genet " Bluebird, " Genet "Moth, " Cirrus II " Widgeon III, " Cirrus II " Avian, " Cirrus II "Avian II, " Cirrus II " Alpha-Avian, " Alpha " Avian, " Cirrus II "D.H.9, " Nimbus " Vespa, " Jupiter " Horsley, " Condor " F.6, " Viper "Tiger Moth, " Cirrus II " Vixen, " Lion "Boreas Martinsyde, " Nimbus " Badminton, " Jupiter "Avenger, " Lion " .. Speed m.p.h 75-481-8 84-795-9 99-25 103-0 105-8 1060 1080108-5 1100 112-5112-5 116-8 118-5141-7 149-5 154-0 157-0162 0 165-2179-0 .. 208-5244-0 [" FLIGHT " Photograph WINNING THE KING'S CUP RACE : Mr. W. L. "°pe crossing the finishing line on his "Moth " with "CirrusI " engine. It will be seen that the fast, high-power machines were entirely ruled out. Thus the Hawker " Horsley " would have had, on this basis, to do 154 m.p.h., the Vickers " Vixen " 165-2 m.p.h., the " Boreas-Martinsyde " 179 m.p.h., and the Avro " Avenger " 244 m.p.h. If one were to take as a basis the speed of 109-6 m.p.h. actually put up by Mr. Butler on his " Moth X," the results would, of course, become even worse for the fast machines, and the " Avenger " would then have had to do 286 m.p.h. It was, therefore, scarcely to be wondered at that many entrants withdrew their machines, since to fly the race would have entailed heavy expense, wear and tear on machines and engines, insurance, etc. A few of those who, appearing hopelessly outclassed, neverthe- less decided to fly in the race deserve credit as splendid 537
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