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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0746.PDF
SEPTEMBER 29, 1927,; THE SCHNEIDER TROPHY RACE A Magnificent Win for Great Britain THE Schneider Trophy Race for seaplanes, originally sche- duled to take place at Venice on Sunday, September 25, had to be postponed until Monday, September 26, owing to unfavourable weather conditions. By Monday midday the conditions had improved, and the race was held, resulting in a win for Great Britain, at the impressive average speed of 453-282 km./h. (281-54 m.p.h.). The winning machine, the Supermarine S.5 geared with Napier engine, was piloted by Flight-Lieut. Webster. Second place was secured by Flight-Lieut. Worsley on another Supermarine S.5, similar to the winner but fitted with a direct-drive Napier engine. His average speed was 439-472 km. 'h. (272-96 m.p.h.). Out of the six starters these were the only machines to complete the course, the others having been compelled to abandon the race for various reasons. Thus the race proved a most meritorious one for the Supermarine Aviation Works, whose machines both completed the race. In the following table are set out the lap times for the various machines as far as they are available at the present time. Apart from the high speeds attained, a remarkable feature of the British pilots' flying is the regularity with which they lapped the course. A difference in speed of a few miles per hour in various laps is insignificant in a race and a course of this nature. The Official Times Below will be found the average lap-speeds of Flt.-Lieuts. Kinkead, Webster and Worslev :— a, 12 3 4 5 6 7 1-7 Flt.-Lt. Webster, k.p.h. j m.p.h. 451-6141 280-5 452-874! 280-79 450-552J 279-86 457-408 284-11 455-822; 283-12 452-921J 281-32 452-373! 280-98 453-282! 281-54 Flt.-Lt. Worsley. k.p.h. ( m.p.h. 433-728 269-39 439 091! 272-73 444-207: 275-91 438 150J 272-51 440-703! 273-73 441-914! 274-48 443-504• 275-47 439-472: 272-96 Flt.-Lt. Kinkead. k.p.h. i m.p.h. 429-137! 266-54 4461971 277-14 443-613 442 179 435-459 275-80 274-65 270-47 Bernardi completed only one lap, at 428-542 k.p.h. (265-7 m.p.h.). Guazzetti's average for the six laps was 415-244 k.p.h. (257-5 m.p.h.). The total length of the course was 350 kms. (217 miles). On the following pages will be found accounts of the navigability tests and the race itself in their chronological order. Postponed! ' I-ir",rl.'l"-r Venice, 25.9.27, VENICE was awakened this morning "by the flapping of un- fastened shutters in half a gale of wind, and it became apparent at once that it would be impossible to hold the race under such conditions. A pre-breakfast inspection disclosed a sea of galloping " white horses," and considerably more than a pocketful of wind coming out of the horizon. A forced landing under such conditions would only mean one thing, so that the official announcement at noon was of course by then a fore- gone conclusion. As has already been indicated, the work of preparation has been considerably hampered by most unkind weather. There were only two days upon which serious practice over the course was possible, and during one of these the Gloster- Napier IV, to be piloted by Flight-Lieut. Kinkead, was unable to take the air owing to repairs. Sunday last was fine and a good day's work was put in— both the Supermarine-Napier (N.220, Webster up) and the Gloster-Napier IV (Kinkead up) were in the air. The second Supermarine-Napier (N.219) was not ready—in fact Fit.-Lieut. Worsley was unable to put in any actual flying until the navigability tests on Friday ! On Monday there was no flying, but the Italian Macchis arrived at San Andrea, where their assembly under the strictest secrecy was immediately proceeded with, the first Macchi taking the air by Tuesday evening. Whilst touching upon S.5 N.219, it is of interest to state that this machine has a " direct drive " in opposition to S.5 N.220, Fit.-Lieut. Webster's mount, which is a geared job. In comparing their eventual performances it will be interesting to bear this fact in mind. On Tuesday, 20th inst., extremely bad visibility made high speed flying inadvisable. It was not until five o'clock in the afternoon that the " Sirrocco " began to lift, and even then conditions appeared far from ideal. Nevertheless, although our own machines were not seen, the Italian camp decided that it was good enough to " flip," and a deal of excited interest was aroused by the appearance of one of the scarlet Macchi-Fiats in the air, but it was obvious that the pilot did not intend to let us see the machine " strut her stuff," as the Americans say. and he appeared to be well throttled down throughout the whole of the " exhibition." It was particularly interesting, however, to watch this machine on the turns. The pilot repeatedly employed a climbing turn, finishing some ten degrees from the vertical, " on her back," and as during subsequent practice it has been observed that each of the Italians employ this method, one Previous Schneider Speeds The following list of the winners of previous Schneider Trophy contests forms an interesting comparison, and also shows the steady development of the high-speed seaplane :— 1913, Monaco ; course, 150 miles. M. Prevost (France). Deperdussin mono, 160 h.p. Gnome. 45-75 m.p.h. 1914, Monaco ; course, 150 miles. C. H. Pixton (Great Britain). Sopwith bi., 100 h.p. Gnome. 86-8 m.p.h. 1919, Bournemouth. Contest annulled. 1920, Venice ; course, 202 miles. Luigi Bologna (Italy). Savoia S.I9 boat, 550 h.p. Ansaldo. 107 m.p.h. 1921, Venice; course 200 miles. G. le Briganti (Italy). Macchi VII boat, 200 h.p. Fraschini. Ill m.p.h. 1922, Naples; course, 200 miles. H. C. Biard Napier ' (Great Lion." miles. Lt. D. Rittenhouse bi., 465 h.p. Curtiss D-12. Britain). Supermarine boat, 450 h.p. 145-7 m.p.h. 1923, Cowes; course, 186 (U.S.A.) Curtiss Navy C.R.3 177-38 m.p.h. 1924, No contest. 1925, Baltimore; course, 188-86 miles. Lt. J. Doolittle (U.S.A.). Curtiss Army R.3.G.2 bi., 510 h.p. Curtiss V-1400. 232-57 m.p.h. 1926, Newport Roads; course, 188-86 miles. Maj. de Bernardi (Italy). MacchiM. 39mono., 800 h.p. Fiat. 246-496 m.pi. How the speeds have grown : Our sketch map (annexed) shows the distances covered in one hour by the winners of the first Schneider Trophy Race and the winner of this year's contest. Any point within the larger circle could be reached in an hour by the Super- marine S.5. 6846
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