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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0751.PDF
SEPTEMBER 29. 1927 THE SCHNEIDER TROPHY RACE [" FLIGHT " Photographs Three views of Lieut. Kinkead's Gloster-Napier, taking off, towing and taxying. well to bear these points in mind when reading the follow- ing description of the actualities. The tests were designated to commence at 9 a.m., and shortly before this time the first British machine, the Gloster- Napier IV, was observed proceeding toward the starting line, towed by a motor boat, aboard which was the pilot, Flight-Lieut. Kinkead. This machine was followed almost immediately by the two Supermarine-Napier S.5s, towed in the same fashion on their floats. The weather, although not being all that could be desired, was nevertheless clear, and a freshening wind was blowing down and slightly across the course. It should be mentioned that the lay-out of the course was such that it was necessary for the competing machines, both British and Italian, to traverse the length of the fairway from the second to the first mark, before taking their position on the starting line. The course was situated in a length of the " canal " some quarter-mile across, and being reasonably exposed to the wind, the water was inclined to be a little choppy in places. Some time after the appearance of the British craft, it was learned that the Italians had telephoned to inform the officials that they would be at least an hour late in taking up their positions, and the result was a rather trying wait until 10.20 a.m. before the Macchi-Fiats made an appearance. It was then seen that the Italian machines were being towed up by steam tugs, accompanied by a deal of black smoke, and that the machines themselves were mounted upon specially constructed wooden pontoons, built with their " decks " in the form of an inclined plane to facilitate the launching of the 'planes on to the water. Macchi-Fiat No. 5 was the leader of this procession, closely followed by No. 2, while No. 7 appeared some considerable distance in the rear. In the meantime it had been decided that the British machines would proceed with their tests, and Flight-Lieut. Kinkead, on the Gloster-Napier IV biplane, started his engine and proceeded towards the first mark. This was at 10.32. It seemed unfortunate that just at this time the tugs and pontoons of the Italians were steaming right in the middle of the fainvay and approaching within hailing distance of the second mark. For a few moments it looked as if Flight- Lieut. Kinkead would be badly baulked, but he proceeded past the first mark and commenced " taxiing " down the course at a leisurely rate. For some reason not divulged, he did not " open out " for a take-off until some 200 metres or so from the second mark, and it appeared to the writer (who had an excellent position almost in line with the second mark) that he actually left the water not less than 5 m. over the line. He rose over the approaching tugs and T :. •-.--• ......... .... ...... ["FLIGHT" Photographs THE SCHNEIDER TROPHY RACE : Two views of the machines during the 6-hours' mooring test. Themachine in the foreground in the lower picture is the Supermarine S.5 on which, later, Webster won the race. 684g
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