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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0881.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 21. 1931 THE FIRST VICKERS SUPERMARINE ROLLS ROYCE S.6.B.—MARKED S1595: Flight-Lieut. Long in the cockpit. (FLIGHT Photo.) THE SCHNEIDER CONTEST ISTORY repeats itself. In August, 1929, we werein doubt as to whether either the Italian or American—to say nothing of the French—entriesfor the Schneider Contest would materialise. We are now in much the same posi-tion, only the doubts are raised at an earlier stage of theproceedings, which gives us more time to take stock of thesituation. It has not been pos- sible to get authentic informa-tion from either France or Italy, but authorities in bothcountries are talking in dubious tones about the chances oftheir team being ready in time to take part in the contest. Ithad been understood that Italian preparations were welladvanced when the fatal acci- dent to Capt. Monti shockedeveryone. British correspon- dents in Rome do not, how-ever, seem to think that this accident is the governing factorin the situation. General Balbo is expected to make anofficial announcement in a few days. With our knowledge ofthe sporting spirit which animates the Italian Royal AirForce, we feel considerable con- fidence that the Italian teamwill duly arrive at Calshot and do their best to win the trophy.Even if they have to trust to luck to some extent, it wouldseem well worth their while to start their seaplanes onSeptember 12. In 1929 the discovery of a flaw in onecylinder of the engine in Waghorn's machine, on thevery eve of the speed contest, put Britain's chances injeopardy ; and had it not been possible to change the wholecylinder block during the night, the race next day wouldhave resulted in Dal Molin winning the contest for Italy. Squadron Leader Orlebar, A.F.C., Captain of the High-Speed Flight, and Mr. R. J. Mitchell, the Supermarine Chief Designer. (FLIGHT Photo.) The position in France is still more obscure. It hasbeen stated that there is in existence only one, or at most two, seaplanes of Schneider racing class, and that thereis only one pilot in France able to fly these machines ; while another rumour adds thatthis pilot has not had sufficient practice on the racer types.Considering that France formed a high-speed flight of Servicepilots in preparation for the 1929 contest, and has had ateam in training at Etang de Berre for months past, it isdifficult to credit these rumours. France has neverbeen backward in producing pilots of the highest class. Theproduction of the seaplanes and engines may have been tardy—that has been a common ex- perience of Schneider teams invarious countries. But that pilots should be wanting inFrance is scarcely credible. We still hope that the French teamwill duly arrive at Calshot. At Calshot the weather haslately been bad, and on more than one day flying has beenimpossible. This has been un- fortunate. Five pilots have tobe put through training on the new racers, and for this pur-pose there are available only two S.6 machines of the " B "class and one of the " A " class. Practice on the Glosterbiplane, the Gloster 6, and the 5.5 is very useful, but notquite the same thing as flying the S.6 machines. Major C. C. Turner haswritten in the Daily Telegraph that, despite other statementsto the contrary, he has ascer- tained that the wings of the 5.6 are the same in span andarea as in 1929. The draw for order of start-ing has taken place. The order will be: —Great Britain, 1 ; -'4 827
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