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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0958.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 11, 1931 been the previous two. There were no challengers fromGreat Britain, and France, challenged with only one machine, a " Nieuport Delage " twin-float biplane (300-h.p. Hispano Suiza), piloted by Sadi Lecointe. Unfor- tunately, Lecointe met with a mishap during a test flightprior to the contest, and once more Italy was left the only competitor.On September 7 the three Italians proceeded to "fly over." The Italian team consisted of de Briganti on a" Macchi VII " flying boat (200-h.p. Isotta Fraschini) ; Zanetti, on a larger "Macchi XIX " Hying boat (700-h.p.Fiat) ; and Corniglio, on another " Macchi " naval flying boat (250-h.p. Isotta Fraschini). Both Zanetti andCorniglio had to retire, and de Briganti, on the smallest machine, was the only competitor to complete the course,which he did at an average speed of 178.5 km./hr. (Ill m.p.h.j. Italy therefore held the trophy for a secondtime. 1922 The sixth contest for the Schneider Trophy was organisedby the Aero Club of Italy, and was held in 1922 off Maples. Challenges were received from Great Britain andFrance, and the course was a triangular one of 200 sea miles The French challengers were unable to compete on 246-49- 232-57- engines, and a Navy Wright biplane with 300-h.p. Wright engine. The Navy Wright was eliminated before the contest by the breaking of its metal propeller, which damaged the floats. For the first time in the history of the Schneider Con-test, it was a case of a Government service against private enterprise, as the Americans had entrusted the organisa-tion of their team to the American Navy, whose machines were very much faster than anything which Europe couldput up against them, and it was thus not surprising when Rittenhouse won the contest at what was at the time M.P.H 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 1913(F) I9I4(GB.) 1920(l.) 1921(1.) I922(G.B) I923(U£A)I925(U.SA)I926(I.) I927(G.B) I929(G.R) " HORSES AND YET MORE HORSES": Diagrammatic representation of the way in which the power and speed of the winners of Schneider Contests has increased from 1913 to the present time. the day of the contest, leaving Italy and Great Britain tofight it out between themselves. There were three Italian defenders, and but a singleBritish challenger. This was a Supermarine " Sea Lion II," a flying boat fitted with Napier Lion engine. Thismachine had been produced entirely by private enterprise by Mr. Hubert Scott Paine, who was then part owner ofthe Supermarine Aviation Works, and but for Mr. Scott Paine's enthusiasm and willingness to finance the under-taking, Great Britain would have been without a challenger.The machine was piloted by Capt. H. C. Biard, who scored a magnificent victory by covering the course at anaverage speed of 234.5 km./hr. (145.7 m.p.h.). 1923 As a result of Biard's victory at Naples, the 1923 con-test was held in British waters and organised by the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom. The site chosen wasSpithead, the course having turning points off Cowes, Southsea and Selsey Bill. The 1923 course was one of186 sea miles, and the contest was held on September 28. There was an excellent entry list, the following countriesbeing represented: France, Great Britain, Italv and the U.S.A.Great Britain was represented by three machines: A Supermarine " Sea Lion III," fitted with Napier Lionengine ; a Blackburn " Pellet," also fitted with Lion engine ; and a Sopwith biplane, fitted with BristolJupiter " engine. The latter machine was eliminated before the contest by its spinner coming adrift, causing aforced landing to be made, which resulted in considerable damage to the machine.France was represented by two C.A.M.S. flying boats and a Latham twin-engined flying boat.The United States of America were represented by two Curtiss Navy C.R.3 twin-float seaplane? with Curtiss D.12 considered to be a phenomenal speed, i.e., 177.38 m.p.h.Biard put up a very splendid effort on behalf of England, but, although he covered the course at an average speedof 151.16 m.p.h., the Americans proved far too much for him, and the trophy went to the United States. 1024 America having won the contest in 1923, it fell to theUnited States to organise the 1924 contest. Great Britain and Italy had challenged, but, as the British machine, a" Gloster Napier " biplane, was damaged during trials, it could not be sent to America, and Italy withdrew herentries, the American defenders were without opponents, and America very sportingly decided to call the contestoff until the following year rather than to claim a "fly over." By this extremely sporting action America keptthe contest alive, but, as it turned out later, she also lost for herself the chance of winning the trophy outright. 1925 The Schneider Contest postponed by America in 1924was held off Baltimore in 1925, the United States being the defenders and Great Britain and Italy the challengers.Great Britain was represented by a Supermarine Napier " S.4 " twin-float monoplane, and a " GlosterNapier III " twin-float biplane, the former being piloted by Capt. H. C. Biard and the latter by Capt. H. Broad.A third string was a " Gloster III " machine with Bert Hinkler as pilot. Italy was represented by two machines,both " Macchi M.33 " low-wing monoplane flying boats, fitted with 500-h.p. Curtiss D.12 engines, the pilotsbeing de Briganti and Morselli. On the day of the eliminating trials Biard started for his tests, bat themachine got out of control, and Biard had to make a landing as best he could, in which the machine sank, andBiard narrowly escaped drowning. 896
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