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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0958.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 23, 1932 Reg'n. Mk. Pilot continuous slow rolling, inverted flying, a very slow flight at low altitude across lie aerodrome, and a neatly executed slow landing. In the meantime the competitors for the Thanet Air Race had filled up (not personally!) and were in readiness to taxi out to the starting line. The course, slightly changed from that previously planned, took the competitors from Nethercourt to North Foreland light house, to Reculvers, to the vane-less windmill at Sarre, and thence to the petrol filling station by the side of the aerodrome. This circuit was flown three times, making a total distance of 72 miles. First away was Lt. Col. Strange with a youthful passenger on TR, his " Mark II Spartan " 3-seater (" Hermes IIB ") engine, but in different guise on this occasion. The small centre section tank had given place to the more normal large tank, the rear cockpit had been thrown open but was not so fully occupied as on the THE THANET AIR RACE Aircraft and Engine Starting Time Finishing Time Average Speed Place TR CI YL HR UR WH Strange Mrs. Fairlie it Mr. Kirsch Sparrow Windsor Percival Styran 'Spartan 3-st., Mk. II ' (•Hermes IIB") ' Klemm " (" Cirrus III ") 'Moth" ("Gipsy I") 'Moth" ("Gipsy II") 'Gull" ("Hermes IV") 'Swift" ("Gipsy III") min. 0 0 2 3 14 16 sec. 00 55 39 51 09 23 min. sec. 44 48 46 09 45 27 45 45 45 09 Retired m.p.h. 96* 95 J 101 103 1391 — 1st 5 th 3rd 4 th 2nd An amusing contrast was provided by Mr. Hudson's 1902 Oldsmobile—still very mobile—and the Hawker " Fury " (" Kestrel ")—still more mobile ! (FLIGHT Photo.) previous day by a well-known " raconteur " and a cousin, of parachute fame, from across the ocean. The centre section and wing root fairings had disappeared (not in this instance because of the handicappers!). The " Klemm " (" Cirrus III ") CI, co-piloted by Mrs. Fairlie and Mr. Kirsch, closely followed TR. At short intervals YL, Mr. Sparrow on a " Moth " (" Gipsy I ") and HR, Mr. Windsor with passenger on a " Moth " (" Gipsy II ") were off. Then followed a gap of nearly 9 min. before Mr. Percival on UR, Lt. Com. B. Leake's good-looking " Gull " (" Hermes IV "), was away to the drop of the starter's flag, leaving Mr. Styran, on WH, the small but fast " Comper Swift " (" Gipsy III "), to depart 2 min. 14 sec. later. Just before the scratch machine WH started, TR rounded the turning point at the petrol filling station, flying low and making good time. CI, YL, and HR followed in order, and then a gap before UR appeared, going well and also making good time. WH failed to appear as soon after UR as was to be expected, but in a few minutes came into sight from off the course and retired. Mr. Styran stated later that his machine was not running quite as he liked it, and he had flown wide of the course on his way in so as not to get in the path of his fellow- competitors. At the finish of the second lap the same order was maintained, TR and UR still doing well, whilst YL had closed up on CI. A few minutes' wait and all eyes were directed to the finishing line. Lt. Col. Strange arrived first, followed 21 sec. later by Mr. Percival on the " Gull " ; third place being taken 18 sec. later by Mr. Sparrow. Fourth and fifth places were taken by Mr. Windsor and the co-pilots of the " Klemm," the whole field thus arriving home in 1 min. 21 sec. (Surely a handicapping triumph.—ED.) Details of the handicap allowances and speeds are given in the table above. A tribute for the way in which the race went off without a hitch should be paid here to the Clerk of the Course, Wing Com. L. F. Forbes, the R.A.F. officers who for the second time manned the turning points, and the pilots of the two " Atlas " aircraft who by means of radio telephony so quickly transmitted to the Clerk of the Course the " all clears " from the turning points. The excellent aerial photographs of the turning points which were displayed on the notice board undoubtedlv were of great assistance to the competitors. A second demonstration of the " Fury " by Mr. P. E. G. Sayer now took place, and was equally, if not more, appreciated by the large number of spectators in Many officers from Manston assisted at the meeting. On the left is Sqd. Ldr. T. F. W. Thompson (No. 500 Bomber Sqd.), next Mrs. Perrin, Wing Com. L. F. Forbes (Clerk of the Course), H. E. Perrin (Sec. R.Ae.C), Miss Perrin. Grp. Capt. Sydney Smith (soft hat) rests on his shooting stick (centre of group) and Mrs. Smith is five places to his right (with white gloves). Sqd. Ldr. D. Mullholland (in check cap) acted as a Judge, as did Sqd. Ldr. S. Toomer, whom he is hiding. On the extreme right is Mr. F. Rowarth, who with Capt. W. Dancy made excellent work of the handicapping. (FLIGHT Photo.) 894
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