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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1332.PDF
-yo FLIGHT JULY 2~TH, 1949 BACKGROUND TO THE RACES AT ELMDON Pre-war Contests : Elmdon Arrangements : Racing Numbers and Colours "Flight" photograph). Some pre-war racing aircraft. (Top) Capt. £. W. Percival's Mew Gull of 1938. (Left) The D.H. Comet. An aircraft of this type won the England—Australia race in 1934. (Right) The little Lucifer-engined Bristol monoplane which was one of the entries for the 1922 King's Cup. ELEVEN years have passed since Alex Henshawlanded his Percival Mew Gull at Hatfield to win thelast pre-war contest for the King's Cup. Annual competition for the trophy had continued unbroken since 1922, and the race had even earlier beginnings, as it sprang from the Circuit of Britain contests, held before the 1914-18 war. Up to August, 1939, complete plans were in existence for continuation of the event, which had grown immeasur- ably in national esteem, but under the cloud of approach- ing hostilities, these had suddenly to be dropped. However, this year's race, despite the gap in time, at least resumes the story at the point of interruption—Elmdon Airport, proposed venue for the 1939 race. The first race began on Friday, September 8th, 1922, lasted two days, and was held over an 810-mile course— from Croydon (then known as Waddon) to Glasgow via Birmingham and Newcastle, returning to Croydon via Manchester and Bristol. Military influence was very apparent among the 23 aircraft entered, of which 21 started and 11 finished. Among those taking part was the Bristol 10-seater, flown by Cyril Uwins, (Bristol's chief test .pilot until 1945); the fastest was the "hush-hush" Arm- strong-Siddeley Siskin. De Havillands were well represen- ted by five D.H.9s, a D.H.37 and the winning D.H.4a. The largest aircraft engaged were two Blackburn Kangaroos, one of which was entered by Mr. Winston Churchill. Up to the 1938 race, rules and courses changed almost annually, but whatever the arrangements adopted, criticism was certain. In 1924, both seaplanes and land- planes took part, starting from Felixstowe or Martlesham. The following year weather was bad and only eight aircraft completed the 1,626-mile course, while in 1927 dissatisfac- tion over the handicap formula brought entries down to seven. Among the 41 starters from Heston in 1929, F/O. (now A.V-M.) R. L. R. Atcherley was victorious. He flew as " R. Llewellyn." In 1930, no fewer" than 88 pilots .attempted the 750-mile course ; the race was notable also as the first to be won by a woman—Miss Winifred Brown. Contestants with any professional connections with the aircraft industry were barred from the 1931 race, but there were 40 starters nevertheless. No such rule applied in 1933 when Capt. (Now Sir Geoffrey) de Havilland won on his '' home ground '' the first of the pre-war races at Hat-" field. This event, like that of the following year, consisted of a series of short races. The remaining four contests started from Hatfield, and each occupied two days. In 1935 Miles Aircraft scored a triple PREVIOUS CONTESTS FOR THE Year 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1923 1929 1930 1931 1932 l«3 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939- 48 Starting Point Croydon Hendon Martlesham or Felix- stowe Croydon Hendon Hucknall Hendon He con Hanworth Heston Brooklands Hatfie.'d Hatfield Hatfield Hatfield Hatfield Hatfield Aircraft D.H. 4A (Eagle) A.W. Siskin (Jaguar) D.H. 50 (Puma) AW. Siskin (Jaguar) D.H. Moth (Cirrus) D.H. Moth (Cirrus) D.H. Moth (Gipsy) Gloster Grebe (Jaguar) Avro Avian (Cirrus III) Blackburn Bluebird (Hermes) D.H. Fox Moth (Gipsy III) D.H. Leopard Moth (Gipsy Major) Monospar S.T. 10 (2 Niagara) Miles Falcon (Gipsy Six) Percival Vega Gull (Gipsy Six) Percival Mew Gull (Gipsy Six) Percival Mew Gull (Gipsy Six) KING'S CUP AIR RACE Pilot Capt. F. L. Barnard Capt. F. T. Courtney Alan J. Cobham Cape. F. L. Barnard Capt. H. S. Broad Capt. W. L Hope Capt. W. L. Hope F/O. R. L. R. Atcherley Miss Winifred S. Brpwn F/O. E. C. T. Edwards Capt. W. L. Hope Cape. G. de Havilland F/L. H. M. Schofield F/L. T. Rose Charles Gardner Charles Gardner Alex Henshaw Speed (m.p.h.) 123.5 149 106 141 90.4 92.8 105 3 150.3 102 7 117,8 124.25 139.5 134.16 176.28 164.7 233.7 236.25 NO CONTEST C 4
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