After being postponed from the preceding Wednesday by unsuitable weather, the attempt by a Supermarine Swift F.4 (Rolls-Royce Avon with reheat) on the London-Paris speed record was made - and with success - on Sunday last, July 5th. With Lt. Cdr. Michael Lithgow, Supermarine's chief test pilot, at the controls, the Swift took 19 min 5.6 sec for the trip to Paris, the average speed being 669.3 m.p.h. Later, after taking part in the air display at Le Bourget, it returned to London in 19 min 14.3 sec - at a speed of 664.3 m.p.h. The flights were made at a surprisingly low altitude - not much over 1,000ft. The previous London-Paris record was that set by the late Trevor ("Wimpy") Wade in a Hawker P.1052 in May, 1949, at a speed of 617.87 m.p.h.
Speaking with a Flight representative at Le Bourget on arrival, Mr. Lithgow said that weather conditions had been good - especially at the English end. The reheat with which the Avon is fitted, he continued, was not in fact used during the outward journey.
Source: Flight International