THE BIG AIR RACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 279, 7 September 1935, Page 5

THE BIG AIR RACE

KING’S PRIZE CONTEST.

SPEED OF 163.75 MILES AN HOU'R.

’PLANE FORCED DOWN IN SEA.

(United Press Assoeiation—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 6.

Tlio qualifying heat of the air race for the King’s Cup was flown to-day.

Last-minute withdrawals included the Comet in which Campbell Black made his recent fast time; to Cairo, and who plans shortly to make a return flight to Canada, and a De Ravilland DH9O. The fastest craft left was a Percivai Mow Gull, entered by the Duke of Kent and flown by Captain Percivai, which was handicapped as for 196 miles an hour.

The first ’plane home was *i Hawk piloted by F. G. Miles, who completed the course at an average of 163.75 miles an hour.

The percivai Mow Gull was second at an average of 162 miles an hour. There were two women competitors, of whom Miss R. Slow, in a Hawk Six, was eighth to complete the course, but was later disqualified’ for a technical fault in rounding one of the turning points. The only serious mishap to a competitor occurred when Henshaw, in a Hawk, was forced down, in the sea while on the 4.0-mile section across the Irish ISea, which is an innovation in the race. The pilot jumped* clear of the ’plane and hung on to the wreckage until he was rescued by a passing steamer.

Captain Percivai seemed to be first to complete the course, but he overshot Hatfield Aerodrome and detoured three miles, enabling Miles to heat him by a minute. Melrose (Australia) qualified in the final twenty, despite delay in the Irish Sea, where lie saw Henshaw crash, and circled until Henshaw looked up and waved Q.K. The final will bo flown to-morrow over a circuit measuring 51.68 miles, the ’planes turning round pylons and covering the circuit seven times,