THE AIR DERBY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 73, 23 September 1922, Page 14

THE AIR DERBY

g7B MILES AN HOU?

,A GREAT FLIGHT.

(MOM OUK OWN CORr.BSPOHDINI.)

" ■' ;,'LONDON, 9th I,Ai^oat. ! One of the most popular events on August Bank Holiday was the Seventh Aerial Land Derby: At Croydbri a circuit of 197 miles was covered' round London. The winner, Mr. J.. H. James, had to his' credit last year's similar event: and he .flew the i same machine—the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company's Mars 1., 450 h.p. Napier, popularly known ; as the "Bamel.',' This machine has been trim-! mcd down to increase her speed, with the result that in spite of a fresh, boisterous wind, Mr James's average speed for the' 200 miles course'was 179s miles hour. Laßt year his speed was; 163£ miles per hour. For a cross-country circuit of 200 miles he has, therefore, set up a, record. The .Mars Iv in official trials'nas: put up a British record of 196.6 miles per hour, but there is no doubt that she has now an independent air speed of well over 200 miles per hour. 1 ' ''.'■• v •■ The Aerial Derby trophy is awarded for the fastest absolute time;.but the;starters are handicapped- for a second series of Erizes. The handicap was won by Hr. L. . Carter, one of the pilots on the Lon-don-3?aris o air line. The first three were placed aVfollows:— , , Mr. L. L. Carter, Bristol monoplane, 100 h.p. Bristol, net time lh 50m 0.455, 1. 100 h.p! Bristol, lh 50m o.4ssec, 1. Flying Officer E. de H., Haig, Bristol biplane, 400,h.p. Bristol, lh 21m 575, 2. Mr. J. H. James, Mars 1., 450 h.p. Napier, lh 6m 48 2-ssec,j3. Mr. Carter wins a trophy and £150. The second prize is - £75, and the third £50. . ■..".■ ■■ ', • ■ / ■ !. Four others finished. James, who won the Derby as his time was the fastest, was oarried shoulder high ;at the conclusion of the race. Results of the contest for the blue ribband of the air since the inception'in 1912 are: — ; 1912— T. O. iM. Sopwith, 81 miles, li 23m '8:2-5s; 59 m.p.h. v . 1913— G. Hamel, 94i miles, lh 15rfli 495; 76 m.p.h. 19,14— W. L. Brook, 94* milee, lh 84m 545; 72 m.p.h. '...'. , „ 1919— G. Gathergood, 190 miles, lh 87m ■425; 129.5 m.p.h. 1920— F. T. Courtney, 190 miles, IE 18m 12 l-Ss; 163.3 m.p.h. ' ' / v ! 1921— J. H. James, 190 miles, lh 13m 28s; 163.34 m.puh. .-,,'.■ . . v . THE FINAL DASH. ;, r , ' When the thrilling last moment came j (says the "Daily Mail") the Bristol, Bullet waa seen to. be coming in to the! windward of the : line, its scarlet body glinting; in i the sunlight, and Mr. Larry Carter in a Luoifer monoplane, with a 100 h.p. Bristol Lucifer engine, to leeward of j the finish.' The Bamel was tearing up behind. Up to the last few, seconds the Bullet seemed the winner. Then it was seen that the line taken by the Lucifer : was the shorter, and " Carter wins " ended the struggle. It was a popular victory, and as both machines came out of the Bristol works, with the third hailing from Gloucester, a triple victory for the West of England. while the machines were racing, Flight-Lieut. Bullman, flying a Nieupprt Nighthawk, with a 350, h.p,' Jafcuar engine, gave a long-sustAined and . thrilling- exhibition of trick ; flyisg, looping, rolling, 1 spinning, and falling. His machine is a 1918 creation of Mr. H. P. Folland,' a great artist' in design, who has since produced the wonderful Bamel, and' has still other marvels of speed and reliyability on the stocks. ■ . CRAg(H OVER THE CROWD. Conditions for racing were far from good. A. gusty, strong south-west wind was blowing, and the 'outlook was thveatening. During the relay contest for the Air League Challenge Cup, 1 which followed the main event, an Avro machine, piloted by Flight-Liaut. R. W. Chappell, crashed. .At the time the machine was on the borders of the aerodrome, where a big crowd had gathered. By,skilful manoeuvring, however, Lieut. Chappell was able to keep his machine in the air until he, had passed over ' the pedple, and then, came down to the ground close to a hedge. The aeroplane was damaged, but. the pilot escaped unhurt.