BRITISH SEAPLANES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 35, 10 August 1927, Page 9

BRITISH SEAPLANES

THE FASTEST YET BIHL7*

BACE FOR SCHNEIDER CUP

(British Official Wireless.)

BUGBY, 9th August. Press representatives were allowed to see, to-day at the Calshot Air Station ttfvo of the seaplanes which will attempt to win for Great Britain the Schneider Cup at Venice in September. These seaplanes are the super-marine Napier 5.5 and Gloster-Napier IV. Great precautions have been taken to ensura secrecy regarding these racing ma* chines, and neither their speed not technical details are divulged by the correspondents. They are, however, the fastest that have ever been built in this country, and it is believed that Great Britain has a splendid chance o£ winning the Schneider Cup, Last year the speed of the Italian winning machine was 246 miles pe* hour, and these two British 'planet are declared to be much swifter. Fea« tures of the machines axe twelve-eylin* der Napier-Lion engines, which are stated to be the last word in mechanical perfection. They are amazingly; compact and yet tiny, though they develop astonishing power. In the contest for the Schneider Cup Britain has never before been represented by Service officers, but this time six officers of the Boyal Air Force will go out to Italy to act as pilots. They, will be accompanied by twenty-seven! mechanics of the Air Force, in addition, to mechanics from the aeroplane firms. Air Vice-Marshal Scarlett will be in command.