ALL-BRITISH RECORDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 13

ALL-BRITISH RECORDS

AIE, LAND, AND WATER

SUPREMACY IN SPEED

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Ist October.

It is now revealed that Flight-Lieu-tenant Stainforth, after his record flight on Tuesday, privately made siu estimate of his speed, which the final computations proved to be within throe miles of the actual figures. He was not believed at the time. ; His seaplane, which was designed and built by the Supermaiine Aviation Works of Viekers (Aviation) Limited, and was fitted with a Bolls-Eoyce engine, is to be on public viow in London this week and afterwards at the International Motor Show, which will open at Olyntpia on 15th October. ' Britain now holds the world's speed records for aeroplanes, l motor-cars, motor-cycles, and motor-boats. The figures in miles an hour are:— Aeroplanes: Flight-Lieutenant Stainforth 408 Motor-cars: Sir Malcolm Campbell 246 Motor-cycles: J. S. Wright .. 150 Motor-boats: Kaye Don ..... 110 Tlie records aro "all-British," both us to aion and materials. . The King personally has directed Lord Amulrce, . Secretary for Air, to convey to Squadron-Leader OWebar, Might-Lietttenant Stainforthj and Jth»

officers and men of the high-speed flight his warm congratulations on the brilliant performance whereby the world's speed record was, established. In so doing the King intimates his great satisfaction with the high standard of efficiency prevailing among all ranks of the Royal Air Force and • the technical departments' of the Air Ministry^ as evidenced both on the present occasion as well as in the recent contest for the Schneider Trophy. The King hag further directed that his congratulations shall be conveyed to the manufacturers and designers of tho machine and engine,; the efforts of. which have contributed 'so largely to those outstanding 'British successes. Tho word "Supermarine," which 5s sometimes printed as though it were the opposite of submarine, is simply _ a makers' naino of the Supermariuc Aviation AVorks, Ltd., of Southampton, which is a subsidiary company of Vickers (Aviation), Ltd. The firm was founded in 1912 at Woolston, a, suburb of Southampton, on the River Itcheu, and in 1913 the Supermarinq Works exhibited at the Aero Exhibition at Olympia a flying-boat of circular hull construction, which attracted a good deal of attention. In 1919 tho Supermarine Channel type of flying-boat was used to open a I passenger service between England and Prance, and in the same year a Supermarine boat was chosen as one of the British team of seaplanes to defend the Schneider Trophy. In 1922 the trophy was brought back to Britain by the Supermarine Sea Lion 11., piloted by Captain H. C. Baird, at a speed of 145.7 m.p.h. In 1927 the Supermarine Napier 65 scored first and second places in; the Schneider Trophy race at Venice. Its later record is well known. .