AIR SPEED RECORD.

Grey River Argus, 6 November 1928, Page 5

AIR SPEED RECORD.

British Attempt. 350 MILES AN HOUK. LONDON. November 4. Darcy Greig achieved the unofficial world’s seaplane record of three hundred and fifty miles an hour, compared with Bern ha rd i’s 318’.. Announcing himself satisfied with the preliminary tests, he applied to the Air Ministry for permission to attempt the, record officially, which was granted. Gr< ig will make tin. attempt lo lay, if the conditions remain fa” on ruble. LATER. !n bright autumn sunshine. thousands of people from vantage points around Calsho! saw Darcy Greig fly faster, at times, than anyone in the world, has ever doii e before, but not fast enough tu defeat De Bcrnjiardi’s world mile record. '!”he condition’; were ideal, with good visibility and little wind. The sea was rakii when Greig’s seaplane was towed to the Solent. D taxied faster :»nd faster churning out spray. It then climbed in the direction of the I‘le cf Wight, and rose to a height of 1200 feet, then swooped down with the engine screaming, to 50 feet, above ho sea for the first attempt on a measured mile.

!t gave flic fascinated onlookers a. now and astonishing conception of speed, visiting Cowes, Ryde. Calshot and Southampton within four minutes. Six times the machine rose Io the, maximum permitted height. then swooped down on the covered level course, the speed being officially masured by camera guns, which simultaneously photograplied the face of the stop watch and seaplane passing a given spot. Greig expressed the opinion that during the all-out dives towards the course he attained a speed of 340 miles hourly. The engine ran perfectly., 3900 ••evolutions a minute. Aviation officials gave an ovation, and shouldered Greig when he landed. Greig bore th e disappointment of not I establishing a new record with composure. lie declared that he was most willing to have another try if the Air i Mini-try permitted. Ai' hough Greig piloting Webster’s •Schneider ('up winner. at Calshot, flew at an unprecedented speed, averaging 319.57 miles an hour, he was unable to claim a new record owing to the failure to exceed Bernhardi’s 318.61 by five miles hourly, in accordance with the rules of the Federation Aeronaut iq tie internal Greig was altogether twenty-six miiiu ts in the air. The timekeepers announced the times for the four selected runs gave speeds :»f 322.63 miles er hour, 316.54, 319.56 and 319.56. giving a mean 319.57 hourly. The Morning Post’s expert says: Thus the Italian retains the record. It. seems unlikely that the present British machines can beat it. The Air Ministry may permit Greig to attempt it with a different air serf w fitted. The Daily Telegraph understands that the Air Min istry wil biot permit another attempt until the seaplanes, being designed for tne Schneider Cup 1929 are completed.