AIR CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 September 1927, Page 5

AIR CHAMPIONSHIP

SCHNEIDER CUP. ANG-LO-ITALIAN TESTS. A DANGEROUS COURSE. 1Y CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION- OPYP.IGHT. LONDON, Sept. 24. The greatest effort since the war to restore Britain’s lost air prestige reaches its climax xon Sunday in the Schneider Cup race off Lido. Actually die contest, which, owing to the withdrawal of the United States entrant, resolves itself into a duel- between Italy and Britain, has already begun with the navigability and watertightness tests. Three British machines came out first Each towed by a motor boat, taxied in good style. They were then towed to the mooring buoys, where they remained without attention for lux' hours. The Italians followed. Naturally, not the slightest indication has been given of the speed capacity. Among the watchers of the tests were Sir Sefton Brancker, who arrived by air, Sir Philip Sassoon, Air. A. \ . ltowe. Captain Broad, who flew a Aloth machine over the Aips, accompanied i>v Airs. Carbcrv. ’ Venice is overflowing with visitors, including distinguished people Irom all parts of Europe. A most exciting race is expected, it is certain that the winning machine must be capable of approaching 3GO miles an hour, or five miles a minute, it is difficult to believe the Italians have anything up their sleeves. The danger lies in the sharp turns at this terrific speed. The course is triangular, and about 3f) miles long, and must be covered seven times. The pilots scrap everything possible, wearing only shorts and shirts, they are not taking evon watches. Any loss of speed owing to the weather will probably mean running out of petrol. Everyone agrees that the six seaplanes are the fa-stest in the world, and their navigation represents the limit of human endurance. The British team are: Flight-Lieu-tenant Kinkead, pilot of the Glostei biplane; Flight-Lieutenant Webster, pilot of the Supermarine aeroplane; and Flight-Lieutenant Worsley, of tne Mipermarine. In reserve are. Squadron-Leader Slater and one Gloster and one Supermarine. .. The Italian team are: De Bernard!, ire mi rin and Guazetti, who all pilot Macchi machines with Fiat engines. In reserve are Guasconi and ATacchi. VENICE, Sept. 24. It lias been officially decided that the Briticli machine credited with the fastest time in the Schneider Cup trials must repeat the navigability test today, as it left the water yesterday prematurely after taxiing. VENICE Sept. 20.

The British will take their places in the Schneider Cup race in the pink of condition, and clad only in shirts anti shorts, yet it is certain that they will be so exhausted at the end of the race that they will have to be carried ashore. . The course is triangu.ar, left-handed and full of dangers. One turn has an angle of about 17 degrees. Here, only seconds may separate the machines when turning, and! death may be the penalty of an error of judgment. Another danger to pilots lies in the blood pressure caused by banking at steep angles. Experience has shown that pilots easily lose consciousness under such pressure. The British competitors are: Kinkead. —Born in South Africa m 1897. He has a wonderful war record. Webster. —Of Walsall. He was a private in an infantry regiment before he joined the Air Force. It is understood that his machine is the speediest of the three Briitsh ’planes. Worslov— Born in Kensington in 1898 and joined the Royal Navy as a mechanic. . . .. The start has been provisionally fixed for 2.30 this afternoon.

RACE POSTPONED A DAY. HEAVY GALE BLOWING. ’ Received 10.30 a.m. tc-day. LONDON, Se-pt. 2.3 The Schneider Cup race was postponed till to-morrow, owing to a heavy gale.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” RACE CAUSING INTENSE INTEREST. QUARTER OF MILLION SPECTATORS EXPECTED. Received 11.30 a.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 25. The stage has been set- at Lido, the most expensive resort in the world, for the greatest intensive air test ever devised. It is expected that 250,000 people, headed by Signor Mussolini, will witness the Schneider Cup race. British and- American visitors are present in their thousands, including Sir Sefton Branker and- Sir Philip Sassoon, the foremost- experts of the world. Eight Italian warships lie in the- harbour, where, is also the British aircraft carrier Eagle. The whole of Italy is in a frenzy of enthusiasm over the flying, recognising that with a lengthy seaboard swift seaplanes form a most vital arm of defence. Nevertheless, the best of sportsmanship is manifested toward the British entrants, who for four months have been training like prizefighters.