BRITISH VICTORY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 September 1927, Page 5

BRITISH VICTORY

IN SCHNEIDER CUP RACE GRATIFICATION AT RESULT. TRIBUTE TO ITALIAN ORGANISATION. (British Official Wirelees). (Received 28, 12.0 (noon). Rugby, Sept. 27. Flight-Lieut. Kinnead retired after six of the seven laps in the Schneider Cup race, not through any failure, but because the cone-shaped piece of metal placed over the propeller boss to give a stream-line effect to the fuselage, worked loose under the strain of the terrific speed. Of the Italian pilots, Ferrarin, the hero of the Rome to Tokio flight, and popular figure in Italy, did not complete the first lap. De Bernadi, who won the Cup from America last year, completed one circuit only, his speed being 428.524, and Guazetti, who retired after six circuits, had an average speed of 415.244 kilometres. None of the pilots had any illeffects from the ordeal.

Sir Philip Sassoon, British Undersecretary for Air, representing the British Government, after the raee expressed gratification at the result and tho mignificent flights by the machines and pilots, and paid tribute to the organisation of the race on the part of the Italians, describing the arrangements as perfect. Britain did not compete last year, and, indeed, hitherto participation has been a question for private enterprise in the British aircraft industry. This year, for the first time, the Air Ministry provided the pilots and technical equipment, and experts declare that on a straight course the machines are capable of exceeding 300 miles an hour. THE WINNING MACHINE. The engine employed in the winning machine was a Napier Lion, which as a standard power unit develops 450 horse-power, but for the race the makers had increased the power until no less than 890 horsepower was given by a weight of 8051bs. The Italians had in the Fiat engine a power unit stoted to give up to 1200 horse-pow’er, but fhe engine is larger, and this meant more weight and a larger fuselage. The British victory has naturally given great satisfaction here, ’ and appreciation is widely expressed of the sporting manner wherein the Italians have borne their disappointment.

OFFICIAL RECEPTION FOR BRITISH TEAM. Flight-Lieut. Webster, together with the other members of the British team, is to be given an official reception when he returns to London. The date and place of this function have not, however, yet been decided. Official revisions show that Webster also had the honour of doing the fastest lap at the speed of 284 J miles an hour. TIMES CHECKED. COST oFtHE IIaCE. (Received 28, 11.5 a.m.) London, Sept. 27. After several hours, expert checkers discovered minor errors and officially announced Lieut. Webster’s time as 46 minutes 20.28 seconds, an average speed of 281 miles 756 yards. Lieut. Worsley’s time is 47 minutes 46.5 seconds, an average speed of 273 miles 171 yards. One surprise of the result was the wiping out of Lieut. Kinnead’s speed record in the third lap, the time of which proved should have been 6min. 45see., instead of 6min 26sec., giving an average speed of 277.6 miles an hour. The British timekeepers further asserted that de Barnadi’s first lap should have been 6.47 instead of 7 minutes, but this is not changed. Lieut. Webster is the idol of the moment, and is inundated with congratulations, sharing honours with the brilliant designer, Mr. Mitchell, who is only 32 years old. It is unofficially estimated that the Schneider Cup cost the Air Ministry £100,000.—(A. and N.Z.) “JOLLY GLAD TO HAVE WON.” Lido, September 26. Sidney Norman Webster, aged 27, stocky cheerful, red-haired, with an Air Force Cross, stepped nonchalantlv from his 'plane, showing no sign of the ordeal, and quietly remarked: “I am jolly glad to have won for Britain. She is going to celebrate. So shall I.” The donor of the cup. Jacques Schneider, once a wealthy French sportsman, who was believed to be dead, is at present living in poverty in the Riviera.—(A. and N.Z.) CAPT. SMITH’S PREPARATIONS. (Received 28, 10.10 a.m.) Vancouver. September 27. Captain Kingsford. Smith, and Mr G. Ulm arrived at Seattle, and are overhauling the Fokker 'plane and installing engines preparatory to the test flights next week. After the tests they will flv to San Francisco for final trials.—(A. and N.Z.) AERIAL SURVEY OF NEW GUINEA COAST. (Received 28. 11.4 U a.m.) Melbourne, September 28. Two Super-marine Seagull Amohibian 'planes have started en route to New Guinea to make an aerial survey of the costline of Papua and the adjoining islands. RED ROSE LEAVES CROYDON NEXT WEEK FOR AUSTRALIA. London, September 27 Lancaster is leaving Croydon next week. His route will be via Paris. Lyons. Marseilles. Rome, Naples. Iraq, Persia. Calcutta, Singapore. Dutch East Indies and Darwin The machine, named the Red Rose, has n speed of 90 miles an hour and a |>etrol capacity for a nine hours* Hight. Lancaster carries a letter from Sir Granville Rvrie to Mr Brine. Owing to the heavv cost a proposal for a second machine has been abandoned. —(A. and N.Z.)