“BLUE ROCKET”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 210, 23 August 1929, Page 5

“BLUE ROCKET”

SUPER SPEED 'PLANE SECRET SCHNEIDER CUP COMPETITOR. NOT YET FULLY TRIED OUT. [British Official Wireless.! (Received 23, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Aug. 22. The Gloster Napier-6 seaplane, a competitor tor the Schneider Cup, of which great things are expected, was to be tested at Calshot but unfavourable weather conditions prevailed. It is now revealed that modifications which have been secretly carried out to the Supermarine S 6 seaplane, or the Blue Rocket, as she is now called, have idded substantially to her speed since she was drst down at Calshot. When Flying-Officer Waghorn Hew this machine yesterday a great increase of speed was remarked upon. Although the Blue Rocket has not yet been fully tried out and her engine has yet to be completely opened in the air, officials at Calshot would not be surprised if, on her last trial flights, sne attains a speed of between 370 and 380 miles an hour over a straight course. What the untried Gloster Napier-6 will be able to do cannot yet be estimated. It is thougnt. however, that she will not be slower than the Sunermine S 6.

One of the Italian pilots, Captain Canaveri. arrived at Calshot to-day with seven non-commissioned officers. With them came a number of huge packing cases, ironbound and sealed, containing parts. One or more of their machines are armed, and a guard provided by the Royal Air Force has been placed over the hangar which houses these. There is one o»«r the British shed and there will be «iie over the hangar allotted the American. Lieutenant Williams, should he arrive. The Italians maintain the utmost secrecy regarding their machines.

WOMEN’S AIR DERBY. lAustralian Press Assn.-United Service.) (Received 23. 10.15 a.m.) New York, Aug. 22. A message from Mialdn, Texas, says: “As the Women's Air Derby reached this point. Miss Earhart took the lead, after making the women’s speed record of 250 miles in two hours 28 minutes. Her total elapsed time is nine hours 48 minutes 17 seconds. Mrs Gladys Odonne, of Longbeach, California, remains in second place, Ruth Nichols, of New York, is third and Mrs Thaden fourth. MISHAP NARROWLY AVERTED. Misfortune continues to follow the racers. One participant, at a height of 2000 feet, saw smoke coming from her ’plane. She calmly used the extinguisher and when she landed discovered a cigarette had been thrown into the baggage in the ’plane, causing slight damage. Mrs Barnes made a down-wind landing at Pecos. Texas, and crashed into an automobile. She was uninjured but the ’plane is apparently out of the race GRAP ZEP. DAMAGED. [Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) Tokio, Aug. 22. When emerging from the hangar the Graf Zeppelin’s rear gondola struck the ground. It is being repaired. The commander expects to start to-morrow.