THE AIR PREMIERSHIP.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1927, Page 3

THE AIR PREMIERSHIP.

HOW RACE WAS WON BY LIEUT. WEBSTER

SCENES ON THE LID®. LIDO, Sept. 26. Hurtling through the air at the highest speed man has ever attained, Lieut. Webster gained for Britain the greatest air trophy in the world in the midst of untorgettable scenes. It is only fourteen years since France first won the trophy with an average speed of 44 miles an hour. To-day the tiny Super-marine-Napier, designed by Chiei Engineer R. J. Mitchell, with floats one-third the size of its body and its petrol stored in the starboard float, shot through the air at considerably over 300 miles an hour in the straight stretches, though the average was naturally less. The morning was calm aifd clear and the sea glassy. Excitement was intense when the blood-red Maechis of Italy and the royal bine Super-marines and blue-bronze Gloster-Napicr taxied to the starting point. The betting was narrowly in favour of England, and Webster was the individual favourite. The cheering was thunderous. British Bank Better. First off was Kmkcad, who with a great roar and a cloud of spray rose from the water and shot like a bullet into the distance. He was followed by the five others, and the air was full of roaring engines and red and blue flashes.

Soon it was evident that the British turning tactics were far superior. Webster, particularly, controlled his machine with uncanny genius. It was a terrific ordeal, banking till tjje machine, was perpendicular and swinging round in a sharp yet graceful sweep. The crowd did not imagine such dareclevilry possible, and yelled with excitement. On the contrary the Italians lost much time in mounting turns, shooting rocket-like upwards and descending by enormous swoops. First Fcrrarini was compelled to descend with engine trouble, not com-X-dcting a single Jap. Then do Bernadi after one lap came down. It was he ■who had planned the course. Kiukead Comes Down. The next down was Kinkead, whose 291 miles x )or hour for the third lap was the highest average of the whole race. Still Webster and Worsley and Gua zotti were whirling round clockwise. The greatest thrill of all was' when on the longest side of the triangle Webster dashed in pursuit of Guazetti. For a breathless moment the machines were -level, and the next moment the Blue was a quarter- of a mile ahead, proving that the British engines were immeasurably faster. A little later Guazetti, was most unlucky to come down after srr laps, but the triumph of British skill, and machinery was complete. Webster had a tremendous reception. The Italians could not have been more delighted if they had won themselves.