GREAT AIR RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 11

GREAT AIR RACE.

TK TORY FOE BRITAIN. SCHNEIDER GUP REGAINED. SIT-FT* RECORDS BROKEN. ITALIANS FAIL TO FINISH. MANY THRILLS AT VENICE. By Te'erraph-fPress Association—Copyright. (Received September 27, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. VENICE, Sept. 26The Schneider Cup race for seaplanes was flown to-dav and resulted in a victory for Britain Flight-Lieutenant S. N. Webster was the actual winner, lie and Flight-Lieutenant P. E. Worslev being the only two to complete the course. Each ■was in a Supermarine-Napier S5. Their times for the course of 189.5 nautical mile?, or about 218 statute miles, were given officially as follows. Average Actual miles time per hour. m. s. Flight-Lt. Webster 281.49 44 40 28-100 Jlight-Lt. Worsley.. 273.6 47 46 75-100 Highest Speed Attained by Mail. Hurtling through the air at the highest ppeed a man over attained, Lieutenant Webster gained for Britain the greatest air trophy in the world in the midst of unforgettable scenes. It is only 14 years since France first won the trophy with an average speed of 45.75 miles an hour. Today the tiny Supermarine-Napier designed by Chief Engineer R. J. Mitchell, with floats one-third the size of the body and with the petrol stored in the starboard float, shot into the air at a speed of considerably more than 300 miles an hour on the straight stretches of the course. However, the average was naturally less. The morning was calm and clear, and the sea was glassy. Excitement was intense when the red Macchis of the Italians and the Royal blue Supermarines and blue-bronze Glostev-Napier taxied to the starting point. The betting was in favour of the British machines. Lieutenant W T ebster Was an individual favourite. The cheering was thunderous as the competitors set out. The first to start was Flight-Lieutenant S. M. Kinkead. With a great roar and in a cloud of spray his Gloster biplane rose and shot like a bullet into the distance. He was followed by the five other competitors. The air was full of roaring engines and red and blue flashes. Crowd Yells with Excitement. It was soon evident that the turning tactics of the British pilots were far superior to those of the Italians. Lieutenant Webster particularly controlled his machine with uncanny genius. It was a terrific ordeal banking till the plane was vertical and swinging round in sharp yet graceful sweeps. The crowd of spectators had never imagined such daredevilry was possible. They yelled with excitement. The. Italians lost much time in special mounting turns, shooting like rockets upwards and descending in enormous swoops. Captain Ferrarini was the first to be compelled to descend, owing to engine trouble. He had not completed a single lap. Then Major Carlos di Bernardi, last year's winner, came down, after flying one lap. He had planned the course himself. The next down was Flight-Lieu tenant Kinkead, whose average speed of 291 miles an hour in the third lap was the highest of the race. Still Lieutenants Webster and Worsley and Captain Guazetti were whirling through the air. The greatest thrill of all was when, on the longest side of the triangle, Lieutenant Webster dashed in pursuit of Captain Guazetti. For a breathless moment the two machines were level. The next moment the blue was a quarter of a mile ahead, proving that the British engines were immeasurably the faster. A little later Captain Guazetti was very unlucky in being forced to come down after flying six laps. Modest Demeanour of Winner. The triumph of British skill and British machinery was complete. Lieutenant Webster was given a tremendous reception. The Italians could not have evinced more delight if they had won themselves. As Lieutenant Webster —stocky, cheerful and red-haired and wearing an Air Force Cross —stepped nonchalantly from his plane, he showed no sign of the ordeal. Ho quietly remarked: "I am jelly glad we won for Britain. She is going to celebrate, and so shall I." Lieutenant Webster's performance shatters all former records. The previous best time for aeroplanes was 278 A miles an hour, and for seaplanes 258 1-3 miles. The donor of the cup, M. Jacques Schneider, who was once a wealthy French sportsman, was believed to be d?ad, but in reality he is at present living in poverty in the Riviera.