NATIONAL AIR RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20640, 12 August 1930, Page 9

NATIONAL AIR RACES.

MEETING AT CHICAGO. BRITISH PILOT TO COMPETE. LIEUT. ATCHERLEY ON WAY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Receiver] August 11, 5.15 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, August 10. Flight-Lieutenant It. Tj. R. Atchorley, a Schneider Cup race pilot, will represent Britain in the national air races to be held at Chicago on August 22. lie has been invited to visit tho United States by Lieutenant Roger Q. Williams, an American Schneider Cup raco pilot, who has been in Europe for the last two weeks conveying invitations to representative fliers in Britain, France, Italy and Germany to compete at the forthcoming meeting. Lieutenant Atcherley and a German pilot, Captain Loshe, left Southampton to-day. The British airman took with him his own machine. Ho has been granted special leave by tho Air Ministry. After an official reception at New York tho pilots will fly in international formation to Chicago, Lieutenant Atcherley leading. Flight-Lieutenant R. L. R- Atcherley mado a world's speed record for a seapiano flight in ono lap of tho Schneider Cup contest in 1929. ITo was born in 1004 and on leaving school became a cadet at tho -Air Forco College at Cranwell. Soon after qualifying as an officer pilot he showed himself to be ono of the most daring airmen of his time, performing quaint feats which kept experienced men in a state of anxiety until he .was safe on tho ground again. This liking for " stunt " flying gavo tho impression that ho was reckless, but those who knew him intimatoly were awaro that behind it all was a cool and calculating brain which had planned every " stunt " from beginning to end. None the less his nickname among airmen is " Batchy," which to them signifies " madly daring." To this some added in appreciation of tho sense of humour displayed in many oMiis feats the title of " Grock of tho Air." Shortly after being appointed to tho Hicrh Speed Flight in 1927 Lieutenant Atcherley staggered his follow officers by looping the loop and " rolling " in the high-speed seaplane which won the Schneider Cup for Britain in that year a feat never before performed. In 1929 ho won tho King's Cup for fastest flight on .1 course of 1000 miles in England. Ho was chosen a member of the British team for tho Schneider Cup conte>i in the same year. The course was 218 i miles, made up of seven laps ovci the'Solent with four sharp turns in each lap. On one lap Lieutenant Atcherley mado a world's record for speed on such a course —552.49 miles an hour but ho failed to win the trophy. His average speed for tho whole distance, owing chiefly to bad luck in getting up speed on tho first lap, was below that of his fellowofficer, Waghorn, the winner. Moreover he was disqualified for failing to round one or two of the pylons properly.