SPEED IN THE AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 10

SPEED IN THE AIR

KING'S CUP RACEn c RECORD OF THE WINNER " OVER 236 MILES AN HOUR [from ocp. own correspondent] LONDON, July 23 The record speed of 236.25 miles an hour was achieved by the winner of this year's King's Chip race, Mr. Ales Henshaw. Flying a Percival Mew Gull single-seat monoplane, he received a. handicap of 11m 4s from Mr, E. Xs, Percival in the scratch machine, and flew the course in the fastest time. The "double" brought him two cash prizes, totalling £llOO, of the sis presented by Viscount Wakefield. Nineteen machines started, and 18 finished the course of 20 laps, aggregating 1012 miles. The first three places were won as follows: —A. Henshaw, Mew Gull, 236J miles an hour; G. Guthrie,-Mew Gull, 220J miles an hour; L. H. T. Cliff, Miles Hawk, 1461 miles an hour. Between the winner and second wa3 a nine minute interval at the finish, equivalent to 35 miles or almost two laps. From the point of view of the spectators at Hatfield aerodrome, the starting and finishing point, chief interest centred on the cornering, expert and amateur, of the various pilots, many of whom took their trim monoplanes round the pylon in impeccable fashion. Flying conditions were excellent. The course was triangular with turning points at Barton, Buntingford and,Hatfield, and measured approximately 50 miles. At the completion of each five laps eacli competitor had to make a compulsory halt of 40 minutes. At the end of his first series of laps Mr. Hen* shaw's Mew Gull had averaged 236.5 miles an hour —about IS miles an hour faster than the speed estimated for tho machine by the handicappers. The Percival Mew Gull has an envi« able racing record. It is a low-fling cantilever monoplane, every inch » racer. High speed is not achieved at the sacrifice of efficiency in other flying qualities. The landing speed is 60 an hour and range of the standard machine is 860 miles. The New Zenlander Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston entered for the race, and was accompanied by his wife. He new a B.A. Eagle (Gipsy Major). His position at the 10th lap was fourth, but he was forced to retire later with petrol tank trouble.