426.5 MILES AN HOUR

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 219, 12 April 1933, Page 2

426.5 MILES AN HOUR

Italian Claim to Air Speed Record Press Association —Copyright London, April 10. —Warrant-Oflicer Agello, of the Italian Air Force, is reported to have attained an average speed in three attempts over the measured mile at Lake Garda, exceeding 426 miles an hour. If this is substantiated it will beat Flight-Lieutenant G. H. Stainforth’s world record of 407.5 miles an hour set in October. 1931.

Signor Agello is the only survivor of a little band of heroes, five of whom have been killed in attempting to wrest the record from Britain. He flew a Macchi plane with a 2800 h.p. engine and two propellers revolving in opposite directions. Italy officially has claimed the record. The Air Ministry announces that Signor Agello averaged 426.5 on the flights, and the highest speed was 432.8 m.p.h. The Air Ministry permitted Signor Agello’s attempts, as the Macchi, with a Fiat engine, although uncompleted in time for the Schneider race of 1931, later reached unprecedented speeds. Italy is now perfecting a new machine of greater fineness and power to re-attack the record. It is recalled that Signor Agello twice narrowly escaped death, crashing into Lake Garda during the Macchi trials. SPEED IN THE AIR During tests of a new Italian Schneider Cup aeroplane on Lake Garda last May Lieutenant Neri, an Italian Air Force officer, was unofficially stated to have attained 466 miles an hour.

The Air Minister, General Balbo, said that such progress had been made in aviation speed that 600 miles an hour would be attained within ten years.

The progress of speed in the air is illustrated in the following table of speeds recorded in successive Schneider Cup contests:—

• Mr. Stainforth won the Schneider trophy for Britain by flying the course in 1931. He established a world record of 388.67 miles an hour and a few weeks later flew 407.5 miles an hour.

1913 45.75 (Fr.) 1914 86.8 (Br.) 1920 107.0 (It.) 1921 111.0 (It.) 1922 145.7 (Br.) 1923 177.38 (U.S.) 1925 232.57 (U.S.) 192(5 246.49 (It.) 1927 272.96 (Br.) 1929 328.63 (Br.)