“Blue Rocket”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 9

“Blue Rocket”

BRITAIN’S SCHNEIDER PLANE Speed Greatly Increased Bi'itish Official Wireless Received 11.15 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. FE Gloster-Napier 6, a competitor for the Schneider Cup on September 7, of which great things are expected, was to be tested at Calshot, but unfavourable weather conditions prevailed. It is now revealed that the modifications which have been secretly carried out to the seaplane Supermarine S 6, or the “Blue Rocket,” as she is now called, have added substantially to her speed since she was first flown at Calshot.

When Flying-Officer Wagkornu flew this machine yesterday, the great increase in her speed was remarked upon. Although the “Blue Rocket’* has not yet been fully tried out, and her engine has yet to be completely opened out, air officials at Calshot would n©t be surprised if on her last trial flights she attains a speed of between 370 and 380 miles an hour over a straight course. What the untried Gloster-Napier 6 will be able to do cannot yet be estimated. It is thought, however, that she will not be slower than the Supermarine S 6.

ITALIANS ARRIVE One of the Italian pilots. Captain Canaveri, arrived at Calshot today with seven non-commissioned officers. With them came a number of huge packing-cases, iron bound and sealed, containing parts of one or more of their machines. An armed guard provided by the Royal Air Force has been placed over the hangar which houses these. There is a guard over the British shed, and there will be one over the hangar allotted to the American, Lieut. Williams, should he arrive. The Italians maintain the utmost secrecy regarding their machines.