DOGGED BY DISASTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 1

DOGGED BY DISASTER

Italy Loses Third Plane FASTEST MACCHI WRECKED FATAL CRASH IN LAKE GARDA (United. P.A. —By Telegraph Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 10 a.m. ROME, Friday. A THIRD Italian entrant for the Schneider Cup race met with disaster at Lake Garda, when an 1,800 horse-power Macchi machine, reputed to be Italy’s fastest, crashed and was totally wrecked. Captain Motta, the pilot, was killed. Further tests are being feverishly carried out, and it is expected Italy will be able to enter three machines for the cup race at the Solent on September 7.

Motta was travelling at 354 miles fcn hour when he crashed. This is believed to be an unofficial world’s jecord. The machine dived from a height bf 300 feet, and struck the lake with terrific force. Motor-boats rushed to tbe scene, but there was no trace of the body. Italy has made an official request that the Schneider Cup race be postponed. The Italians want ten days or a fortnight to enable the completion of other machines in the factory. It is recalled that the Americans granted her a postponement in 1926, and it is believed that Britain will also grant a postponement. Italy has had bad luck with her Jlchcaider Cup entries. On July 16 one of the speedy Fiat challengers was wrecked, and on August 18 a second Fiat machine crashed and sank in Lake Jarda. The pilot escaped after a desperate struggle to release himself from the cockpit. Now the third and speediest machine has been wrecked and the pilot killed. Presumably this Macchi seaplane was the one which was said to have reached 358 miles an hour during her cup trials. However, one machine or more «eems to have been got safeiy to England for the race, for it was reported on Thursday that one of the Italian pilots, Captain Canaveri, arrived at Calshot that day with seven non-com-missioned officers. With them came a number of huge packing-cases, iron bound and sealed, containing the parts of one or more of their machines. In the meantime, the British preparations seem to be going on satisfactorily. On August 20, it was reported that the world’s greatest speed record had been achieved by Flight-Lieutenant D. F. W. Atcherley in the Supermarine 86. He attained an estimated speed of 350 miles an hour. Yesterday it was reported that this machine, named the "Blue Rocket,” had been altered with advantage, a great Increase in her speed resulting. Air officials, it was stated, would not be surprised if on her last trial Bights she attained a speed of between 370 and 380 miles an hour over a straight course. The untried Gloster-Napier 6 will hot be slower. It is thought, than the (Supermarine S 6. POSTPONEMENT SOUGHT ITALY SEEKS MORE TIME TO PREPARE NO PRACTICE AT CALSHOT Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. A high wind and a rough sea today prevented a practice at Calshot with the seaplanes which will compete for the Schneider Cup. During the day, Air-Marshal Sir

Hugh Trenchard visited Calshot and inspected the machines. Great regret was expressed among the airmen there at the tragic death of Captain Guiseppe-Motta, one of the Italian team, while flying at Desenzano the Macchi 67 seaplane, which was an entrant for the Schneider Cup. A Press message from Rome says the Italian team has officially requested the postponement of the Schneider Cup race, because of Captain Motta’s death. Arrangements have been made by the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast by wireless a running commentary from Ryde, in the isle of Wight, on the race when it takes place. The official lap times and a summary of the position of the competing machines will be given at frequent intervals, and the result will be broadcast as soon as the race is decided. The right to re-broadcast or make use of transmission in other ways has been offered through the 'international Broadcasting Union at Geneva to foreign broadcasting authorities, and the possibility of broadcasting a translation of the commentary is being considered by the broadcasting organisations in Italy, France and Germany. An Australian and New Zealand Press Association-United Service message says: The Schneider Cup Aero Club Committee stated that the Italian Government’s request for a month’s postponement has been received. The Italian attache has been informed about the rules of the International Aeronautical Federation, which, officials state, do not allow a club td> postpone a contest once the entries are received. Tt is authoritatively explained that postponement would involve a tremendous dislocation of the plans, and enormous expense would be incurred by the Admiralty, railway and shipping companies, and the event would be brought to nought. Meteorological experts advised that such a race would be virtually impossible after September. AMERICA’S BAD LUCK SEAPLANE UNABLE TO RISE FOR ITS TESTS (United Service) WASHINGTON, Thursday. Six attempts to get an American seaplane, entered for the Schneider Cup, off the water today failed. The attempts ended when Lieutenant Alf. Williams was half-poisoned by gas fumes. He was rescued by his comrades.