SCHNEIDER CUP DANGER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18353, 26 August 1929, Page 9

SCHNEIDER CUP DANGER.

Another Fast Flyer Crashes ITALY LOSES SPEEDY 'PLANE. (United Press Association—By Electrle Telegraph—Copyright ) ROME. August 23. A third Italian entrant in the Schneider Trophy race met with disaster at Lake Garda, when an 1800 horse-power Macchi, reputed to be Italy’s fastest, crashed and was totally wrecked. Captain Guiseppi Motta, the pilot, was killed. Further tests are being feverishly carried out, and it is expected that Italy will be able to enter three machines for the trophy. Captain Motto was travelling at 354 miles an hour when he crashed. This is believed to be an unofficial world’s record. The machine dived from a height of 600 feet and struck the lake with terrific force. Motor boats rushed to the scene, but there was no trace of the body. Italy has made an official request that the Schneider Trophy race be postponed, as 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 Great Britain will grant one on this occasion.

BRITAIN’S PREPARATIONS. DESCRIPTION OF RACE WILL BE BROADCAST. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 23. A high wind and rough sea to-day prevented practice at Calshot with the seaplanes which will compete for the Schneider Trophy. During the day Air Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard visitdd Calshot and inspected the machines. Great regret was expressed among airmen there at the tragic death of Captain Guiseppi Motta, one of the Italian team, while flying the Macchi 67 seaplane which was an entrant for the race.

A Press message from Rome says the Italian team has officially requested a postponement of the race because of Captain Motta’s death. Arrangements have been made by the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast a wireless running commentary from Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, on the race. 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 rebroadcast or make use of the 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.

RULES OF THE CONTEST. POSTPONEMENT NOT LIKELY. (United Press Association—By Slectne Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, August 23. The Schneider Cup Aero Club Committee stated that the Italian Government’s request for a month’s postponement had been received. The Italian Attache was informed that the rules of the International Aeronautical Federation do not allow the Club to postpone a contest once entries have been received. It is authoittatively explained that postponement would involve a tremendous dislocation of 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 was virtually impossible after September.