“SMITHY” FIRST?

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 147, 19 June 1934, Page 3

“SMITHY” FIRST?

Schneider Cup Pilot ,11 Ml ? PICKS THE CARD AIR RACE PROSPECTS _______ ’ LONDON, June 6. Flight-Lieutenant Schofield, one of the Schneider Trophy pilots, prophesies that the first three places in the Centenary Air Race to Melbourne will be filled by:— Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Australia (Lockhead Altair) 1 K. D. Permentica, a K.L.M. (Dutch Air Line) pilot (Douglas D.C. 2) 2 Captain G. T. Pond and Lieutenant Cesare Sabelli (U.S.) (Bellanca) 3 Each of these machines is American.

Flight-Lieutenant Schofield, in a specially prepared summary of the chances of the race, said: — “Teams flying twin-engined planes seem the best bets. Single pilots, with single-engined machines will be absolutely gambling on the weather. They will need extraordinary luck. “Triple-engined planes are not sufficiently speedy, as the third engine reduces the speed. Twin-engines permit more space for changing pilots and for more complete equipment in the way of wireless and navigation instruments —all contributing to greater reliability in bad weather. “I do not expect that the Americans will be as formidable as they believe. They will all probably exceed 200 miles an hour; nevertheless, their performances and general utility are usually well below American press estimates.

Dutch Advantages

“K.L.M. possesses a big advantage. It has first-class pilots, who thoroughly know each other, and a well-estab-lished organisation over the worst part of the route.

“It would be difficult to find a better pilot than Kingsford Smith, whos emachine. also should at least equal the other American planes. The only snag appears to be that in his some physican weakness, although his recent performances he has developed courage is undiminished. “Such a gruelling race demands 100 per cent fitness. British Chances

“Pond and Sabelli will be truly a team, working as an efficient unit. They have long been accustomed to flying together in the machine which they are entering. That is half the battle.

“Moreover, they are experienced long distance flyers—a tremendous asset.

“I do not think Major Fitzmaurice (Irish Free State) and Bonar, are sufficiently experienced in long distance high speed flying. “Captain Neville Stack (Britain) in his new Airspeed Courier Eight, should be among the first six. His speed will probably equal that of the Americans, and his fine piloting is likely to prove an important factor, making him an especially good bet if there is extensive bad weather.

“I would place Wiley Post fourth to sixth, with an excellent chance of bouncing through. He has tons of nerve, is highly skilled, and takes plenty of chances, which may prove his undoing, because he may attempt to rush through a storm, where more cautious pilot like Kingsford Smith would circumvent it, proving that the longest way round is the shortest way home. “ ‘Jimmie’ Weddell (U.S.) is both a designer and a pilot. These abilities rarely combine to produce the best results.

“The de Havilland Comets remain an unknown quantity. The Mollisons, who will fly one, are good cross-coun-try pilots. Thus far they have been very lucky. But usually luck turns. “Mr C. W. A. Scott, who will also fly a Comet, has an equal chance to the Mollisons. He is perhaps a sounder organiser.” French Entrants” Michael Detroyat, who has entered for the Centenary Air Race, is among the most popular flyers in France, an expert aerobatist, and test pilot for the Morane Company. He bought a Centenary Lockheed while in the United States.