The Schneider Trophy Contest
1913 - 1931
James, Derek N.
"Published to mark the 70th Anniversary of the last Schneider Trophy Contest, 13 September 1931"
The Schneider Trophy race was the brainchild of Frenchman, Jacques Schneider, who wanted to promote the use and development of seaplanes, a field of aviation then rather neglected. The first race, held in Monaco in 1913, was won triumphantly by a French aircraft. In 1914 the winner was a Sopwith Tabloid for Britain. The race was an international event attracting teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, the United States and Britain.
Not held again until after the First World War, technology had changed so much that the seaplanes of that year barely resembled those of the previous contest. They were sleeker, had more powerful engines and could fly at undreamed of speeds.
The history of the race from 1913 to Britain's final victory in 1931 was marked not only by the evolution of seaplane design, but by the vagaries of the organisation of the event. The rules were in theory simple. Victory in a race brought honour and the chance of hosting the next event; three consecutive victories, however, secured the winning team the trophy for posterity. The 1919 contest tumed into a farce when sea fog confused not only the course but also the judges and competitors, and was finally declared void by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
In 1931 the British team won the trophy outright with a Supermarine S6B floatplane. The Schnider Trophy Contest promoted the development of reliable high-powered engines and advanced airframe design and provided experience of high speed flight. It had promoted the use of floatplanes and they were now the fastest aircraft on earth. That 1931 winner was designed by Reginald Mitchell and was a direct ancestor of the most famous of fighter aircraft, the Spitfire.
Within the pages of the Schneider Trophy Contest Derek N. James traces the development of single engine seaplane racers from pioneer days to the peak of development in the early 1930s. Over 200 Images and informative text tell the story of this most important of races.
Softcover
128 Seiten / pages
many rare photos
very good condition
Strout, Glochestershire, UK - 2001 - Tempus Publishing Ltd
Art.Nr. 16000
