Evening star., 1927-09-27
The Schneider Race.

| England's determined effort to win
the famous Schneider Cup trophy for
seaplane speed has succeeded. Yester-
| day at Venice her three specially con-
structed racing ships outcla ssed, by a
wide margin, the three planes entered
by Italy, the only other contender. A
new world speed record for either
land or sea planes was set up and the
| two hundred and seventeen miles of
the course was covered in approx.
mately forty.siX minutes at the rate
of two hundred and eighty-one miles
an hour. The new mark is thirty-five
miles an hour faster than the record
held by Italy for seaplanes and three
miles faster than the land plane rec.
ord, which was held by France.
England's triumph is the result of
concentration and perseverance plus
ingenuity of construction and skill of
personnel. Many months ago she be-
gan pointing for this years Schneider
race, which is internationally con-
ceded to be the blue ribbon event of
aviation. Backed Fundamentally by
the government, the best airplane fac
tories in Britain were put to work to
turn out the fastest machine that
would fly. When the planes were
completed the pick of England's avia.
tors were assigned to pilot them.
These preparations brought results
and England Is to be congratulated
upon her contribution to the develop
ment of aviation.
Coupled with the unstinted praise
that is being accorded John Bulls
splendid performance, there remains.
however, feeling of chagrin in Amer.
lea that the United States was no.
represented in the races. Although
the American Government decided
this year not to compete, Lieut.. Alvord
Williams, one of. the best of the Navy
speed flyers, secured private backing
to build what it was expected
would be the worlds fastest plane for
entry in the Schneider event. Un.
foreseen delays in construction and
tests combined with England's fat re-
fusal to allow a months postpone
ment made it impossible for Williams
to reach Venice in time.
England's attitude caused consider.
able surprise in this country, mas
much as America had voluntarily
called off the race in 1924 when Eng
land was unable to transport a plane
to compete. To retain permanent
possession of the Schneider Cup a
nation must win it three times in FIVE
racing years. America won it in 1928
and in 1925 and without opposition
could have chalked up a legal win in
1924, but with characteristic sports
manship refused to do so.
Whether or not Lieut.. Williams
| ship could have kept pace with the
British planes at Venice will not be
proved until, week or so hence, he
gets his plane into the air in an at
tempt to set up new marks for speed.
His tiny craft contains the most pow
erful engine ever built for flying,
twelve-hundred-and-fi fifty horsepower,
twenty-four cylinder motor. It's esti-
mated speed is three hundred miles
an hour, and the naval aviator Is con-
fident that under full throttle he will
be propelled through the air faster
than any other human has ever been
before.
America next year will have one
more chance to win and retain perma-
nent possession of the Schneider
trophy, as it has won. it twice, COM
pared to England and Italy with one
win apiece. Regardless of what Will
liams accomplishes in his coming
flights America should be represented
so that thPee nations will be in COM
petition for one of the most coveted
titles in aviation.