Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

Never has this been the case more than it is
this year, for amazing speeds have been
achieved by the planes which will take part
in the race to be held at Cowes, England
planes which do not even leave the water
until they have passed 100 miles an hour.
EVER since 1913, when Jacques Schneider,
French sportsman, offered the famous
prize. the most skilled pilots of the world have
fought desperately for its possession by their
countries. During those years speeds have
increased amazingly, until planes have become
mere streakS in the sky. The race (now held
biennially, instead of annually, so as to per-
init extensive changes in design of planes dur
ing the interim) has become a grueling Bit
ter test of engines, planes and men.
The first race, in 1918, seems almost laugh
able now. The trophy was won that year
by M. Provost, a famous French pilot, with a
speed of 45.7S miles an hour. In 1914 the
speed record was almost doubled, and France
lost the trophy to Great Britain when c. How
ard Pixton covered the course at 868 miles an
hour.
The war prevented other contests until 1919.
race was held in that year, but heavy fogs
prevented proper contest. The judges ruled,
mo race" although one pilot, an italian, was
able to finish
In 1920 Italy won from France and Eng
land when L. Bologna flew at lot miles an
hour. italy repeated its victory the next year
and set the record for the race up to Ill
miles an hour But it lost in 1922, when H. c.
Baird, an English pilot flew to victory and
new speed record of 1857 miles an hour.
In 1923 the United States entered the con-
test for the first time-and won, Lieut. David
Rittenhouse, speeding through the sky at
17738 miles an hour to give the record an
other jolt upward. But there was no foreign
opposition that year. as all of the French and
English entries either crashed in trials or
had engine trouble before starting.
No race was held in 1924, but in 1925 Lieut.
James Doolittle, the famous Army stunt"
pilot, added a second victory for the United
States when he made 232.57 miles an hour
at Baltimore. But the opportunity of keeping
the trophy in this country-which depends on
three successive victories-was lost in 1926,
when Italy once more won with a speed of
246.5 miles an hour.
Then came the last race, when Lieut.. S. N.
Webster of England made a brilliant flight
at Lido Beach, averaging 281.7 miles an hour.
THE next Schneider Trophy races promises
to be the most dramatic air battle ever
staged. The expected speeds alone will insure
that The English ship which made the
worlds speed record, over 318 miles an hour,
will be entered, with others of even higher
speeds. The SIS, British mystery plane,
has been reported as making more than
$50 miles an hour in tests which were car
red out on the same course over which the
race will be held! Other British planes are
being brought to the final stage of perfection,
while the most expert racing pilots are COM
peting for the honor of being on the "high-
speed" team which will represent the British
Isles italy and France as well are busy with
racers they have constructed in great secrecy
and their pilots are likewise looking forward
to victory and new records for speed through
the air.
But the greatest drama of the 1929 race
lay in tnis Against the combined teams of
England France and Italy, and against their
planes. whose construction has been backed by
the full resources Of all three governments