Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
AMERICA PLANNING PART
IN SCHNEIDER CUP RACES
Al Williams, Speed Pilot, to Develop Fast
Plane for Reinforcement
Unable to Do so.

sought in the supplemental estimates Of
the Navy Department for 1882.
Since this appropriation would not
have been available until July, and In
view Of Admiral Moffett's suggestion
that a larger sum would be needed, it
had no Bearing on this years race. Mr..
ingalls, comment in a letter to Mr.. La
| Guardia only added to the apparent i'm
possibility OF getting an entry ready by
this Summer.
There is insufficient time to develop
and construct plane and engine that
could satisfactorily compete in the next
Schneider Cup race, which is to take
place in September Of this year" he
said. las have said above, the Navy
Department has been out of the racing
since 1925 and the development and
construction Of racing craft would re-
quire the development and construction
not merely OF plane. but of an engine
almost from the ground up.
This is a matter requiring several
years rather than several months. If.
however, appropriations were made i'm
mediately available the Navy Depart
ment could obtain such plane in time
for the Schneider Cup race in 1888 II
such a race is held in that year"
The British government has also
thrown the matter of representation in
the race before the public for action
and has been denounced in several
! quarters for its attitude. The expense
| is the principal item there also, but
| private guarantees indicate that Eng
J land will have an entry after all The
Royal Aero Club has taken charge of
| the arrangements for the race and the
| government has agreed to lend pilots
| and equipment If necessary, although It
will not take part officially.
! Lady Houston, widow of Sir Robert p.
Houston and one Of the wealthieSt wom-
en- in England, has guaranteed 100000
| (s485, 000) for the expenses of the race
1t will be held over the Solent, between
the Isle Of Wight and Southampton.
italy VIII Make Bid.
According to reports from Italy, the
Italians will make strong bid to re-
| capture the trophy, which they have
| already won three times. Since seVera |
races interviewed between the second
and third victories they did not gain
permanent possession.
France has accepted tentatively two
| planes, a Newport and Bernard, to be
| entered In the race, and three army
| pilots are in training to operate them.
Great Britain's flying team will be led
! by Squadron Leader A. H. Orlebar,
\ holder of the worlds speed record of
| 357 miles an hour.
| In the ten Schneider Cup races the
speed has increased seven-fold, from
1915 miles an hour in 1918, made by
NJ. Provost of France in q DeperdusSin
| plane, to 1926 miles an hour in the
last race, 1929, when Great Britain won
with the Supermarine. This plane sub
sequently bettered its own record.
The United States entered the race
for the first time in 1923, and Lieut..
David Rittenhouse, U. S. N, won at
Cowes, England. The next year the
race was scheduled at Baltimore. but
| was Cancelled when a series of crashes
eliminated the foreign entrants. The
| United States could have flown over
the course and won the race but refused
to accept under such conditions. In
1925 the race was held at Baltimore
again, and again the United States won.
Lieut.. James Doolittle, U. S. A., was
the victorious pilot, and, had the
United States accepted the 1924 race BY
forfeiture, the cup would be in this
country's possession now In 1925 no
funds were made available for new
ships. and the Navy entered with the
reconditioned planes of the previous
year. The American entry finished sec
ond to the Italian.
Great Britain won In 1927, and thu
races were scheduled thereafter ever,
TWO years instead of every year. The
British won again In 1929.