FlyPast 12.2018

62 FLYPAST December 2018

SPOT FACT The Schneider Trophy is now

at the Science Museum in London

In 1916, Mitchell joined the

Supermarine Aviation Works at

Woolston, Southampton, as a

draughtsman. The company had

been founded by the flamboyant

Noel Pemberton-Billing in 1913 to

specialise in flying-boats.

Nineteen years after Schneider’s

launch of the contest, Supermarine,

Mitchell, Rolls-Royce and other

elements of the British aviation

industry, the RAF and the Air

Ministry (and Lucy, Lady Houston)

seized the trophy in perpetuity for

Great Britain.

Fast and low

During the early years, particularly,

the rules varied. For example, the

disastrous 1920 competition at

Venice demanded that entrants

carried 300kg (661lb) of “unusable

ballast”, perhaps in an attempt

to generate a commercial use

for hydravions (see the panel for

summaries of all 12 events.) Before

long, the proceedings adhered to the

basic rules of any air race: fly fast,

fly low, turn left. Speed became the

only goal.

“Before long, the proceedings

adhered to the basic rules of any

air race:  y fast,  y low, turn left.

Speed became the only goal.”

Above

Henri Biard kicking

up spray in Sea Lion

III G-EBAH on the

River Medina, Cowes,

during the 1923

event. SUPERMARINE

AVIATION WORKS

Right

The Science

Museum’s S.6B S1595

with the Schneider

Trophy in the

foreground. KEN ELLIS

Centre right

The S.4 afl oat at

Woolston during

fl ight trials, August

1925. PETER GREEN
      COLLECTION

Right

Preparing to launch

S.5 N219 at Calshot,

1927. KEC

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