British racing and record-breaking aircraft

246 Pages·96.064 MB·English

by  Peter M H Lewis

BRITISH RACING
AND
RECORD-BREAKING
AIRCRAFT
PETER ,-LEWIS
PUTNAM
SheilaScottwith the Britannia Trophy awarded to her for 1967, in recognition 9 BOW STREET
of her ,-ecord flightsof 1966and 1967and herpromotion oflighl aircraft Aying.
LONDON WC2
(Peter ull'is.)
B)' the same author
THE BRITISH BOMBER SINCE 1914
THE BRITISH f'IGHTER SINCE 1912
BRITISH AIRCRAFT
1809-1914
SQUADRON HISTORIES To
RFC, RNAS & RAF since 1912 SHEILA SCOTT,o.B.E.
in Ji'iendship
and
in appreciation ofachievements
which have imbued British
sporting flying with renewed spirit
© 1970 Peter Lewis
ISBN 0 370 00067 6
Printed and bound in Great Britain for
Putnam and Company Ltd
9BowSlreet, London \\"C2
by Richard Clay (The Chaucer Press), Ltd
Bungay, Suffolk
Firstpublished 1971
Contents
Preface 9
T\ventieth-Century Spectacle 11
Foundation for Adventure 91
Expansion Unlimited 149
Across Continent and Ocean 217
End ofan Epoch 283
Racing Renascence 321
1\n Exercise in Design 357
Over 1,000 mph 390
Familiar Faces 408
Return to Record Breaking 42Q
'Technical Data 466
Air Race Results 474
Record Flights 483
lndex 487
7
Preface
Notes
Personal prowess-exemplified by mental and physical attainment-has
been evident to a high degree in flying from itsinception, and flying itself,
Figures quoted for time and distance in both record attempts an? race byitsrapid expansion intosomanyforms, hassinceprovidedgreatoppor
results are derived from official records and press releases. OWJI1g to tunity for initiative, skill and courage.
numerous factors-among them total elapsed time, total flying time, The first air races were held with balloons but, over the last 60 years, a
differentroutesfollowed between record attemptpoints, use ofboth Great number ofBritish aircraft have been evolved specifically for competitive
Circle Tracks and Rhumb Line Tracks, True Airspeed, Indicated Air flying and for the settingofrecords; however, these specialized types are
speed and Ground Speed-involved in the calculation of final results, relativelyfew compared with thosecommercialmodelsadapted andflown
these are not reconcilable in various cases. for the same purposes in British markings. Each gained its prominence
Where Marknumbersare quoted in both Roman and Arabic form for through its association with personalities and events, and, in compiling
a particular type.ofaircraft,.they are ~s in u~c at.that particular peri~d. British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft, it has given me the greatest
Similarly, an aIrcraft beanng a.spec~fic re~lstratlo~ma~beshow." wl~h pleasure to be able to record the hopes and achievements ofso many
progressive Mark numbers applied followmg modificatIOns durmg Its admirable men and women. In the early days, in particular, often they
career. weresettingout toflyinto unexpected danger on theway to theirdestina
tions. Somereturnedin triumph to the acclaim ofenthusiastic crowds and
to international fame; others accomplished their feats unnoticed by the
public-and there were those who died, alone and beyond reach on land
or at sea.
}~romprimitivebeginnings,subsequentactivityin airracingand record
setting has created a vast subject, its evolution conditioned by scientific
advancement and by personal impulse and ambition. This stimulating
progression was accompanied by constantly changing circumstances,
which meant that continual attention had to be given while writing the
book to achieving adequate balance ofcontentand fair recognition to all
involved oversucha longand activeera. Theopportunityhasbeen taken,
therefore, to record as many as possible of the eligible significant flights
accomplished during the entire period, in the hope that the result will be
of value as a source of reference and ofinterest to the greatest possible
numberofpeople. In additiontodescribingtheaircraftinvolved, thebook
has been designed to constitute also a survey ofsporting flying in the
United Kingdom. A singular-and relatively unexpected-factor which
emergedduringtheresearch, astheresultofnotingtheweatherconditions
affectingDyingactivities since 1906, was that the elementsappear to have
beenjust as capricious and unseasonable over the entire first halfofthe
twentieth century as in recent years.
In gatheringmaterial, I have made many calls upon the valuable time
ofnumerous people-from old friends to thosein many partsoftheworld
whom I have notmet-whose resourcefulness and enthusiasm have eased
my task immeasurably and contributed to the content of the book. My
,\"armcst thanks and appreciation for their kindness and assistance are
e~tendedtoG. Anderson;]. Baird; MrsPeggyBell;Hilda,LadyBrabazon
otTara; CaptH. S. Broad;H. Buckingham; R. H. Butcher; Miss Gillian
9
Cazalet;SirFrancisChichester; F. A. Clarke;P.S. Clifford; B. F. Collins;
Ivliss Eve Cottam; R. Cousens; H. F. Cowley; A. L. Dawe; Fig OffH.
Dennis; Capt A. VV. Farrell; Miss Janet L. Ferguson; S. J. Gilbertson;
MissHazel Goddard;J. R. Gray;SirGilesGuthrie;D. C. Guy; MajL. G.
Halls;D. M. Bartas;MrsRikaHarwood; A. Henshaw; Mrs FloraJames;
Mrs]. A. Keech; G. A. Kissack; Mrs]. Loader; Miss Gillian H. Mackay;
Capt G..F. lo.1eager; A. C. :rvlorris; C. C. !vlorris; G. 'I'. Norris; Mrs
Elizabeth Overbury; IVIiss M. A. Packer; Capt A. E. H. Pal~ons; H. J.
Penrose; Col. R. L. Preston; F. H. Repke; the late :rvfaj T. Rose; J.
Rylands; L. Sansom; IVIiss Sheila Scott; H. E. Scrope; T. L. Shapcott;
S. Sharp; R. C. Shelley;R. N. Sheppard; MissAngelaSmith; MissGwen
A. Smith; R. Snoxcll;]. N. Somers; Capt A. G. Store; T. M. Storey;
1. G. Stott; 0.]. Tapper; T. Tarr; Mrs]ulia M. P. Turner; Miss Sheila
van Damn; Lord Ventry; J. Welch; J. Wells; Mrs Nicky Wilcox; Mrs
Wendy Wilson; G. H. Wiltsher; Alvis Ltd; Boulton Paul Ltd; Bristol
SiddeleyEngines Ltd, Filton; Preston and Weybridge Divisions ofBritish
Aircraft Corporation (Operating) Ltd; Castrol Ltd; Champion Sparking
PlugCoLtd; deHavillandAircraftofCanadaLtd; FlightRefuellingLtd; An evocative scene from the past as the competing balloons at Ranelagh on 7
Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd; Handley Page Ltd; Brough, Hat July, 1906, provideshade beforethestal"tofthe event. On theleftisEnchantress
field, Kingston and Manchester Divisions ofHawker Siddeley Aviation of50,000ell ft, with A. L.,E. and L. C. Bueknallascrew. (Ftight Infemational.)
Ltd; Hodgkinson Partners Ltd; Kenwood Ltd; Lec Refrigeration Ltd;
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation; Mobil Oil Co Ltd; Public Relations
(Industrial) Ltd; Rolls-Royce Ltd; W. S. ShackletonLtd; ShortBrothers
and Harland Ltd; Vickers Ltd; Westland Helicopters Ltd; A. & A. E. E.
Boscombe Down; Department of Air Canberra ACT; Department of Twentieth-Century Spectacle
Civi.l Aviation Commonwealth ofAustralia; British Gliding Association;
British Women Pilots Association; High Commissioner for Canadaj
Canadian Museum ofScience and Technology; Essex County Library;
Isle ofMan International Air Rally/Race Committee; National Physical To be alone-or perhaps with a companion or two-in a cold" and
Laboratory; High Commissioner for New Zealand; Department of Civil draughty, plaited osier basket suspended by cords beneath a fabric
Aviation New Zealand; BritishSection ofThe Ninety-Nines Inc; Casa de envelope holding a considerable volume ofhighly inflammable gas, drift
Portugal;QantasAirwaysLtd;RoyalAeroClub;SouthAfricanEmbassy; ingin daylight orin darkness at the will ofthe wind to an obscure landing
Aero Club ofSouth Africa; British European Airways; British Overseas place, and faced with thevirtual certaintyofasevereshakingattheend of
Airways Corporation; Cambrian Airways Ltd; and El Al Israel Airlines thetripwithoutdoubtmustbefarremovedIi'om theimaginationofmostas
Ltd. a pleasurable experience.
Ofgreat value also were the facilities accorded byD. Dorrell, editor of )Jevertheless, such was ballooning) and the fact that a small group of
Air Pictorial; D. R. Hooper) assistant editor ofShell Aviation ~News;J. M. ardent devotees possessed the courage and the enthusiasm to pursue its
Ramsden, editor ofFlight Intemational; H. Scanlan, edit('lt" ofShell Aviation thrills and diversions, in spite of the piquancy provided by the dangers
.News; F. G. Swanborough, editor ofFlying Review Inlernational; and E. A. accompanying ascending far above the earth in a frail and precarious
Wren, editorofEssaAir World, togetherwiththe readyandalwayscapable vchicle, wasresponsiblesome65 yearsagofor theinitialmeansofenjoying
help from Miss Ann C. 'T'ilbury, photographic librarian ofFlight Illterna competition in the air. The balloon had been accepted by the public
tional. My gratitude must be expressed particularly toJ. H. Blake ofthe \~'ho-glancingup-had gradually become conditioned to the occasional
Royal Aero Club for his help in so many instances. ~Ightofthese rotund-yet, in their own fashion, graceful-creations drift
In conclusion, my thanks go to my wife for her aid in many ways I1~glanguidly across a sky which, until then, had remained the domain of
throughout the entire preparation ofthe book. b~rds and insects. From its inception the free balloon's lack of positive
P. 1. H. L. dlr~ctionalcontrol had been an insoluble obstacle to its development as a
Benj/eet, serIOUS meansoftransport, and had limited its use tobeingthe instrument
Essex. of~fe\\' scientistsor, in a broaderand popularfield, for someconsiderable
July, 1970. pcnod part ofthe showman's equipment.
. In the second half of the nineteenth century the Army's casual but
lI1creasing awareness of the balloon's potentialities, stimulated by the
10 Ii
enthusiasm of a handful of officers who were amateur aeronauts, intro preparing for a tour ofScotland by road in Vera Butler's car. The car's
duced in 1880 instruction in ballooning which took its place alongside unserviceability, because of an accident following a petrol leak, forced
other less inviting military training activities. them to abandon the excursion but, to make up for the disappointment,
As Queen Victoria's sober, stolid reign drew to a close, the numerous Vera Butler suggested that she and her father should experience the
factors unremittingly at work in social and economic spheres exerted a noveltyofa trip in a balloon. Neitherhad madean ascentbefore, and the
subtle but positive infiuence on the art of ballooning. For what was, in Hon Charles Stewart Rolls, youngest son ofLord Llangauock, accepted
fact, a fairly long time-a hundred years orso-the balloon had served as an invitatio~toaccompanythem. Thepartywent to the Crystal Palaceat
a means ofentertainment and had been exploited to the full as a source Sydcnham, III south-east London, and booked their trip for the same day
of'p!'ofit by the showmen \\1ho abounded in fairgrounds throughout the with Stanley Spencer as aeronaut in his 42,000 ell ft City of York. The
Bnllsh Isles. Inevitably, as with so many ofthe novelties which had W'c balloon rose almostvertically from the Crystal Palace grounds that morn
ceded it, public interest in balloon ascents eventually waned and the for ing and, after a two-hour flight over London in very calm air at about
tunes ofthe aeronaut engaged as a showman took a turn for the worse. 5,000 ft, lal~ded at Sidc~pPark in Kent. The weather had been perfect,
Th~ !ong-established pleasure gardens, where the balloonist so often the three pIOneer motOrists had found the sensation delightful, and con
exhibited his skill and daring, were also vietims of the change in public \'crsation had turned to the active encouragement offlying by the Aero
taste as a new and dramatic form ofindoor entertainment-thecinema Club de France, founded three years before in 1898. Realization that
attracted audiences to sample its rapidly expanding offerings. Br.itain lacke~ a similar body to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of
J?nd yet, just as its need was greatest, the balloon gained the support thiS newly-discovered pleasure brought the suggestion from Hedges
which was to take it to its zenith as specialized personal entertainment Bu~le.r.that such an organization should be created immediately, its
when, as the new century succeeded the old, it was-in its own way-to actiVities to embrace the operation of balloons, airships and aeroplanes.
p~ovidethe freedom and adventure already being enjoyed by well-to-do ~nthusiasticendorsement ofthe idea camefrom theothers and thelogical
Circles in the new era ofthe motor-car. Indulged in as a pastime without tl,!le ofAero Club was selected for registration without delay so that, on
financial reward, ballooning was a relatively expensive affair, mainly 23 September, 1901, Hedges Butler discussed with Claude G. Johnson,
because ofthe quantity ofexpendable gas to be bought before each Right the Secretaryofthe Automobile Club, theformation ofthe proposed Aero
and l~l1merousattendant expenses. In a period ofprosperity, power and Club as part ofthe parent organization. Just under a month later, on 21
secunty such disadvantages were relatively easily disregarded by those ~ctober, ata meetingortheStandingCommitteeoftheAutomobile Club,
determined to enjoy such a novel and exhilarating form ofpleasure, and It \~as agr~ed tha~ the new Aero Club ofthe United Kingdom should be
the few makers of these sought-after vehicles quickly seized upon this registered Immediately to forestall the use ofthe title by other interested
unexpected source ofsalvation. Apart from supplying the balloons to the persons. Registration wasdulyeffected at SomersetHouseon 29October,
newgenerationofprivateowners, therewasadditional revenueininstruct 190.1, only a few ~ou.rs before an attempt was made by a rival group to
ing them in their handling. register the name In Its own interests.
Before 1902-when the great upsurge ofprivate interest in ballooning Hedges Butler's energy and initiative soon made their influence felt in
b~gan-for the previous 12 years the amateur balloonist was obliged to the new organization as, two weeks later on 15 November, the inaugural
hIre a balloon from one ofthe firms making them, such as C. G. Spencer Aero Club balloon ascent took place from Stamford Bridge, Chelsea,
and Sons ofHighbury, and be piloted by a professional aeronaut. Until when Hedges Butler and Vera Butler made their second ascent on going
the awakening ofinterest a decade or so later, Griffith Brewer remained aloft with Stanley Spencer in clear but very cold weather to land at
the sale amateur balloon pilot in Great Britain, having made his first 'VateringburyPark) Kent. Atthelastmomentthethirdfoundingmember
ascent on 9 May, 1891, with one ofthe Spencers from the aval Exhibi ?ftheAero Club, Rolls, had tovacate theGigi€f York's basketas there was
tion .held at Chelsea. During the 1890s the three Spencer brothers lllsu.ffi,cient lift ~ecause ofthe heavy grade ofcoal gas supplied. Trailing
Percival, Stanley and Arthur-were responsible for the majority of the a ~6 It long white pennant emblazoned with the title Aero Club in pro
pa'isenger-carrying balloons produced in Britain, but pre-eminence in the m1l1ent blue capital letters-which was unfurled by Vera Butler-the
art passed eventually to Eustace and Oswald Short at Battersea Park, passengers demonstrated before the Automobile Club audience that the
following their acquisition of a secondhand Spencer balloon in 1897 new organization was well under way. From that moment it was indeed
which theysubsequently repaired and flew-and the construction oftheir t'stablished-albeit by motorists-and, despite the inevitable setbacks to
own original 33,000 eu ft balloon during 1902. be encountered i~l ~ts future passage, was to grow and to be sustained by
Into this atmosphere ofmildly expanding interest there was suddenly the numerous brIlliant and courageous men and women destined LO be
an~ unexpectedly to be injected a stimulant of the greatest importance. come associated with it.
ThIS was an event, the significance and far-reaching consequences of And so, from such simple and fortuitous origins, there sprang the
which could never for one instant have been foreseen by the small group respected organization which was soon to be entrusted with control in
ofpeople responsible for its inception. On 24 September, 1901, the pro t~e United Kingdom ofcompetitive flying in its various forms. 'l'he Aero
n:inentwine-merchant FrankHedgesButler, who was also an enthusiastic ~.lubwasfortunate to have been founded at thebeginning oftheEdward
pIOneer motorist, was Slaying with his daughter Vera at Shere in Surrey Ian epoch, a decade during which peace and prosperity appeared to be
12 13
reasonablyassured, thuscreatinganatmosphereofcalm andcontentment, 45,000 cu ft Graphic took part in a chase from the Crystal Palace to Her
ideal conditions for nurturing this latest outlet for the latent spirit of riard, Hants, 14 cars racing in pursuit but without catching the Graphic.
adventure. \Vith the Aero Club established, the next logical step was to Another race between cars and balloons took place on 19 December,
provide the members with the means ofobtaining some return for their 1902, the 50,000 eu ft Vivienne IIcarrying Hedges Butler, A. L. BueknalJ,
subscriptions, and equipment was first on the list. In November 1901,12 Auguste E. Gaudron and C. S. Rolls from Reading to Pcwsey, \i\Tilts;
ofthe Club's members contributed £10 each towards the cost ofpurehas Col and Mrs Mark Mayhew were the first to touch Vivienne ll's basket.
ing their first balloon and, this accomplished, a suitable ground for Another race involving cars and balloons took place on 24 September,
ascentswasrequired. \Vith thisend inview,earlyin 1902HedgesButler 1904, at the Midland Automobile Club Meet held at SirJohn Holder's
a member oftheRanelagh Club-metDr GeorgeHastings, theRanelagh estate at Pitmaston, Birmingham) when 15 cars chased two balloons, one
Club's Vice-President, and was fortunate in securing permission to use of which was carrying Frank Hedges Butler, C. S. Rolls and Percival
the Ranelagh grounds at Barn Elms on the south side of the Thames, Spencer, and the other Professor A. K. Huntington and C. F. Pollock.
west ofHurlingham and ncarBarnes Commonand Putney, for ascents by Interest in ballooning increased apace so that, by 1906, itwas included
the Aero Club's members. This would not, however, be Ranclagh's first in the calendarofrecognized social events. The 1906 season started on 7
acquaintance with balloons [or, as long before as 28 June, 1802, Andre April, with a private handicap race organized between F. H. Butler, G.
Jacques Garnerin had risen from the grounds in company "vith Capt foster Pedley, C. F. Pollock and Miss Bennett occupying the basket of
R. C. Snowden to make a flight to Colchester. the 45,000 eu ft Aero Club III-formerly Vivienne III-taking offfrom the
On 31 May, 1902, the Aero Club's members were able to enjoy for the Crystal Palace, and C. S. Rolls in his new balloonjustsupplied by A. E.
first time the full benefits of Hedges Butler's inspiration when three Gaudron, which left from \'Vandsworth 40 minutes later. The Aero Club
balloons rose from Ranelagh and left the gathering ever farther b.:neath III was short ofballast and landed at vVimbledon Park Golf Club near
them as they cleared the surrounding trees and passed out of sight. the Guards' Polo Grounds, whileRolls drifted on atasteady500ft for two
Interest and enthusiasm burgeoned with the successful administration of hours before landing at Bulstrodc Park, Beaconsfield.
the Aero Club and the establishment ofRanelagh as the centre ofBritish The increasing number ofballoons and the steady improvement in the
amateur balloon activities. The combination of dual interests of many skilloftheircrewsmade itpossible tohold the mostimportanteventofthe
members in motoring and ballooning led to the running of car versus Aero Club's 1906 programme on 7July, when, at 4 p.m. from Ranclagh
balloon events, the first ofwhich was held on 15 November, 1902, when) the first ofseven balloons-the greatest number so far to ascend in the
ascending at I p.m., F. H. Butler, Vera Butler and C. S. Rolls in the BritishIslesfrom oneplace-roseinidealweatherfrom thestartingmatin
the first official balloon race over British soil. The rules stipulated that a
balloon's capacity should not exceed 60,000 cu ft, that those over 4D,000
cu ft must carry at least two passengers in addition to the pilot, and that
those under40,000 cu ft should carry at least one passenger as well as the
pilot. No professional aeronaut was allowed to competeand the race was
a point-to-point,orperimeter,affair, thedestination-disclosedjustbefore
the start-to be Ingatestone near Chelmsford. Hedges Butler's large
J
77,000 cu ft Spencer-built Ci(y ofLondon, which made its first flight on 9
June, 1906,from"VandsworthGasworkswith ninepassengers, transported
the judges and observers following the competitors. C. F. Pollock)
Princess di Teano and Viscount Royston were first offwith a graceful,
curving ascent in the 50,000 ell ft Aero Club Ill, followed in turn by F. H.
Rutler, Col]. E. Capper and IvIrs Capper with a vertical take-offin the
45,000 cu ftDolceFarNienle, ProfessorA. K.Huntington)Martin Daleand
H. E. Perrin in the 42,000 cu ft Zephyr, Griffith Brewer and Walter
Stewart in the 35,000 eu ft Carnation, .J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon his sister
J
Iviiss Kathleen Moore-Brabazon and \tVarwick 'tVright in the Short-built
["enus of42,000 cu ft, C. S. Rolls in his Midget of 17,500 cu ft-also con
structed by Short Brothers, the basket ofwhich was so small that Rolls
carried ballast in place of a passenger-and Enchantress of 50)000 eu ft
with A. Leslie Bucknall, Ernest Bucknall and Leslie C. Bucknall together
in its basket. As the balloons rose two were so close to each other that
they bumped together, the silk envelopes creating an odd sound as they
The start ofthe first official balloon race in GreatBritainon 7July, 1906, from
RaneJagh as-reading downwards-Venus and Ze/}~yr rise from the mal. clashed: as Enchantress left the mat a man and a woman quickly fell flat
(Flight International.) a", it swept over them while they were engrmsed in watching Rolls's
14 J5
Midget. Nlaking his 69th ascent, Hedges Butler won the first prize-the Spencer-made a record flight of 402·46 miles in 16 hours to Vevey,
50 guinea Evening.News Cup presented by the Associated News and Daily Switzerland, coming to earth at dawn on 28 November.
lv/ail and Evening J\rews-by landing in a field at Ongar, 9} miles from The significant expansion of interest in ballooning by those able to
Ingatestonc, Pollock came second to receive the Ranelagh Club's Prize, afford its pleasures was matched by a simultaneous awareness that
Huntington, Brevver, Moore-Brabazon and Rolls all came down at encouragementofthe aeroplane by financial stimulus might well produce
Stanford-Ie-Hopeand the BucknallsJanded at Grays. Furtherexcitement worthwhile results and, at intervals during 1905 and 1906, announce
was added to the event by prizes beingoffered by theRanelagh Club and ments came of various inducements. First in 1905 was Sir David Salo
the Ladies' Auto Club to the first ofthe pursuing motorists capturing a mons, offering to the Aero Club a 100guinea cup and a money prize for
balloon. The Aero Club's first race had attracted a large and fashionable the first British aeroplane to fly a specified distanceand to returnsuccess
audience to Ranelagh and was a resounding success. fully to its point of departure. On 17 November, 1906, the influential
On 10July, 1906,twooflheAero Club membersindulged ina d'Jferent Daily Mail stepped in with its offer of £10,000 for the fil~t aeroplane
type ofcontest, a race at night between F. I-I. Butler in charge ofDolce flight by a member ofan established aero club from a given point within
Far .Nienie, with Princess di Teano, the Hon IvIrs Assheton Harbord and five miles of the newspaper's London office to within five miles of the
Viscount Royston as company, and Leslie Bucknall handling Enchantress Daily j\1ail's 'Nlanchester Office or in the opposite direction, the distance
-also with some passengers-to see who could accomplish the greatest of 160 miles to be covered within 24 hI' and refuelling to be allowed ell
distance in 7} hI' between 12.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. after ascending from route at a maximum of two stops. On 1 December, 1906, several other
Wandsworth Gasworks. The resultwasvery closeindeed, both landingin inducements were added to promote the same contest when the Adams
Sussex at 8 a.m. with Hedges Butler reaching Steyning, to beat Bucknall :-'1anufacturing Company put up £2,000 until the spring of1909 for the
who landed at Partridge Green. winner of the Daily lvlail prize, stipulating that the aeroplane must be
The balloonsrisingmajesticallyfrom Ranelagh's tree-shaded lawns had made entirely within the British Empire; £500 was offered by The
become an irresistible attraction to the ladies and Miss Hilda Mary Autocar to the makerofthe petrol engine powering the winneroftheDaily
Krabbe of Buenos Aires, shortly to marry J. T. C. Moore-BrabazoTI, l\1ail prize providing that the engine\vere ofBritish manufacture; Lord
offered the silver Krabbe Cup to the winner ofa Hare and Hounds race Nlontagu ofBeaulieu,editorofTheCar, put up a total of£1,525 consisting
tostart, weatherpermitting, at 12.30p.m. on 28July, 1906,from Reading of the £525 Car International Trophy for the longest nonstop aeroplane
Gasworks. When the day arrived bad weather forced postponement, and HightintheUnited Kingdominanycalendaryear, beginningwith 1907
the elegant Krabbe Cup-borne above its circular base on three slim the Trophy to be held by the winner for the ensuing year, and £1,000 at
curvedsupports-became thefirst prize in a revised contestfor the longest therate of£5 per milefor the longestsingleflight over25 milesand up to
single aerial journey during August, September or October, 1906, to 200 miles; Lord Montagu also offered a suitable plot ofland on his estate
within five miles of the British coast, by a woman member of the Aero at Beaulieu in Hampshire for the erection of a construction shed by a
Club in any size ofballoon and unaccompanied by a professional aero British aeroplane firm for a period of two years from I January, 1907;
naut. The contest was won by Mrs Assheton Harbord, one ofthe most announced, too, was theJohn Norton Griffiths Challenge Cup to be heJd
enthusiastic and accomplished of\vomen balloonists" who took oIT fi'om for the ensuing year by the winner of the London-to-Manchester race;
Battcrsea Gasworks at 8.10 p.m. on 1September in Hedges Butler's Dolce the Brazilian pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont offered a £40 medal to
FarNiente, accompaniedbyHedgesButlerand GriffithBrewer,andlanded the London-to-Manchester winner. The£ 1,000from Lord Montagu and
at 7.50 a.m. on 2 September at Skerne, near Drillield, having covered the awards by Santos Dumont and Norton Griffiths were on offer to be
195·5 miles. "'on by 1909. Also on I December, 1906, the Graphic and Daily Graphic
Fine weather blessed the first international balloon race, which started offered £I,000 for the first aeroplane carrying one or more passengers
from the Tuileries in Paris on the afternoon of30 September, 1906, the between two set points not less than one mile apart over Brooklands race
prize being the Gordon Dennett Trophy designed in the form ofan air track by31July, 1908,butthiswas tolapse unwon. ThatsameDecember
shipbyAndreAucoc. Sixteen balloonswereentered from seven countries, brought another inducement when Ruinart Pere et Fils, the firm of
the three British representatives being C. S. Rolls ad Col]. E. Capper in champagne producers, offered £500 to the first pilot to cross the English
Rolls's Short·built 78)500 cu ft Britannia, F. Hedges Butler-accompanied Channel in an aeroplane before IJanuary, 1909. The beginning orMay
by Griffith Bre\\'er-in his City ofLondon and Professor A. K. Huntington 1907 brought the announcement of another trophy on offer, the Lord
and C. F. Pollock in Zepll)/r. The race was won by Lieut F. P. Lahm, an Liangattock Plate, to be awarded to the first member ofa certified aero
American, flying the Short-constructed 78,500 cu ft United States 402 club to take-offfrom London in a balloon, airship or aeroplane and to
miles to Whitby, Yorks, third place going [0 Rolls for his fine flight of land within 20 miles of Lord Llangattock's home, The Hendre, Mon
287 miles to Sandringham. The Ciry ifLondon flew 120 miles to descend Inouthshire, between 10 May, 1907, and I May, 1908. Also in May 1907
half a mile from the sea at Blonville-sur-Mer at Calvados, Normandy, C. S. Rolls followed his father by offering the Rolls Trophy to the Aero
while Zeplryr crossed the Channel to Sittingbourne. Club member making the longest balloon Right within Great Britain to
Rising from Wandsworth during the afternoon of27 November, 1906, five miles from the coast.
the 50,000 cu ft Vivienne IV-carrying A. Leslie Bucknall and Percival The Aero Club's second balloon race, a point-to-point competition
16 17
held on 25 May, 1907,for a new cup presented by MrsAssheton Harbord, a Trophyconsistingofthe upperhemisphereofa balloon thrustingthrough
brought II entrics, tcn ofwhich started from the Barn Elms polo turfof a layer ofcloud, the balloon surmounted by a winged statuette ofFather
the Ranelagh Club at Barnes. The destination was the railway stationat Time complete with scythe, sickle and hourglass, holding out in his hands
Goring in Berkshire, 45 miles away, and the balloons rose in fine 'weather a horizontal plaque of three panels inscribed with the Eiffel Tower,
at intervals of three minutes before a:-t audience of between two and Santos Dumont's airship No.6 and his aeroplane 14bis and three bal
three thousand. Competing were: loons, including a Montgolfiere. Additional prizes presented by the
Ranelagh Club included a 20 guinea cup to the winner and a 10 guinea
Balloon Capacity Aeronaut(s) Retnarks cup for second place. There was also the possibility ofwinning the new
euit
Northcliffe Cup awarded by Lord Northcliffe for the longest nonstop
VivienneIV 50,000 A. L. Bucknall vVithdrew, lackofgas
AeroClub IV C. F. Pollock/V. Ker· Tookofr2hrlate flight by a balloon oraeroplane in the United Kingdom each year com
Seymer/Martin Dale/ C. • mencing with 1907. The start, [or which ten balloons were inflated, was
C. Phillips scheduled for 4 p.m. but a violent thunderstorm and heavy rain which
Nebula 45,000 C. S. Rolls/Mrs Assheton Shan-built arrived ten minutes before the hour forced postponement ofdeparture of
Harbord
the first balloon-the Aero Club IV-until 4.20 p.m., when it rose quickly
Diamond 50,000 ProfessorA.K.Huntington/
A. Cory-Wright/Miss and headed northwa(ds. Competitors were:
Kathleen Moore~
Brabazon Balloon Capacity Aeronaut(s) Remarks
Zenith 40,000 Maj B. F. S. Baden
enit
Powell/Capt Corbet/J. D.
Dunville AeroClub IV Maj B. F. S. Baden-Powell/ Firsttotake-offat4.20p.m,
Lotus11 75,250 GriffithBrewer/C. G. Santos Dumont's Le.r Deux VereKer-Seymer
DolceFarNienle 45,000 F. Hedges Butler/Capt W.
Brewer/W. Kingsland Ameriquesfor 1906Gordon
A. de C. King
Bennett, rebuilt by Short
Enchantress 50,000 ErnestBueknall/Martin
Brothers.
PadsopIII 35,000 T. O. M. Sopwith/C. So named as ownedjointly Dale
Diamond 50,000 Professor A. K. Huntington
Robinson/Capt the Hon by Sopwith and Phil
Pegasus 45,000 Col J. E. Capper/ Maj Roseswiftly intostorm
ClaudBrabazon/]. Wells Paddon, bought later by
Crookshank
Griffith Brewer and re
Salel/ite 45,000 ViscountRoyston/Allan
named LotusI
DolceFarNiente 45,000 F.AH.eddegeCs.BKutilnegr//LCiaeputt'''A-T.. remlS 42,000 J.IT-l.awCle.yMoore-Brabazon/
Miss Kathleen Moore
C. Wright
Pegasus 45,000 Col]. E. Capper/ Mrs Brabazon
Britannia 78,500 C. S. Rolls
Capper/ColBuston
Enchantress 50,000 ErnestBuclmall/ Miss .Yebula 45,000 MrsAssheton Harbord
Muriel Bucknall/H. E.
Perrin/W. Stewart fi1aking a slow take-offin Britallnia, C. S. Rolls's basketbrushed against
Venus 42,000 J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon/ iVIrs Assheton Harbord's Nebula-in which she was to have flown with C.
"Warwick Wright/A. B.
F. Pollock-ripping the net and envelope. Griffith Brewer was in Lotus]
Randolph
andundecidedwhether or not to startin such dangerous conditions,when
The brilliant weather was followed shortly by a furious storm ,",\'hich :NIl'S Assheton Harbord asked him--ifhe were not going up-to lend her
forced some ofthe balloons to descend to lower levels to escape the light~ Lotus] as she could not use ~Nebula. Brewer had by then decided not to
ning. A landing 100 yards from Goring Station won the cup for Hedges compete and, feeling that he could not let Mrs Assheton Harbord take
Butler, Col Capper gaining second place and Rolls third. so great a risk, pulled Lotus's ripcord, thereby deflating the balloon. The
The next prominent member of the Aero Club to donate a prize for thunderstormwas so intense that all balloons in the air were beaten down
competition was Frank Hedges Butler, an inveterate traveller, who and descended '''lithin threemiles, with the exception ofPegasuswhichhad
offered the Hedges Butler Challenge Cup for an annual long-distance risen jnto clear air to land eventually at Bramber in Sussex, winning the
contest. The first, held at the third Aero Club meeting on 29June, 1907, event.
at Ranelagh, was open to Aero Club members flying balloons, airships or On 15 September, 1907, 22 balloons competed in a long-distance race
aeroplanes, butonlyballoons entered. Ifwon threetimes insuccessionthe from Brussels, third place being taken by Professor A. K. Huntington,
prize was to become the winner's absolute property. The starteach year Maj Crookshank and H. E. Perrin with a flight of 556 miles in Zephyr,
was to be from London on a specified day, the winner was to cover the and fourth place by Hedges Butler, Capt A. H. W. Grubb and C. S.
greatest distance in a straight line without crossing the sea, and inter Rolls in Britannia with a flight of 25 hl' to Sanguinet, near Arcachon, a
mediate stops of up to eight hours were allowed. Although the base of distance of537 miles.
the award was inscribed The Hedges Butler Challenge Cup, in fact it was Towards the end of1907 theDailyGraphicsponsored the constructionof
18 19
To complement the awards of 1906 which were waiting to be won, in
1907 some new prizes included £2,500 from the Brooklands Automobile
Racing Club for the first aeroplane to cover one lap of three miles ofthe
car racing track in 18 minutes or at 10 mph at an altitude offrom 30 to
50ft, but this was to lapse unwon. The Daily Nlail implemented its policy
ofpractical encouragement with £ I,000 for the first all-British aeroplane
and pilot to achieve a flight ofone mile in a straight line by 6April, 1910.
Also announced was the Norton Griffiths International Trophy, from
John 1\orton Griffiths, for thc airman flying the longest distance in any
one year.
Until theend of1907, itwasinevitablethatonlyballoonscould compete
for aviation prizesbutbycady 1908developmentoftheaeroplane made it
possible for the Daily i\!Iail £100 half-mile prize for a flight ofa quarter
mile out and a quarter-mile back to be won by Henry Farman, an
Englishman domiciled in France, when hecovered the 4,921 ft during the
first circular flight in Europe at Issy-les-wloulineaux in his 50 hp Antoin
ette modified Voisin-Farman I on 13January, 1908.
The Aero Club had enjoyed the faeiliLies afforded by the Ranelagh
Club for over five years but, on 14January, 1908, arrangements were
concluded with the Hurlingham Club to hold future balloon competitions
Ii'om that club's spacious grounds by the north bank of the Thames at
Fulham. To fill the balloons a special 12-inchmain, capableofdelivering
100,000 eu ft ofgas per hour, was installed and use of the g,"ounds was
obtained between thehoursof6 a.m. and 6p.m. for each dayoftheweek.
J
list over four months later the first international balloon race to be
Hown in Great Britain \Va.;; held atBurlingham on 30May, 1908,starting
at 3p.m. Thecontestwas for TheCar Cupas first prizein a point-to-point
Last-minute good wishes from the Royal Engin~el"Sand other helpers as Frank
race to Burchett's Green Jnn, three miles westofMaidenhead, the second
HedgesButlerwavesontake-offfromthematatHul'1ing-ham intheInternational
prize was the SirThomas]. Lipton Trophy consistingofa finely-wrought
Balloon Race on 30 May,.1908. Accompanying him in the 50,000 cu ft Icarus
wel'e Capt Vv. A. de C. Kmg, Capt A. D. Carden and Lieut C. wI. vVaterlow. balloon supported in flight on a hemisphere base by four vertical wings,
and the third prize was the Sir Thomas Dewar Cup. The competition
an unusually large balloon, the 107,963 eu ft lvlammoth of59 ft diameter attracted a large entry of 31 balloons, all but one of which started at
and with a lifting Ji)Qw~roftwo tons, to make an attempt on the distance intervals ofthree minutes. They were:
record of 1,193 mlles In 35 hI' 45 min fi'om Vincennes to Korosticheff
Kiev, il: Russia, set up in 1900 by Comte Castillon de Saint-Victor de l~ Balloon Aeronaut(s) Remarks
VGaa~udIlx'OnIn, taheFr5e9n,0c0h0aeeuronftauCtenwtahuori.haTdhemaMrraimemdoathsiwstaesr boufitlhtebySpAen.cEe.r L!!J':eodneFnna/me EEPr.ronBfeeosstusolZerenfngvselirlarch }GFirrcaannnnccaecny
family a.nd was don:icilcd in England. The balloon rose from the Crystal /,llciole Payret Dortail France
TPaulranceerIanndthJe. c~v.eTnamng~aorf o1n2 iOtscatottbeemr,pt19o0n7,thcearrreycionrgd.GFaougdrcoanu,seCd. thCe. /QciLaOmsV'a"dis A}i..HScehdeglecshBeruller/Capt W. A. ue }Gor'reaanlce.Britaill, buill specially for
C. King/Capt A. D. Carden/ the race
crew to lose their beanngs, and after 19 hI' 5 min the lvlammoth came to
Licut C. 1\'1. Waterlow
earth on the s~ore of I.:ake Vanern near .Brackan in Sweden, having /JUII Quichottc El'IleslBarboHc France
travelled 703 miles, the fourth longest balloon voyage to that date but far /":llchallrress ErnestC. Bucknall Great Britain
short ofthe Centauri's mark. Saleltire ViscountRoyston GrealBritain
TheAmerican win ofthe 1906Gordon Bennett balloon racemeant that J't1/1lS ]. T. C. Moorc-Brabazon/~Irs GreatBritain
r>.loorc-BrabazonJMarquis
the 1907 contest would be held in the USA. 'T'he second contest started 1fouzillydeSt~'I'Iars
fro.m.StLouis, MisSOUl"i, nine balloons leaving on 21 October, with Great Si/flOllfl ComteH.d'Ouhremcnt France
Bntalll represented by Griffith Brewer and Claud Brabazon in Lotus II. Lt Rojt~/d. G. Geerts Belgium
Aftertravelling384milcsin24hI'40min Lotus11toucheddownatSabina l1prtehmll& Capt the Hon ClaudBrabazon GreatBritain
wa~ i.eLudiM PaulTissandier France
20 miles from Dayton, Ohio, to come ni:1th in the competition which
Tschl/lii HerrSticker Germany
won by Herr Erbsloh ofGermany in Pommem with a night of850 miles.
• Icarus had 50,000eu ft capacity, LeHoUde(8,800co ft.
20 21