388.6 M. P. H.

All England had to do was let a sea- plane dawdle seven times around the 32-mi. triangle at Calshot to take permanent possession of the Schneider Trophy last week, since Italy and France withdrew from the race (TIME, Sept. 14). But everyone knew the British flyers would try to better the winning speed of 1929 (328.6 m. p. h.), and the straightaway record (357.7 m. p. h.) made a week later by Squadron Leader A. H. Orlebar.

Flight Lieut. J. H. Boothman was given the honor of formally winning permanent possession of the Schneider Trophy. In a mosquito-like seaplane of blue & silver designated Super marine Rolls-Royce S-6B, he darted over the Solent at about 300 ft. altitude, taking wide turns at the corners of the course to guard against disqualification. His first two laps were the fastest, averaging 342.9 m. p. h. When he crossed the finish line and shot his plane skyward, to lose speed for a landing, his average time for the race was 340.08 m. p. h.

Then Lieut. G. H. Stainforth taxied out in another S-6B to attack Orlebar's world speed record. With a diving start from 1,400 ft. down to about 150 ft., he flashed six times back & forth over a straight- away of about 1.8 mi. The crowds saw only a speck with a tail of smoke. When it was over the stopwatches showed an average of 379.05 m. p. h. On one lap Lieut. Stainforth's time had been 388.6, faster than man had ever flown, more than eight times faster than the winner of the first Schneider race in 1913.

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