$19,000 Zip

To break the world's landplane speed record (304.98 m.p.h.)* made by the late U. S. Pilot James Robert ("Jimmy") Wedell in 1933 has long been the goal of a heavyset, square-jawed Frenchman named Raymond Delmotte. One day last week, after a year of trying, 40-year-old Pilot Delmotte made five more unsuccessful attempts. On the sixth try, with his fox terrier mascot "Tailwind" in the cockpit, he shot his Caudron Renault monoplane four times over a measured course at Istres, zipped so fast (321 m.p.h.) on one lap that he averaged 314.1 m.p.h. for the four, set a new record. To Pilot Delmotte, for his pains, the French Air Ministry promptly awarded $19,000.

*World speed record for seaplanes (440.6 m.p.h.) was made two months ago in Italy by swart, tiny Francesco ("Crazy Boy") Agello (TIME, Nov. 5).

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