A talk by Brian Fernley.
Brian explained the competition was begun in 1912 by Jaques Schnider, a French industrialist and aircraft enthusiast, who offered a trophy and prize of approximately £1,000 (about£150,000 today) to the fastest seaplane. It was intended to encourage technical advances in civil aviation but became a contest for pure speed with laps over a (usually) triangular course, initially 280 km) and later extended to 350 km.
The race was held twelve times between 1913 and 1931 (the year when it was won three times consecutively and thus permanently by the British). It was competed for by entries from France, Italy, the UK and the USA. Brian provided a fascinating account of the technical challenges and some wonderful clips of newsreels and films that added another dimension to the talk.
The race notably resulted in the development of the Supermarine Seaplane and the Rolls Royce R Series V12 engine that secured the Schneider Trophy and led eventually to the develoment of the Supermarine Spitfire and Rolls Royce Merlin engine.
A detailed account of the Schneider trophy story can be found here https://www.supermarineseaplane.co.uk/the-schneider-story
Dunkeswell Heritage Centre
The South West Airfields Heritage Trust, is a Devon based educational charity whose purpose is to inform the public of the local aviation heritage. They do this in a number of ways, most visibly they have two heritage centres, one at Dunkeswell the other at Smeatharpe. These are open to the public from Easter until the end of October.
Presentations, given on behalf of The South West Airfields Heritage Trust
The Amazing Mr Cotton
The Battle of Britain Outside London
Hunting the Hunter
Destination Utah
Jumping Joe Beyrle
The Schneider Trophy Races
For more information, visit the South West Airfields Heritage Trust.
