Schneider Trophy winners

[Parmigiano]

Here is 'the late contender', Macchi MC72 with his (her?) 24V engine.

Each 12V engine was driving one of the contra-rotating prop, thus eliminating the torque effect: not bad with over 3000 bhp to manage in such light airplanes.

The bronze 'patches' are the element of the evaporation cooling system, placed everywhere on the plane

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Parm. Now that prop could definitely power an ocean going liner.

[trackend]

I cant get over the cockpit sizes talk about bring out the KY jelly

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by trackend

I cant get over the cockpit sizes talk about bring out the KY jelly

God! Small cockpits, huge propellers, KY jelly, what the hell is going on here!!!!

[trackend]

LOL

[pbfoot]

Originally Posted by ollieholmes

I am thinking of possibly writing a book on this subject due to what i can see s big lack of. So i am looking for any info on the aeroplanes that won the events, Who flew them, Where they where held etc and also photos would be great. Thank you in advance.

i live about 5 miles from the curtiss museum mind you it's in the states but would be willing to chance a cavity search if req'd is there anything in particular you require[-o<

[cheddar cheese]

Wonderful picture Parm, the MC.72 truely is a beautiful plane

[norbert yeah]

Hi all

Just joined and trawling through the threads out of interest, I have an interest in Stainforth who flew with the Schneider trophy flight, he went on to serve with and command 600 Sqn.

Any how I would be interested to know when this book is to be published, it's always great to see another angle on a particular subject.

Cheers

Jean

[KraziKanuK]

A book on the races with a description of the pre-race, the race, and the a/c including scale drawings and photos: Schneider Trophy Racers Robert Hirsch ISBN 0-87936-636-9 192 pages of glossy paper

Here is another: The Schneider Trophy Story Edward Eves ISBN 0760311188 252 pages

And, another: The Schneider Trophy Races Ralph Barker ISBN 0701116633 272pages

[KraziKanuK]

Originally Posted by SM79Sparviero

If the rules had forced all the racers to use the same fuel I don't think that it would have been so easy for British engineers and pilots.

Supermarine S6 got a speed record of 655 Km/ h during the edition of september 1931 , with 2783 HP and a maximum pressure of 2.45 BARs from the supercharger and a M.E.P of 20 BARs (!).
Such performances would have been impossible for overheating and premature detonation troubles in the cylinders without a special kind of fuel projected by chemical engineer F.R Banks of Associated Ethyl.

A special fuel which could be only formally called "gasoline" since neither a drop of gasoline was in the tanks of Supermarine S6: 60 % Methilic alcohol, 30% benzylic alcohol, 10 % acethic acid for a fast evaporation in the carburettor to cool the air/fuel mixture and a sufficiently good caloric power to limit the consumption, + 11.1 parts/1000 of TEL to prevent premature detonation.

In Italy nobody knew anything about special fuels in 1930.MC 72 could express the superlative power of 3100 HP and the consequent speed record in few months without significative breakdowns or other troubles, thanks to the consulence of engineer Banks after the expiration of his agreement with Rolls-Royce.The fuel employed for the record was not as "exotic" as the one used by Rolls-royce: 55% gasoline, 23% ethilic alcohol, 22% benzylic alcohol + 1.5 parts/ 1000 of TEL.It was less polluting as well!

Italians had to project by themselves the first in-line tandem-style twin engine in the world, a reliable aeronautical supercharger ,a new fuel for racing purpose.....starting from zero, with their poor resources they challenged a giant as British Empire.Just to face such challenge was a success in itself....

Sure they did, as the MC72 used Bank's fuel mixture to get that 3000hp. In fact it was F. Rodwell Banks who finally got the Fiats to run correctly.

If it has not been mentioned, the MC72 killed 2 pilots, Monti (Aug 2 '31) and Bellini (Aug 10 '31) because of the lean fuel-air mixture. Banks fixed this problem as well.

[norbert yeah]

Sorry to bump this up again, but I would be very interested to know when we can expect to see this book, does anyone have contact with the author ?

[Parmigiano]

Originally Posted by KraziKanuK

Sure they did, as the MC72 used Bank's fuel mixture to get that 3000hp. In fact it was F. Rodwell Banks who finally got the Fiats to run correctly.

If it has not been mentioned, the MC72 killed 2 pilots, Monti (Aug 2 '31) and Bellini (Aug 10 '31) because of the lean fuel-air mixture. Banks fixed this problem as well.

Nope, the problem that plagued the AS6 was backfire, and was fixed by a FIAT engineer, Mr. Armando Palanca with a certain amount of ingenuity.
He tested the engine on a ground rig with transparent fuel pipes, and noticed where in the circuit the fuel pressure was dropping. Once spotted the problem, fix was easy.
That was before Mr Banks was hired by Fiat.

As you may read on my previuos post in this same thread, all this record machines were tricky, there was a lot of dead pilots on all sides.

cheers

[tigerman]

Hi Ollie,
I am at present doing a painting of the S13 flying over Swanage in 1919 during the misty Scheider Race day leading disqualification of the Italian.
Big problem is that I have not yet 100% proof of the colour of that actual S13(not the 2nd back up aircraft)
From the tones of the black/white photos, it appears to be Italian green, top surfaces and white under surfaces, but others inform me it was red on top and white below.
Have you any clues that could help.

Thanks
Jon