Schneider Trophy. Aviation art
prints of the Schneider trophy race by Leading aviation artists Ivan
Berryman, Michael Turner and Gerald Coulson.
On the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September 1931, Flt.
Lt J N Bootham, RAF, in a Southampton-built S6B seaplane, tore through
the skies over the Solent to average 340.08mph round a 217-mile
course. This fly-over was sufficient for Great Britain to gain the
Schneider Trophy outright since it meant that the event had been won on
three consecutive occasions. That it nearly didn't happen is part
of the history of British Aviation, only timely sponsorship saving the
whole Supermarine programme. So ended an era in aviation history
which, with hindsight, proved so important for the free world as it was
from this remarkably-advanced design of airframe and engine that R J
Mitchell's most famous aircraft of all time, the Spitfire, was
developed. Without the advances brought on by the development of
the Supermarine racing seaplanes, it is doubtful that the technology
required for the Spitfire would have been so readily available.
The Merlin and Griffon engines from Rolls Royce were also part of this
programme. These were to be the mainstay of the British Aircraft
Industry during World War II and become a legend in their own
right. A replica of the aircraft which went on to set world air
speed records can be seen in the Southampton Hall of Aviation, together
with the legendary Spitfire.
Schneider Trophy Race, 1931 by Ivan Berryman
Flt Lt John Boothman completes a victory run over the
packed pier at Ryde, isle of Wight as he wins the Schneider Trophy in Supermarine
S6B, S1595 at a speed of 340mph. later the same day, its sister
aircraft S1596 broke the world air speed record at 379 mph, flown by
Flt. Lt Stainforth.
Schneider Trophy Winner by
Michael Turner Flt.Lt. John Boothman takes off from Calshot in his
Supermarine S6B to win the 1931 Schneider Trophy
A Moment of Triumph by Gerald Coulson On the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September 1931, Flt. Lt J N
Bootham,
RAF, in a Southampton-built S6B seaplane, tore through the skies over the
Solent to average 340.08mph round a 217-mile course. This fly-over
was sufficient for Great Britain to gain the Schneider Trophy outright
since it meant that the event had been won on three consecutive
occasions. That it nearly didn't happen is part of the history of
British Aviation, only timely sponsorship saving the whole Supermarine
programme. So ended an era in aviation history which, with
hindsight, proved so important for the free world as it was from this
remarkably-advanced design of airframe and engine that R J Mitchell's most
famous aircraft of all time, the Spitfire, was developed. Without
the advances brought on by the development of the Supermarine racing
seaplanes, it is doubtful that the technology required for the Spitfire
would have been so readily available. The Merlin and Griffon engines
from Rolls Royce were also part of this programme. These were to be
the mainstay of the British Aircraft Industry during World War II and
become a legend in their own right. A replica of the aircraft which
went on to set world air speed records can be seen in the Southampton Hall
of Aviation, together with the legendary Spitfire.
