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The Schneider Trophy races
THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF AVIATION’S GREATEST COMPETITION
It was the greatest international competition of its day – a thrilling, globe-trotting, high speed air racing series that married cutting-edge technology with astonishing skill, bravery and danger.
It was the greatest international competition of its day – a thrilling, globe-trotting, high speed air racing series that married cutting-edge technology with astonishing skill, bravery and danger.
Duelling at 400 mph just a few feet from sea surface left pilots little margin for error. For over a decade, as aircraft of Great Britain, the United States, France and Italy fought for the prize, the Schneider Trophy represented the pinnacle of aviation development.
A succession of world records fell to machines that combined super-charged brute power with streamlined good looks. With the RAF’s Supermarine S6B, legendary aircraft designer R.J Mitchell honed the genius that produced the Spitfire, while Rolls-Royce advanced the state-of-the-art with an powerful V-12 engine that paved the way for its war-winning masterpiece, the Merlin.
Featuring an extraordinary cast of characters, from Jimmy Doolittle to T.E. Lawrence, and packed with tales of excitement, ingenuity, derring-do, triumph and tragedy on every page, The Schneider Trophy Races brings vividly to life the world’s fastest motorsport.
‘Extraordinary … excitingly told’ Sunday Express
‘Excellent … a first-rate account’ Aviation News
‘A masterly account’ Daily Telegraph
‘Outstanding … compelling’ Aeroplane
‘Excellent. Enthralling. Irresistible’ Motorsport
- GenresHistory
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Ralph Barker
52 books5 followersRalph Hammond Cecil Barker was a non-fiction author who wrote several books on the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) operations in the First and Second World Wars, and about cricket.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 25, 2020
A straightforward telling of an extraordinary story. The book is about one of the most exciting competitions in the western early 20th century, combining spectacular progress in aviation engineering, catastrophic failures, the development of military and civil aviators somewhere between pioneering and routinization, the evolutions of nation-states trying to promote technological boosts to their own industry.
Yet despite this, Barker somehow managed to write a book that unfortunately partly reads like a military report. The protagonists have no depth if they have any acting at all. The wide political, emotional, technological context and environment is nothing more than a descriptive framework in the tale of happenings. "X did Y and Z happened." is the main way of storytelling. There are no deep characters, no introductions to the most important actors and promoters of the race, no look at the motivation of the people involved, no historical background or context explanations.
Unfortunately too, the Kindle Edition by Silvertail Books doesn't provide any visual augmentation to the flat literature. The editor could easily have provided additional information or help by adding available sketches or photography.
Don't get me wrong, the review probably reads more harshly than I mean it. The language used is clear and concise, not boring or so. There is a clear chronological red thread - and most of the context to understand the storyline is somewhat given. It wasn't a bad read.
In a summary, I suggest this book if you are really interested in the Schneider Trophy and its history - and your goal is to understand what happened and who were the main actors. But don't expect much more entertainment or information than exactly that.
Yet despite this, Barker somehow managed to write a book that unfortunately partly reads like a military report. The protagonists have no depth if they have any acting at all. The wide political, emotional, technological context and environment is nothing more than a descriptive framework in the tale of happenings. "X did Y and Z happened." is the main way of storytelling. There are no deep characters, no introductions to the most important actors and promoters of the race, no look at the motivation of the people involved, no historical background or context explanations.
Unfortunately too, the Kindle Edition by Silvertail Books doesn't provide any visual augmentation to the flat literature. The editor could easily have provided additional information or help by adding available sketches or photography.
Don't get me wrong, the review probably reads more harshly than I mean it. The language used is clear and concise, not boring or so. There is a clear chronological red thread - and most of the context to understand the storyline is somewhat given. It wasn't a bad read.
In a summary, I suggest this book if you are really interested in the Schneider Trophy and its history - and your goal is to understand what happened and who were the main actors. But don't expect much more entertainment or information than exactly that.
May 22, 2023
Well told story about one of many motivators in aviation development between two world wars. All necessary historical details are here plus much of behind the scenes political manoeuvring. Author omitted to mention that just few years after last race flying boats were responsible for majority of long distance passenger air transport and that today great part of "bush" aviation sports floats and not wheels. Some nice photographs or at least drawings of competing planes will be greatly appreciated too!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews