Speed In The Air

(PEEDIIVlflEAm ftMDWWRAGG \ 41 8032 ji K80: *HJ Only Wright Brothers' air world gasped six years after the machine, the — at feat of flving a heavier ' world spee first official record was established at 34.04 m.p.h. T' ,e months Rheims, Not as the until 192 emer later Louis Bleriot trom the world's 1 aviation meeting, at first new holder at 47.8c m.p.h. did the air speed record overtake the land speed record, marking the beginning of public fascination in air speeds which did not decline until after the Second World War. Speed is still the most important, perhaps the onlv, advantage that aircraft has over other methods of travel, and the well-known Wragg aviation writer David fascinating story in all its tells this picturesque aspects aviation meetings, the Federation Auro- nautique Internationale, the Wright Brothers and Louis Bleriot, the monoplane, rise of the the 'unofficial' speeds of the two World Wars, the Schneider Trophy races and the dominance of the seaplane, the the Messerschmitt and the way giving first airliners, Spitfire, pistons and then to rockets, to turbojets the sound barrier, the supersonic era and the Mach air-launched aircraft, It has gone way beyond a serious tale no means days recounting such as and over. a sport, now, and David Wragg has to tell, it is but by solemn one. He yearns for the a when 6 was it tales still fun, and delights of the great individualists Lord Brabazon who took flight to prove that pigs could Hon. Charles partnership, in a pig for a fly, and the Rolls, of the Rolls-Rovce who had the frugal habit of dining each dav on the free rolls, the tables of the Royal continued on back flap butter and water at Aero Club. Wragg, David W Speed in the air 629.1BTT7 rTmW3fr r SAUSALITO PUBLIC LIBRARY AUG Id AUG 2 8 ,,'S 1975 Wfffp ~~ r "'"""} -6AUSALITO PUBLIC *4?65 SAUSALITO. CALIN Speed in the Air The ultimate in operational biplane development, the was the last biplane to enter service on operational duties with the R.A.F. Many were in service during the early years of World War II to struggle valiantly against overwhelming odds in vain in Norway, but with success in Malta, where three Gladiators, 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity', held the fort until Spitfire Overleaf: Gloster Gladiator reinforcements could come. (Photo: Flight International.) p£g m { 8032 *i A M klso bv Da 1 vvuriu Wor i Air Fh World's Air Force Flight before Flyin A Dictionary of Aviation SPEED IN THE AIR MVTOWWRAGG A World of Book, That Fill a Need Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc. SA6s2llltorCAtl^r4?65 New York : :