The Aerial Derby was an air race in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Daily Mail in which the competitors flew a circuit around London. It was first held in 1912, with subsequent races in 1913 and 1914. Suspended during the First World War, the event was revived in 1919 with a "Victory Aerial Derby". Further races were held in 1920, 1921,1922 and 1923. Although a race was scheduled for 1924 there were insufficient entries, and the event was cancelled and not held again.
The first race, held on Saturday 8 June consisted of a single circuit of an 81 mi (130 km) course, starting and finishing at Hendon Aerodrome with control points at Kempton Park, Esher, Purley and Purfleet. At these contestants had to fly low enough for the judges to see the race number of their aircraft. The first prize was £250 and a gold cup.
The first competition was the subject of enormous public interest, with around 45,000 people paying to view the start and finish at Hendon and enormous crowds gathering along the route. [1]
Sopwith was the first contestant to finish; he was then disqualified for having missed the control point at Purley. He appealed against the judgement, and was later pronounced the winner: [2] visibility had been poor, and Sopwith had in fact passed well outside the marker, unseen by the judges.
Fifteen aviators were expected to start the race but due to the bad weather only seven started:
| Pilot | Aircraft / Engine | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. V. Sippé | Hanriot 50 hp Gnome | Did not finish owing to engine trouble | ||
| Thomas Sopwith | 70 hp Blériot XI-2 70 hp Gnome | 1h 23m 8.4s | ||
| Gustav Hamel | 70 hp Blériot XI-2 70 hp Gnome | 1h 38m 46s | Carried Miss Eleanor Trehawke Davies as passenger | |
| P. Verrier | Maurice Farman 70 hp Renault | Carried the Daily Mirror photographer Ivor Castle as passenger. Did not finish owing to losing way in cloud. | ||
| William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse | Radley-Moorhouse 50 hp Gnome | 2h 0m 22s | Second prize of £100 | |
| James Valentine | Bristol Prier monoplane 50 hp Gnome | 2h 26m 39s | Third prize of £50 | |
| Maurice Guillaux | Caudron monoplane 45 hp Anzani | Ran out of fuel just before finish while leading the race. |
The second competition was held on Saturday 20 September, and was flown over a slightly longer 94 mi (151 km) course, alterations having been made because the original route crossed areas prohibited under the recently passed Air Navigation Order. [3] As well as the Daily Mail trophy and £200 prize a trophy and three prizes of £100, £70 and £25 were given by Shell for the winner of a handicap competition.
Entrants and results [4]
| Pilot | Aircraft | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gustav Hamel | Morane-Saulnier 80 hp Gnome | Scratch | 1h 15m 49s | 76 mph (122 km/h) | Overall winner |
| Harold Barnwell | Martinsyde 120 hp Austro-Daimler | 6m 39s | 1h 18m 44s | 72.5 mph (116.7 km/h) | |
| Harry Hawker | Sopwith 80 hp Gnome | 12m 10s | 1h 25m 24s | 67 mph (108 km/h) | |
| F. P. Raynham | Avro 504 80 hp Gnome | 11m 43s | 1h 26m 1s | 66.5 mph (107.0 km/h) | |
| R. Slack | Morane-Saulnier 80 hp Rhône | 5m 4s | 1h 29m 59s | 62.5 mph (100.6 km/h) | |
| B. C. Hucks | Blériot 80 hp Gnome | 19m 0s | 1h 30m 53s | 63 mph (101 km/h) | Winner of the Shell trophy for the handicap competition |
| W. L. Brock | Blériot 80 hp Gnome | 19m 57s | 1h 32m 29s | 61.5 mph (99.0 km/h) | |
| P. Marty | Morane-Saulnier 50 hp Rhône | 10m 46s | 1h 35m 51s | 59.5 mph (95.8 km/h) | |
| P. Verrier | Henry Farman 80 hp Gnome | 29m 8s | 1h 45m 7s | 54 mph (87 km/h) |
Originally to be held on 23 May, but postponed to 6 June due to poor weather conditions. Weather conditions on the day it was held were little better, with some contestants failing to start because they had been unable to fly to Hendon on the day. Won by Walter Brock.
Entrants and results [5]
| Competition No. | Pilot | Aircraft | Handicap [6] | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filip Bjorklund | Blériot 50 hp Gnome Omega | 40m 51s | Retired, landing at Epsom. | ||
| 2 | W. Birchenough | M. Farman 70 hp Gnome | 48m 21s | Retired, landing in Richmond Park | ||
| 5 | R. H. Carr | H. Farman 80 hp Gnome | 33m 34s | 1h 46m 27 | ||
| 6 | P. Verrier | H. Farman 80 hp Gnome | 36m 51s | 1h 49m 50s | ||
| 8 | L. A. Strange | Blériot 80 hp Gnome | 29m 46s | Retired, landing at West Wickham | ||
| 9 | J. Alcock | H. Farman 100 hp Sunbeam | 34m 51s | Retired | ||
| 12 | W. L. Brock | Morane-Saulnier G 80 hp Gnome | 20m 24s | 1h 18m 54s | Overall winner | |
| 13 | Louis Noël | Morane-Saulnier G 80 hp Gnome | 20m 54s | 1h 15m 9s | Disqualified for missing two of the control points owing to poor visibility | |
| 14 | Lord Carbery | Morane-Saulnier G 80 hp Le Rhône | 17m 6s | |||
| 18 | Howard Pixton | Sopwith Tabloid 100 hp Gnome | 6m 20s | Retired | ||
| 15 | R.H. Barnwell | Sopwith Tabloid 100 hp Gnome | scratch | Retired | ||
Dubbed the "Victory Aerial Derby" in reference to the Allied victory in World War I and held on 21 June [7] over the same course as the 1914 event, but due to the increased speed of aircraft over two circuits rather than one. Won by G. Gathergood flying a D.H.4R with M.C. Hammersley flying an Avro Baby winning the handicap race.
Entrants and results [8]
| Competition No. | Pilot | Aircraft | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clifford Prodger | BAT Bantam 170 hp ABC Wasp | 16m 0s | Did not finish | ||
| 2 | P. R. T. Chamberlayne | Grahame-White Bantam 80 hp Le Rhône | Did not finish | |||
| 3 | C. Draper | B.A.T. Bantam 200 hp ABC. Wasp | 13m 20s | 1h 37m 7s | 116.78 mph (187.94 km/h) | Modified, with reduced -span lower wings. |
| 4 | G. L. P. Henderson | Avro 504 110 hp Le Rhone | 57m 0s | 2h 30m 45.2s | 75.22 mph (121.05 km/h) | Henderson had originally entered a Martinsyde F.4, but was unable to get permission from the War Office to use this machine. |
| 5 | R. H. Carr | Grahame-White Bantam 80 hp Le Rhône | Did not finish | |||
| 7 | G. Gathergood | D.H.4R 450 hp Napier Lion) | Scratch | 1h 27m 42s | 129.34 mph (208.15 km/h) | Gathergood's D.H.4 had been considerably modified, with a reduced-span lower wing. [9] |
| 8 | Marcus D. Manson | DH.4 375 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle) | 9m 30s | 1h 36m 41s | 117.39 mph (188.92 km/h) | |
| 9 | H. J. Saint | DH.9 240 hp Siddeley Puma | 23m 30s | 1h 51m 55s | 101.43 mph (163.24 km/h) | |
| 10 | Robert Nisbet | Martinsyde F.4 250 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon | 4m 0s | 1h 31m 3.4s | 124.61 mph (200.54 km/h) | |
| 11 | L. R. Tait-Cox | Nieuport L.C.1 320 hp ABC Dragonfly | 4m 0s | Did not finish | ||
| 12 | C. H. C. Smith | Bristol Monoplane 110 hp Le Rhône | 29m 0s | Did not finish | ||
| 14 | H. A. Hammersley | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1h 25m 0s | 2h 41m 23s | 70.3 mph (113.1 km/h) | Winner of handicap competition |
| 15 | C. Turner | BAT Commercial 375 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle | ||||
| 16 | C. R. Vaughan | BAT Bantam 170 hp ABC Wasp | ||||
| 17 | H.Hawker | Sopwith Snapper 320 hp ABC Dragonfly | Did not start, as permission to fly the aircraft was not given by the War Office [10] | |||
| 18 | J. Alcock | Vickers | Did not start |
No longer sponsored by the Daily Mail, for the 1920 event the prizes were given by the Royal Aero Club. These were £500 for the overall winner, with three prizes of £250, £100 and £50 for the first three places in the handicap competition. [11] Held on 24 July [12] over a slightly amended course of 102.5 mi (165.0 km), with Brooklands taking the place of Kempton Park. The overall winner was F. T. Courtney, and the handicap competition was won by H. A. Hammersley.
Entrants and results' [13] [14]
| Competition No. | Pilot | Aircraft | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bert Hinkler | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1h 41m | 2h 45m 46s | 72.39 mph (116.50 km/h) | |
| 2 | H. A. Hammersley | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1hr 35min | 2h 32m 6s | 78.89 mph (126.96 km/h) | Winner of handicap competition |
| 3 | Leth Jensen | Blériot-SPAD S.29 80 hp Le Rhône | 45m | Did not start | ||
| 4 | F. S. Cotton | DH 14A 450 hp Napier Lion | 41.5m | Did not finish | ||
| 5 | W. L. Jordan | Sopwith Snipe 200 hp Bentley BR.2 | 28m | 47m 6s | 111.29 mph (179.10 km/h) | Entered by Francis McClean |
| 6 | W. H. Longton | Sopwith Snipe 200 hp Bentley BR.2 | 28m | Did not finish | ||
| 7 | J. S. T. Fall | Sopwith Snipe 200 hp Bentley BR.2 | 28m | Did not finish | ||
| 8 | D. G. Westgarth-Heslam | Avro "Schneider" 230 hp Siddeley Puma | 19m 30s | Did not finish | ||
| 10 | J.H. James | Nieuport Nieuhawk 320 hp ABC Dragonfly | 12m | 46m 6s | 130.15 mph (209.46 km/h) | |
| 11 | R.H. Nisbet | Martinsyde F.6 300 hp Hispano-Suiza | 11m 30s | 46m 43.4s | 128.43 mph (206.69 km/h) | |
| 12 | T. O'B. Hubbard | Martinsyde F.4 300 hp Hispano-Suiza | 10m 30s min | 48m 19.8s | 124.13 mph (199.77 km/h) | |
| 13 | H. Hawker | Sopwith Rainbow 320 hp ABC Dragonfly | 10m 30s | 42m 12s | 142.18 mph (228.82 km/h) | Disqualified for not crossing the finish line properly |
| 14 | C.F. Uwins | Bristol Bullet 450 hp Bristol Jupiter | 7m 30s | 44m 4s | 136.15 mph (219.11 km/h) | |
| 15 | F. T. Courtney | Martinsyde Semiquaver 300 hp Hispano-Suiza | 1 min | 38m 47.2s | 154.70 mph (248.97 km/h) | Overall winner. Originally to have been flown by Fred Raynham, prevented from taking part by an injury. |
| 16 | L.R. Tait-Cox | Nieuport Goshawk 320 hp ABC Dragonfly | Scratch | Did not finish owing to engine trouble. | ||
Again sponsored by the Royal Aero Club and held on 16 July with a prize of £500 for the overall winner and three prizes of £200, £100, and £50 for the first three places in the handicap competition. [15]
Entrants and results [16]
| Competition No. | Pilot | Aircraft | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T. Tully | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1h 15m 42s | Retired during second lap | ||
| 2 | Bert Hinkler | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1h 7m 24s | Did not finish, coming down at Sidcup during his first lap | ||
| 3 | A.H. Curtiss | B.E.2e 90 hp RAF 1a | Did not start, owing to dissatisfaction with his handicap allowance | |||
| 4 | D.L. Forestier-Walker | Sopwith Pup 80 hp Le Rhone | 37m 6s | Retired, landing at Hendon after first lap because he felt ill. | ||
| 5 | A.S. Butler | Bristol Tourer 240 hp Siddeley Puma | 37m 6s | 1h 52m 1.2s | 107.12 mph (172.39 km/h) | Third in handicap competition |
| 6 | L.R. Tait-Cox | Avro 180 hp Wolseley Viper | 33 min 30 sec | 1h 57m 3.2s | 35.01 mph (56.34 km/h) | |
| 7 | H.S.Broad | Sopwith Camel 130 hp Clerget | 30m 3s | 2h 5m 30s | 107.12 mph (172.39 km/h) | |
| 8 | W.H. Longton | S.E.5a 220 hp Wolseley Viper | 28m 6s | 1h 40m 25 | 119.50 mph (192.32 km/h) | Third overall and second in handicap |
| 9 | F.J. Ortweiler | S.E.5a 220 hp Wolseley Viper | 28m 6s | 2h 4m 52.8s | 123.99 mph (199.54 km/h) | disqualified for not rounding markers at Hendon properly |
| 10 | J. Noakes | Nieuport Nighthawk 300 hp ABC Dragonfly | 17m 34s | Did not finish | ||
| 11 | C. Draper | BAT Bantam 200 hp ABC Wasp | ||||
| 12 | S.H.Long | Martinsyde F.4a 220 hp Wolseley Viper | ||||
| 14 | H.Hawker | Nieuport Goshawk 300 hp ABC Dragonfly | Died in crash while practising for race | |||
| 15 | C.F. Uwins | Bristol Bullet 400 hp Bristol Jupiter | 7m 42s | 1h 32m 34.6s | 141.38 mph (227.53 km/h) | Second overall |
| 16 | F.T. Courteney | Alula Monoplane 300 hp Hispane Suiza | Did not start | |||
| 17 | J.H. James | Gloster Mars 450 hp Napier Lion | 4m 42s | 1h 18m 10s | 163.34 mph (262.87 km/h) | Won both overall and handicap |
| 18 | Bernard de Romanet | De Monge V 300 hp Hispane Suiza | Did not start | |||
| 19 | D.G Westgarth-Heslam | Avro 539 450 hp Napier Lion | Did not start (aircraft destroyed in crash before race) | |||
| 20 | J. Sadi-Lecointe | Nieuport 300 hp Hispane Suiza | Did not start |
For the 1922 competition, held on 7 August, [17] the start and finish point was transferred to Croydon Aerodrome, with the control points at Brooklands, Hertford, Epping and West Thurrock making a circuit of just under 100 mi (160 km). The competition was won by L. R. Tait-Cox flying a Gloucester Mars I and the handicap competition by L. L. Carter flying a Bristol M.1D.
Entrants and results [18]
| Competition No. | Pilot | Aircraft and engine | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. H. Stocken | Martinsyde F.4 300 hp Hispano-Suiza | ||||
| 2 | H. H. Perry | S.E.5a 200 hp Wolseley Viper | ||||
| 3 | J. H. James | Gloucester Mars I 450 hp Napier Lion | ||||
| 4 | L. R. Tait-Cox | Gloucester Mars III 200 hp Bentley BR2 | 1hr 6min 48.4sec | 177.85 mph (286.22 km/h) | Overall winner | |
| 5 | L. L. Carter | Bristol M.1D 100 hp Bristol Lucifer | 47min 9 sec | 1hr 50min 0.4sec | 107.85 mph (173.57 km/h) | Won handicap competition |
| 6 | R. A. deHaig | Bristol Bullet 400 hp Bristol Jupiter | ||||
| 7 | F. P. Raynham | Martinsyde F.6 180 hp Wolsley Viper | ||||
| 8 | A. S. Butler | de Havilland DH.37 275 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon | Withdrew after completing first lap | |||
| 9 | Bert Hinkler | Avro Baby 35 hp Green Engine Co | 1hr 22min 34sec | 2hr 35min 4sec | 76.6 mph (123.3 km/h) | |
| 10 | C. F. Uwins | Bristol Racer 400 hp Bristol Jupiter | Did not start |
Held on 6 August, [19] with the course slightly modified by eliminating the Epping control point.
Entrants and results [20] [21]
| Competition no. | Pilot | Aircraft and engine | Handicap | Time | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A. T. Renno" (Dr. W. Reid) | S.E.5a 70 hp Renault | 1h 36m 2s | 2h 51m 34s | 71 mph (114 km/h) | |
| 2 | Bert Hinkler | Avro Baby 35 hp Green | 1h 24m 14s | Did not finish | ||
| 3 | J. R. King | Sopwith Gnu 110 hp Le Rhone | 1h 13m 17s | 2h 27m 51s | 86 mph (138 km/h) | |
| 4 | J. W. Woodhouse | Boulton Paul P.9 90 hp RAF 1a | 1h 10m 59s | 2h 11m 1s | 91.25 mph (146.85 km/h) | Third place in handicap competition |
| 5 | W. M. W. Thomas | Avro 504K 130 hp Clerget | 57m 26s | Did not start | ||
| 6 | H. A. Hammersley | Avro Viper 200 hp Wolseley Viper | 51m 38s | 1h 49m 56s | 109.5 mph (176.2 km/h) | Winner of handicap competition |
| 7 | F. P. Raynham | Martinsyde F.6 200 hp Wolseley Viper | 38m 53s | 1h 40m 5s | 120 mph (190 km/h) | |
| 8 | H. Hemming | De Havilland DH.37 275 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon | 38m 1s | Did not finish | ||
| 9 | H. H. Perry | De Havilland DH.9a 350 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle | 33m 54s | 1h 33m 40s | 128 mph (206 km/h) | Second in handicap competition |
| 10 | F. T. Courteney | De Havilland DH.9a 450 hp Napier Lion | 20m 37s | Did not finish | ||
| 11 | C. D. Barnard | De Havilland DH.9 450 hp Napier Lion | 18m 37s | 1h 21m 21s | 148 mph (238 km/h) | |
| 12 | W. H. Longton | Sopwith Rainbow 400 hp Bristol Jupiter | 7m 4s | 1h 39m 9s | 164.5 mph (264.7 km/h) | |
| 13 | L. L. Carter | Gloster Mars 450 hp Napier Lion | Scratch | 1h 2m 23s | 192.4 mph (309.6 km/h) | Overall winner |
The 1924 competition was to have been held at Lympne aerodrome in Kent, the contestants to fly four laps of a 50 mi (80 km) circuit, [22] but the event was cancelled due to there being too few high speed entrants. [23]
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