British Racing and Record Breaking Aircraft

Ref: 5225

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{detailed description}Since the beginning of this century both racing and record-setting flights have played a prominent part in the British aviation scene, with each activity stimulating and contributing significantly to the development of new aero- plane and engine projects, particularly in the vital sphere of service designs. As the first comprehensive, illustrated account of the competitive aspects of British flying, British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft is unique in recording chronologically in detail over 400 diverse aeroplane types which have participated in the story, many of standard or modified form, others evolved specifically for extreme speed, high altitude or ultimate range. The vigorous, succinct narrative embraces also gliders, balloons and airships, together with extensive descriptions of more than 1,400 events and mention of nearly 2,000 of the celebrated men and women who, in varying degrees, have achieved distinction flying in them. Racing in the United Kingdom began in 1906, with balloons drifting across country in a silence soon to be broken by aeroplanes competing first around aerodrome pylons and then further afield. The elegant atmosphere at Ranelagh, Hurlingham, Hendon and Brook- lands - the principal venues until mid-1914 - is vividly recreated, as is the excitement engendered throughout the 1920s and 1930s by, among numerous other events, the Aerial Derby, King's Cup and Schneider Trophy contests, side by side with the prodigious record-setting epics accomplished across the world's continents. From the same era accounts are included of the MacRobertson and Schlesinger long-distance races, and these are followed by the story of the revival of racing and record- breaking after World War 2. The 470 photo- graphs, many published for the first time, span the entire history, and this outstanding volume is rounded off by tabulated appendices giving technical data, air race results and record flights.

Fine first edition in the alternative dust jacket
{Author / Publisher / Date}by Peter Lewis
1971 1st edn. 496pp
{condition}ex. lib. front free endpaper removed, worn throughout in tape repaired d/j. reading copy only.
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