Speedbirds - what if they ran Schneider trophy races in 21st century...

[perttime]

My search did not reveal anything on "speedbirds" here.

http://speedbirds.free.fr/

[raafif]

some nice stuff there 

Pity there aren't any replacements for those valuable Mustbangs & Corse.airs etc yet.  I just love that PondRacer - if only they could get it working right.


I'm sure I've seen that "Supermarine1965" on a site posted here last year.

[kerick]

Burt Rutan would have a blast!
I wish the various military services around the world would have speed races.  They already have air tatoos, tiger meets, and rodeos---why not some racing?  Closed course and cross country?

[rickshaw]

Rules would be:

1. All aircraft must be in operational service with the using air force (no one offs).
2. Must be flown by a serving pilot (no specialist).
3. Must fly at operational weights sans weapons, pylons and ammunition (no temptations).

Would we see a return of the Mach 3+ interceptor? 

[kerick]

Rules would be:

1. All aircraft must be in operational service with the using air force (no one offs).
2. Must be flown by a serving pilot (no specialist).
3. Must fly at operational weights sans weapons, pylons and ammunition (no temptations).

Would we see a return of the Mach 3+ interceptor? 

I like your rules but you know, for the sake of national pride, those birds would get some serious "tweaking".  Would have to find an unihabited place for the course so no one gets ticked off by the sonic booms.  Might inspire the defense contractors to come up with some useful mods.  We can only hope.

[dragon]

Originally the Schneider Cup Races were set up to encourage aeronautical advances.  Now in the 21st Century, it would be the Astronomical/Aeronautical advances that need to be encouraged.  Perhaps that could be a new group build suggestion- call it the "Supertom Cup Races".....

[MilitaryAircraft101]

The Lotus-BAC Race Team! Flown in memorium of Jim Clark during the 1969 Schneider Cup.

[McColm]

I've seen the Red Bull Air Race when it was held over in London, if it is the same or similar course as the Schneider Trophy then a Mig-25 is going to have problems in those tight turns, something along the lines of the
F-16 or Jaguar or even the Harrier would be ideal.

[perttime]

I've seen the Red Bull Air Race when it was held over in London, if it is the same or similar course as the Schneider Trophy ...

The original Schneider Cup was not aerobatic: just a speed event on a closed course that mainly stayed over water.

example of a race course:




"""""""
Schneider decided that since so much of the earth was covered with water, and major cities were located on ocean shores or along rivers, airplanes should develop the ability to land on water, on pontoons (seaplanes) or on hulled fuselages (flying boats). In order to move aviation in this direction, Schneider created an international competition—the Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider, or the Schneider Cup (actually a silver trophy and not a cup).

The rules of the Schneider competition reflected his intent, although in a sometimes bizarre way. Aeroplanes had to float on the water for six hours and prove their seaworthiness by travelling a distance of about 550 yards (503m) on water. Twice during the flight portion, planes had to land on the water (or "come in contact with" the water, the wording of which stipulation gave rise to a bouncing manoeuver invented by Pixton in 1919 that cut time from the race).

If the pontoons took on water, the planes had to continue the flight portion with the added weight.
"""""""

http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/daredevils/Schneider.htm

[Hobbes]

What I'd like to see: a race using airliners. 

[PR19_Kit]

The Lotus-BAC Race Team! Flown in memorium of Jim Clark during the 1969 Schneider Cup.

Now THAT I like a LOT! 

And it's pretty well modelable too, yet ANOTHER project on the list, darn it!

[rickshaw]

I like your rules but you know, for the sake of national pride, those birds would get some serious "tweaking".  Would have to find an unihabited place for the course so no one gets ticked off by the sonic booms.  Might inspire the defense contractors to come up with some useful mods.  We can only hope.

Problem is, they'd then have to put at least a squadron of those tweaks into service for them to quality.   No special, one off machnes. 

As to where it could be done - Woomera is the perfect place.   One of the world's longest runways for those planes that find it hard to get off the ground and millions upon millions of empty square kilometres of space to do it in.  The range is also instrumented for weapons tests, so you could use it for the race.   Computer tracking, high-speed, precision tele-theodolites, you name it.

[perttime]

What I'd like to see: a race using airliners. 

You can use airliners if you want to.

For Schneider, they have to take off and land on water, though.

[PR19_Kit]

What I'd like to see: a race using airliners. 

You can use airliners if you want to.

For Schneider, they have to take off and land on water, though.

Bring back the Saro Princess then! 

[perttime]

I don't know if everybody already knows about Piaggio P.7, or Piaggio-Pegna P.c.7, an Italian candidate for the 1929 race. Just enough fuselage volume to keep it from sinking, water prop and hydrofoils to get it high enough to start the airscrew ... They didn't get it to fly. I understood that the clutches needed to control the propellers were the problem. Perhaps the pilot didn't have enough hands to operate them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.7
http://hydravion-modele.com/Fichier_histoire/1920_piaggiopc7.htm