Title: The Schneider Trophy
Artist: unknown
Year of Publication: 1931
Publisher: Paris: Crete-Corbeil
Language: French
Size: 22 3/4" x 37"
Index Number: 00119

Description:

The State Railroad and C.G. Transatlantique. BE THERE - on board the new packetboat "Colombie" - on the great speedcourse for seaplanes, THE SCHNEIDER TROPHY. September 12, 1931, in the Spithead harbour.

Spectators who took this travel package to see the September 1931 Schneider Trophy race got a deckside view of the final test in one of the most important speed classics of the era. The fierce competition between countries in Europe and America began in 1913 when Jacques Schneider donated a trophy to the Aero Club of France in order to encourage the development of the seaplane. The competition was suspended during World War I, but started up again in 1920 and was largely responsible for the fast peacetime development of military aircraft between the two World Wars. In 1931, Great Britain won the race for the third time, retiring the trophy, and raising the speed record from 45.75 mph in 1913 to 340.08 mph.The Supermarine airplane that won the 1931 race led to the development of the Spitfire, which saved the British Isles from the Nazis during the Battle of Britain in 1940.