Challenge International de Tourisme 1929
The flight across Europe in 1929 was the first international FAI trophy Aviation ( French: Challenge International de Tourisme ), which took place in Paris between the 4th and 16th of August. Overall, this competition four times took place 1929-1934 and was one of the most important aviation events in the period before the Second World War. In this competition, a German pilot won on a design by Willy Messerschmitt.
Overview
The flight across Europe in 1929 was organized by the Aero Club France. The FAI had the idea to write out a competition for sports and touring aircraft in which pilots and manufacturers should provide specific flight tasks.
The competition started on August 4 in Paris and included two major reviews: technical competitions and an air race over Europe. The background of the event was to promote the development of sports and touring aircraft. Not only the skill of the pilots was here part of the tests, the reliability and quality of the technical development found here review.
55 aircraft from six nations participated: Germany (24 crews ), Italy ( 12 ), France ( 9), United Kingdom ( 5), Czechoslovakia (3 ) and Switzerland (2). In some teams also foreign pilots were represented, for example, was in the German team of Canadian John Carberry with his Raab Katzenstein RK -25, in the French team flew two Belgians. In the British team flew the pilot Winifred Spooner and Mary Bailey flew competition also with - but outside the official ranking. All aircraft were equipped with a two legacy statutes go: Pilot with passenger or mechanic.
Aircraft
The planes of this competition were common sport aircraft of the late 1920s, such as the de Havilland DH60 Gipsy Moth, which was the primary aircraft in the British team. The aircraft usually had no cabin, were high-, low - or double-deckers, specially developed for this sightseeing flight, none of the aircraft. In subsequent years, that should change but. The only exception was the Czech Avia BH -11 with a modified wing design for the competition. All aircraft were equipped with a fixed landing gear and some had no way to fold the wings, to save space by stopping at the hangar. Most aircraft came from the German manufacturers BFW or terminal. The BFW M 23b was nine times at the start, the Klemm L 25 Ia six times, including two in the Swiss team and two times as a model Kl 26 and were two-seat low-wing monoplane constructed in timber without cab.
Technical competitions
The first main part of the competition consisted of technical tasks: technical assessment, simply start the engine, easy to put the wings and minimum fuel consumption.
First, the technique was evaluated: Features such as dual control, good operating and controls, brakes, fire safety and plenty of room for a parachute were examined and it was a maximum of 18 points can be achieved. The winners here were the Italians with their Breda Ba.15 ( 11.75 to 12 points) and German all-metal aircraft Junkers A 50 ( 11.75 points). Very good results achieved with 11.25 points, the Fiat AS.1 and Romeo Ro - fifth The German BFW M 23b received only 9.5 points, the DH -60 from 9.5 to 10.5 and the lowest score was the Caudron C.113.
After testing on the folding in of the wings and the engine starting, the leader of the Czech Josef Novak was with his Aero A.34 biplane with 17.5 points. Behind ranked three Italian crews with the Romeo Ro -5 biplanes ( 17.25 points ) and then followed the rest of the field. The best German pilot was Wolf Hirth 16.25 points ( 12th place, Klemm L 25), most Germans followed close behind. Some aircraft were write-downs due to non collapsible stock wings.
Finally, the consumption competition was held, which was held in a 6 x 50 km large enclosed area on August 5. There was to achieve 20 points. The best result achieved the German Johannes Nehring with his Darmstadt D-18 biplane ( 18.5 points), followed by the Swiss Hans Wirth on terminal 25, three German Junkers A 50 and two Czech Avia BH -11 with 15-17 points. The rest of the German terminal also achieved good reviews with 12-14.5 points.
The consumption of competition caused a change in the estimated overall standings: The three leaders each had 32 points and were named: John Nehring ( Darmstadt D-18 ), Hans Wirth (terminal L.25 ) and František KLEPS (BH -11). The other places were of 4 (Robert Lussier ) - 30 points assigned - 10 of the German crews on terminal and Junkers 29.5. The best Brit, Hubert Broad, held 15th place, while the Aviatrix Winifred Spooner in 25th place was ( 22.5 points). The German BFW M 23 occupied only disappointing rear ranks with 25 points, Fritz Morzik even could reach only 19.5 points, which earned him the 30th place. John Carberry, (RK -25 ) was treated with 12 points and 47 last.
Eight crews dropped out by the end of the technical competition. Most engine problems were the reasons. The German designer Hermann Hofmann was killed with his Arado L 1, when he wanted to present to the airfield some aerobatics.
Air race over Europe
The second main part of the competition was a 5942 km long air race over Europe on a specified route: Paris - Basel - Genoa - Lyon - Marseille - Saint- Raphaël - Turin - Milan - Venice - Zagreb - Belgrade - Bucharest - Turnu Severin - Budapest - Vienna - Brno -Prague - Wroclaw - Warsaw - Poznan - Berlin - Hamburg - Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris. Main stations were Belgrade, Warsaw and Paris. It was not just a race, but also a tough test for the aircraft and their crews over such a long distance endure reliable. Key evaluation points were here: achieving a high cruising speed, comply with the required course and the continuity of the flight. So had to be achieved every day and the night will be spent on the designated aerodromes at least one station. Also could go no major repairs and maintenance pending. Maximum 119 points were reached, of which a maximum of 70 for the achieved average speed, 35 for control of the flight path and 14 for reliability.
The race was started in Orly on August 7 at 09:00 clock, which already failed two crews at the start. One of the two pilots was with his Aero A.34 Czech Josef Novak. Its engine went on strike and the aircraft overturned in the following emergency landing. Although the top speed was not the only criterion, the crews flew yet very fast. The nine participants were fastest on August 8 at noon in Belgrade. Among them were: Hubert Broad, Winifred Spooner, František KLEPS ( Avia BH -11), John Nehring (D -18), Raymond Delmotte ( Caudron C.191 ) and John Carberry (RK -25). This leadership group was also on the next airfields the fastest. The chase group consisted of five German crews, among others, Fritz Morzik (BFW M 23b) and two Italian crews. Most other participants flew without a connection to a group. Some aircraft were due to technical problems and crash landings from the race.
On 9 August, most participants started in Belgrade, while a few other aircraft had not even reached the city. On August 11, the lead group started in Brno and reached Warsaw. On the way to Poznan John Nehring had D-18 emergency landing and damaged his plane, until then, it was one of the fastest aircraft in the field with his Darmstadt.
The participants were not allowed, before 14 August at 15:00 to land at Orly, so picked up the Leading Group in Brussels from and circled over the airfield Orly until shortly before 15:00 was and then sat to land. 19 aircraft placed in quick succession on the ground - the first was the Italian Batista Botalla with his Fiat AS.1. On this day reached four other crews Orly, on August 15 ended three participants the race, then the next day arrived last. 31 of the 47 launched aircraft had arrived at the finish.
Only two crews reached the maximum score of 119: the German Fritz Morzik (BFW M 23b ) and the Canadian John Carberry (RK -25), the third rank with 109 points occupied Hubert Broad (DH -60G ). The Italian team was a good result with 99 - reach 194 points, they flew during the entire race in a group. The winners of the technical competition could not reach high points in the race and had to take back positions. (Robert Lussier - 97.75 points, František KLEPS - 94 points, Hans Wirth - 81,75 points).
Final result
After air race, on August 16, the first flight across Europe the FAI was officially ended. After adding up all the points obtained the German Fritz Morzik won with his BFW M 23b, the second place went to Hubert Broad.
The first prize was endowed with 100,000 French Francs ( FF), the second was 50,000 FF, the third 25,000 FF, the following 16 teams each received 7,350 FF.
The competition was a great success for the German participants (including the started for Germany John Carberry ) but only 12 of 24 teams were able to finish the competition. The Italians were also able to establish a good result - for only three failures, nine of the twelve launched planes land at the finish.
Due to the victory of a German occupation of Europe round trip was organized and hosted in Germany in 1930. The regulations for the aircraft presented there higher requirements on the progress and technological development.