Challenge International de Tourisme 1934

The flight across Europe in 1934 was the fourth and last FAI trophy of the international round flight ( French: Challenge International de Tourisme ), which took place in Warsaw August 28 to September 16. The four round Europe Flights 1929-1934 were the most important pre-war air competitions in Europe. 1934, the competition was won in the overall standings by Polish pilots.

Overview

Poland and the Polish Aero Club organized this sightseeing flight, because had won the previous competition in 1932 the Pole Franciszek Żwirko. In June 1933, the rules of competition have been announced for 1934. As in the competition before three categories were evaluated: the technique, an air race over Europe and a speed rating. The main idea of the competition is to promote the construction of jets was, but it did not arrive on the quality of the aircraft alone, the skills of the pilots was at least as important.

The opening ceremony was held at noon on 28 August 1934 on the airport Mokotów in Warsaw. The Italian team missed the opening because the participants came on their way from Italy to Warsaw in bad weather.

The number of teams and their aircraft shrank against the competition of 1932 by 43 to 34 because the requirements were becoming more complex in the tenders. The participating aircraft were manned by two people, a pilot and mechanic. In 1934, only teams from four countries were represented: Poland (12) Germany (13) Italy (6) and Czechoslovakia (3). The British pilot Walter MacPershon participated as a member of the Polish team. The French team took their message to the competition with eight aircraft returned, because their aircraft Caudron C.500 was not completed in the prescribed time and was too heavy. The competition was endowed for the winner with 100,000 French francs (FF ), the second won 40,000 FF, the third-place finisher 20,000 FF, the Fourth still 10,000 FF and the 15 subsequent pilots were rewarded with 6,000 FF.

Aircraft

The competition was a comparison between sport and touring aircraft, the aircraft had at least two people to take on board, a short take-off and landing distance and have to complete a cross-country flight with a good cruising speed. On the occasion of this competition, the manufacturers of the participating countries, developed with the exception of MacPherson 's modified de Havilland Puss Moth new aircraft. All aircraft were all-metal or composite construction, Single with 3 or 4 seats, a closed cabin, flaps and slats.

Most aircraft were cantilevered low-wing: The German Bf 108A ( 4), Fieseler Fi 97 ( 5) and Klemm Kl 36 ( 4), the Polish PZL.26 (5) and the Italian Pallavicino PS-1 (2) or strained low-wing: the Czechoslovak Aero A.200 ( 2) and the Italian Breda Ba.39 (2) and Ba -42 ( 2). An exception was the main aircraft of the Polish team - the abgestrebte high-wing RWD -9 ( 7), one of which was flown by a Czech pilot and the Puss Moth. The only aircraft with retractable landing gear were the Bf 108 and the PS -1.

The German planes had the starting numbers 12-26, 41-46, the Italians, the Czechs and the Poles 51-54 61-81. The starting numbers were applied to the hull within a black bordered, white square.

Technical competitions

On August 29, the technical evaluation of the compared aircraft began. Since it was a competition of sports and touring aircraft, special attention was given in a comfortable and clear cabin, into which one may additionally enter well had. Importantly, the presence of a third or fourth seat and the convenient arrangement of the seats, good instrumentation and operation, easy starting of the engine, simple method for creating the wings and construction of all-metal or steel hull with fairing were. All these features were evaluated with points. To assess the visibility of the closed cabin, a lamp was placed in a darkened hall in the center of the cabin, and then assesses the elucidation of the hall. The permitted no weight was 560.56 kg and was exceeded by all German, two Italian planes and the Puss Moth and had to be achieved by removing any equipment.

The technical evaluation lasted until September 4, and the most points won the Bf 108 ( 450-452 points), followed by the Pallavicino PS-1 ( 438 points), Fi 97 ( 428-431 points), Aero A.200 ( 429 points) and RWD -9 ( 427 points). The rear ranks occupied the Klemm Kl 36 - ( 394-407 points), PZL.26 - ( 383 points), Puss Moth ( 373 points) and Breda ( 323-346 points).

From September 3 to 4 short start was discharged. Here the teams on an 8 -meter-high barrier had to fly after they had started from a short distance as possible before. The winner was the Czech Vojtěch Zacek, who after 74.5 m flew over the obstacle with its Aero A.200. This was followed by Jerzy Bajan (RWD -9) and Ján Ambruš with the second A.200. The Polish RWD -9 and PZL.26 and the German finance 97 were also in the competition performed well while the Italians and the other German teams very bad. They needed some more than 100 m. In European Contest 1932, the record was still at 91.6 m.

After the technical evaluation of the short take-off competition on the 4th of September, the German Bf 108 were in the lead: Theo Osterkamp ( 597 points ), Werner Junck ( 596 points ) and Otto Brindlinger ( 594 points ), followed by Vojtěch Zacek ( A.200, 594 points ), Jerzy Bajan (RWD -9, 591 points) and Ján Ambruš ( A.200, 591 points), behind it is the fi 97 and RWD 9th

This was followed on 4 - 5th September, the short landing competition. The goal was to get behind a 8 meter high barrier as short as possible to a halt. The best result with 75 m ( 210 points ) reached Hans Seidemann (Fi 97). In the first ten ranks were several Fieseler, the Polish RWD -9 and PZL.26 and MacPherson 's Puss Moth. The Czech A.200 showed the worst results, she needed about 117 m. Together with the Bf 108 and the Breda occupied the Czechs, the rearmost seats. 1932 was the best value at 92.4 m.

The fuel economy competition by a 594 km long circular flight was held on September 5. Here won three Bf 108, which earned 86-95 points, then five poles with 73-79 points. The Italians also achieved good results during the German Fi 97 and K 36 and sections the Czechs bad.

After September 5, all tests were completed, were the overall leaders: Jerzy Bajan ( RWD 9S, 875 points ), Tadeusz Karpiński ( RWD 9S, 856 points ), Hans Seidemann (Fi 97, 850 points ), Gerhard stroke (Fi 97, 848 points ), Stanisław Plonczynski (RWD -9, 844 points ), after Karl Francke ( Bf 108A ), Jan Buczyński (RWD -9), Wolf Hirth (Fi 97) Szczepan Grzeszczyk ( PZL.26 ).

A competition in low-speed flight launched on 31 August, but had to be continued on September 2, due to unfavorable weather conditions. Some teams have until 6 September, competition finish up the rankings were determined. The Pole Jerzy Bajan was the slowest with his RWD -9. Only 54.14 km / h, he reached as a minimum driving. The remaining Poles also remained below 60 km / h followed by the Czechs German Kl 36 and Fi 97, the worst were the Italian Breda with over 75 km / h and were not counted because their Vorflügelkonstruktion proved practically useless.

On 1 September, the competition was held in which the practicality of Tragflächenanklappens was evaluated. The folding in the wing saves space in the hangar and was part of the tender requirements. The space requirement of the aircraft and the mechanics, as well as the practical procedure were evaluated. On 6 September, the winners were clear: the first seven places were held by the RWD -9 with 36 points, followed by four Italians.

A German ( Bf 108) and an Italian (PS -1) aircraft were damaged in the technical competitions and had to give up. According to the technical competitions, the top places of the RWD -9 and Fi 97 were occupied during the Bf 108, Kl 36 and PZL.26 were rather average. The Italian aircraft were unconvincing and occupied only rear ranks with 559-801 points.

Air race over Europe

The second main part of the competition was a 9537.4 km long air race over Europe and North Africa on a predetermined route Warsaw - Kaliningrad - Berlin - Cologne - Brussels - Paris - Bordeaux - Pau - Madrid - Sevilla - Casablanca - Meknes - Sidi Bel Abbes - Algiers - Biskra - Tunis - Palermo - Naples - Rome - Rimini - Zagreb - Vienna - Brno - Prague - Katowice - Lviv - Vilnius - Warsaw. A total of eight control points were set up, among other things, in Tangier, Messina and Castelfranco Veneto. The route was longer and more difficult than in the previous round Europe flights. The highest average speed and control of the flight path were evaluated. Who arrived more than three nights after the expected arrival at the check points, or less than 130 km / h cruising speed flew, was disqualified.

The race started on September 7, 5:00 to 5:30 clock. The Bf 108A were able to fly out and flew the first Berlin a potential advantage. The 24 fastest aircraft reached on this day after 1752.4 kilometers already Paris ( 10 poles, 8 German, 3 Czechs and Italians 3 ). The German Wolfgang Stein (Kl 36) and the Italian team captain Ambrogio Colombo (Ba -42) had to retire due to engine damage, some other teams also had technical problems, but were able to resolve them.

The next day (September 8 ) had some crews in the morning with poor visibility problems finding the airfield of Bordeaux. Particularly affected were the very rapid Bf 108A. These had between land even weather conditions and reduce speed. Theo Osterkamp and Gerhard stroke had problems with the local police, because they were just security- landed in an open field, they found no airfield. Ernst Krüger damaged his Klemm Kl 36 in such a precautionary landing and could not resume the race. 14 crews reached on this day Seville, nine remained in Madrid. Two crews remained in Bordeaux, including Stanisław Plonczynski (RWD -9). Andrzej Włodarkiewicz and Szczepan Grzeszczyk ( PZL.26 ), meanwhile, reached Casablanca ( 3715.2 km ).

On September 9, all remaining teams Africa with Andrzej Włodarkiewicz and three Bf 108A reached in the lead. 18 crews reached Algiers that day. 9 Poland, six German and three Czechs flew up here 4774 Odometer. The last two teams reached on this day Meknes, including Stanisław Plonczynski. Some crews had to give up already: Fritz Morzik (the winner of 1929 and 1930 on Kl 36) had between land due to a defective fuel pump three times. Just had to give Szczepan Grzeszczyk with his PZL.26 in Sidi Bel Abbes due to engine problems and previous stopovers. A Kl 36 had a damaged wing and already had to stay in Spain on the ground, the Pole Tadeusz Karpiński (RWD -9) was disqualified for falling below the minimum speed in Seville, the Italian pilot Pierro de Angeli fell ill and could not fly. On September 10, the last then reached Algiers, this remaining 24 crews then ended the first part of the race, with the Pole Stefan Florjanowicz (RWD -9) abandoned there because of engine failure.

The competition went on September 11 further in Algiers, Tunis 23 crews reached on this day, September 12, they launched further across the Mediterranean to Palermo. This flight was accompanied by the Italian Navy and the French flying boats, 22 crew reached on this day Rome and an Italian pilot retired in his home country because of engine failure.

On September 13, the weather was bad, still reached two planes Prague to 7924 km. The Fastest days was Theo Osterkamp on Bf 108A, while two others had Bf 108A between land near Trieste due to deteriorating weather and spent the night in Zagreb.

On September 14, ended under Cheering the waiting crowd 16 crews race in Warsaw. The first of the day was the Pole Ignacy Giedgowd ( PZL- 26). Among the first arrivals were five poles, six German, three Czechs and two Italians. The previously fastest Pole Andrzej Włodarkiewicz ( PZL -26) had at Tarnów before Lemberg due to engine problems and give up land, as Walter MacPherson ( Puss Moth).

On 15 September, the last three crews reached Warsaw: Werner Junck and Karl Francke with the Bf 108A and Piotr Dudziński on PZL.26. The last of the retired was Jan Balcer ( PZL.26 ) because of a compressor damage outside Vilnius. Fritz Morzik (Kl 36), Tadeusz Karpiński (RWD -9) and Andrzej Włodarkiewicz ( PZL.26 ) finished the race on that day after due to technical problems could not repair their plane.

Only 19 of 32 launched crews finished the race with intact aircraft. The Czech team was complete with their A.200 in the target, as well as the German Fieseler Fi 97 The good expected result of the Bf 108A has been tarnished because of weather-related slow phases of flight and stopovers. The best results obtained the pilots who managed to fly as high average speed over the entire race time. Most of the score was awarded to crews who stopped by the race, the route einhielten and did not spend night outside a prescribed aerodromes.

Following the technical competition and the air race Jerzy Bajan held the first place in the overall standings with 1855 points. Second was Stanisław Plonczynski with 1821 points, Hans Seidemann in third with 1813 points, followed by two Czechs: Ján Ambruš ( 1795 points ) and Jan Anderle (1770 points). The Bf 108A pilots were disappointing, only 12 ( Werner Junck - 1733 points ), 13th ( Theo Osterkamp - 1729 points ) and 15 (Karl Francke - 1715 points ).

Competition in high-speed flight

The last competition was the quick flight on a 297 km long triangular course. He was started on Sunday, August 16th at 16:00 clock on the Mokotwskie airfield in Warsaw, each km / h over 210 km / h was measured at one point.

The fastest three aircraft were the German Bf 108A with Theo Osterkamp at the top with 291 km / h on average. The next three places went to the Polish RWD -9: Stanisław Plonczynski Jan Buczyński, Jerzy Bajan and Henryk Skrzypiński, the points with Hans Seidemann (Fi 97) was. The Pole Ignacy Giedgowd ( PZL.26 ) and the Italian Ernesto Sanzin (Ba - 39S ) had to land because of engine problems and achieved no point.

The Bf 108A were able to still improve their positions, the first four places in the overall classification they no longer can change: Bayan - Plonczynski - Seidemann - Ambruz - Osterkamp - Junck.

Final result

The closing ceremony was held after high-speed flight competition on September 16. The winner was the Polish team to Jerzy Bajan and his mechanic Gustav Pokrzywka. Their success was not only a result of their flying skills, but also because of the good flight performance of their RWD 9th Due to the victory, the Polish team would have had the right to align the next flight across Europe in 1936, but this declined for financial reasons. The FAI offered to the other participating nations in the alignment, but also rejected. The flight across Europe in 1934 thus remained the last, and the trophy was allowed to remain with the Polish Aero Club.