Schneider air race over Southsea and the Solent | Nostalgia

More than 250,000 spectators were believed to have packed Southsea for the 1929 air race.
By Deborah Croker
Published 29th Sep 2021, 19:26 BST
A plane taking part in the Schneider Air Race over the Solent in May 1988. Picture: PP1685A plane taking part in the Schneider Air Race over the Solent in May 1988. Picture: PP1685
A plane taking part in the Schneider Air Race over the Solent in May 1988. Picture: PP1685

In September that year entrants in the Schneider air race flew low over Southsea thrilling enormous crowds which were estimated at a quarter of a million.

The event, first flown in 1913, was originally a race for seaplanes and flying boats.

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When it was revived in the 1980s it was for any propeller-driven landplane capable of maintaining 100mph in straight and level flight.

One of the competitors in the 1929 Schneider Trophy Air Race flying over Southsea.One of the competitors in the 1929 Schneider Trophy Air Race flying over Southsea.
One of the competitors in the 1929 Schneider Trophy Air Race flying over Southsea.

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