75th Anniversary Schneider Cup

The world’s fastest air race returned to the Isle of Wight on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September when the 75th Anniversary Schneider Cup touched down at Bembridge Airport. The race, sponsored by Breitling Watches and the Isle of Wight Council was hosted by Britten Norman Aircraft Group, the last UK manufacturer of aeroplanes.

Aircrafts could be seen from far and wide

The racing extravaganza was visible from locations across the Island and in Portsmouth. 50 enthusiastic pilots plus navigators from across the globe chose to compete aboard a range of aircrafts including trainers, single seat racers, classic tourers, executive twins, homebuilts, seaplanes and war-birds racing at speeds between 100-250mph.

The race course began at Bembridge and headed over the Solent to Gilkicker Point (near Portsmouth) before returning over Osborne House, turning south east of Cowes and back to Bembridge airfield.
The 50 aircraft took the opportunity to practice the course first on Friday and Saturday morning, before completing five 25-mile laps on Saturday afternoon (3pm), for The Rolls Royce Merlin Trophy.

Diminishing black clouds lifted competitive spirits

Unfortunately, due to wet and windy weather conditions, some of the events (including a spitfire demonstration) had to be cancelled on the Saturday and a race was postponed on the Sunday. However, the competition was revived later on when the clouds lifted, allowing pilots took to the skies again, this time for the main event – The 75th Schneider Air Race.

The winning pilot of the Schneider race, Farnborough man Martin Kellet, received a solid silver replica trophy and his name attached to the original (which is on loan to the Science Museum in London), as well as £3,000.

The Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association has, over many years, developed a system of handicapping which sees the slowest aircraft take off first and the fastest last. Winner Martin Kellet flew around the course in a French aircraft in the fastest time after all planes had been handicapped. Ironically, his plane was one of the slowest out of the fifty that took part.

There were also prizes of £100 each for the top ten in the Saturday Rolls Royce Merlin Trophy Air Race - for pilots who had completed two air races earlier in the 2006 season.

Coming back down to earth with a crash

One un-expecting pilot made the news during the Schneider Trophy weekend when he was forced to crash-land his Beagle Pup aircraft on Sandown beach having radioed in to say he had a problem with his engine. Fortunately no one was on the beach at the time, the pilot, London man Ivan Sech-Allen, wasn’t hurt and the plane remained virtually undamaged. The tow-tractor from Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat pulled the plane clear of the water where it was later inspected.

Another successful world-class event draws to a close on the IOW

The 75th Anniversary Schneider Gala Dinner was held on Saturday 2nd September in a marquee on the airfield. VIP’s, sponsors, pilots and guests were entertained by a ‘big band’ and acknowledged in key speeches. The highlight of the evening was a spectacular display by the Rolls Royce Supermarine Spitfire flown by their chief test pilot Phil O’Dell over Bembridge.

Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Councillor Andy Sutton said: “The council is very pleased to support the Schneider Trophy Air Race: Not only is this good for the Island in terms of bringing visitors, but together with Cowes Week, The Isle of Wight Music Festival and the Wight Air Extreme Sports festival, The Schneider Cup promotes the Island as a venue for world-class events.”

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