Challenge 1930

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The Challenge 1930 was the second FAI International Tourist Plane Contest (French: Challenge International de Tourisme), that took place between July 16 and August 8 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Germany organized the contest, because the German pilot Fritz Morzik won the previous contest in 1929. 60 aircraft entered the Challenge in 1930, from six countries: Germany (30 crews), Poland (12 crews), United Kingdom (7 crews), France (6 crews), Spain (3 crews) and the Swiss (2 crews). It was the first major international event in which the Polish aviation took part.

In the German team there was first of all Fritz Morzik - a winner of the Challenge 1929. Among the British team, there were pilots: Captain Hubert Broad (2nd place in 1929), the Canadian John Carberry (3rd place in 1929) and two women: Winifred Spooner and Lady Mary Bailey. In the Spanish team, there was prince Antonio Habsburg-Bourbon. Many other known aviators of that time took part in the contest as well.

The contest was open on July 16, 1930, at Berlin-Staaken airfield. It consisted of two parts: a race over Europe and technical trials. Since one of the aims of the Challenge was to generate a progress in aircraft designing, it was not only pilots' competition, but technical trials also included a construction evaluation, to build more advanced touring planes. All planes flew with two-men crews, pilot and passenger or mechanic.

The aircraft before start. Among others, Hubert Broad's Gipsy Moth G-AAHR is visible.
The aircraft before start. Among others, Hubert Broad's Gipsy Moth G-AAHR is visible.

[edit] Aircraft

Most of the aircraft in the contest were popular sport planes of the late 1920s, that took part in the previous contest as well, like de Havilland Gipsy Moth (DH-60G), which was the main aircraft of the British and Spanish teams. These aircraft had mostly open cabs, built in low-wing, high-wing or biplane layout. On contrary to a previous contest, there appeared also some special aircraft, better suited to meet the Challenge demands. First of all, they were German BFW M.23c and Klemm L.25E, being new variants of successful machines of 1929 - wooden low-wing monoplanes with closed canopy, having better chance in technical trials. All aircraft in the contest had fixed landing gear and had no wing mechanization (slats or flaps) yet.

The aircraft had alphanumerical starting numbers, the German from a range: A2-A9, B3-B9, C1-C9, D1-D8, E1-E9, F1-F2, British: K1-K8, French: L1-L3, M1-M6, Polish: O1-O9, P1-P5, Swiss: S1-S2, Spanish: T1-T7 (numbers were painted in a circle, with inscription: Challenge International and 1930).

[edit] Race over Europe

The contest in 1930 was the only Challenge, in which a race was the opening phase. It was a 7560 km race over Europe, on a path: Berlin - Frankfurt - St. Inglevert near Calais - Bristol - London - St. Inglevert - Paris - Pau - Saragossa - Madrid - Sevilla - Saragossa - Barcelona - Lyon - Munich - Vienna - Prague - Breslau - Poznań - Warsaw - Königsberg - Danzig - Berlin. A regularity of flights was the most important factor, the second was a cruise speed.

The race started on July 20. On the first day, the fastest crews reached St. Inglevert, 1058 km away. On July 21, the crews flew over the English Channel, and the fastest planes managed to return back to France. Three Englishmen and three Frenchmen reached Paris that day.

On July 22 the fastest pilots reached Madrid, 3019 km from the start. They were three Englishmen Hubert Broad, A. Butler (both DH-60G) and Sidney Thorn (Avro Avian), John Carberry (Monocoupe 90), three Germans (Fritz Morzik, Willy Polte - both BFW M.23c, Reinhold Poss - Klemm L.25E) and two Frenchmen (Francis Arrachart, Maurice Finat). Three more crews flew to Saragossa over the Pyrenees. The rest was spread out on the whole track, the slowest pilots being only 800-1000 km away from Berlin. Nine crews had already dropped out, mostly due to breakdowns and crashes.

Eleven fastest crews were the lucky ones to get to Spain, because on July 23 and 24, the whole rest of crews were grounded in Pau due to bad weather over the Pyrenees. On July 25, the weather improved and the rest of crews was allowed to fly to Saragossa. Meanwhile, 4 fastest pilots: H. Broad, S. Thorn, A. Butler and R. Poss, reached Wrocław. Four crews dropped out that day, among them the best Polish pilot Franciszek Żwirko, flying RWD-4 (due to engine fault). On July 26, two German crewmen were killed in a crash landing in Lyon, while the other German crew fell into the sea, but were salvaged by a ship.

On July 27 the first pilots finished in Berlin. The first were two Englishmen, Hubert Broad (DH-60G) and Sidney Thorn (Avro Avian), and a German, Reinhold Poss (Klem L.25E). In an hour, there flew also Fritz Morzik (BFW M.23c), the Frenchman Maurice Finat (Caudron 193), prince Antonio Habsburg-Bourbon (DH-60G) and two other Germans. The fastest on the whole track was A. Butler (DH-60G - 179 km/h), but unfortunately, due to propeller exchange in Poznań, he was disqualified and finished the race beside competition. The fastest among competitors was Hubert Broad (176 km/h). On that day, 35 crews were still on the track. On July 28 seven crews reached Berlin, on July 29 - 9 more, and the rest - on next days. The last crews finished the race on August 1. Some crews dropped out in these last days as well.

The race over Europe appeared to be quite difficult for aircraft and pilots. Only 35 crews out of 60 finished the race in time. Further 7 crews finished the race, but were disqualified due to delay or repairs. After the race, a leader in the general classification was Hubert Broad (DH-60G, 270 points), behind him: John Carberry (Monocoupe 90, 268 pts), Reinhold Poss (Klemm L.25E, 264 pts), fourth was Fritz Morzik (BFW M.23c, 263 pts). Seventh was Winifred Spooner (260 pts). The best Swiss crew was on the 13th place, the best Pole Stanislaw Płonczyński on the 14th place (RWD-2, 236 pkt).

Top results of the race:

  1. Hubert Broad (UK) - DH-60G - 270 pts
  2. John Carberry (Canada) - Monocoupe 90 - 268 pts
  3. Reinhold Poss (Germany) - Klemm L.25E - 264 pts
  4. Fritz Morzik (Germany) - BFW M.23c - 263 pts
  5. Willy Polte (Germany) - BFW M.23c - 262 pts
  6. Oskar Notz (Germany) - Kl L.25E - 261 pts
  7. Winifred Spooner (UK) - DH-60G - 260 pts
  8. Dietrich von Massenbach (Germany) - BFW M.23c - 256 pts
  9. Ernst Krüger (Germany) - BFW M.23c - 254 pts
  10. Joachim von Köppen (Germany) - BFW M.23c - 253 pts
  11. Sidney Thorn (UK) - Avro Avian - 250 pts
  12. Oskar Dinort (Germany) - Kl L.25E - 250 pts
  13. Jean Pierroz (Suiss) - Breda Ba-15S - 238 pts
  14. Stanisław Płonczyński (Poland) - RWD-2 - 236 pts
  15. Edward Więckowski (Poland) - RWD-2 - 234 pts

[edit] Technical trials

On August 1 there took place a technical evaluation of competing planes' construction. Since it was a touring plane contest, such features, like comfortable cab, rich set of controls, safety devices and folding wings were also awarded. Most points was given to the American Monocoupe 90 of John Carberry (74 pts), then to three German Junkers A50 (67-69 pts). 62 points were given to Klemm L.25E of Reinhold Poss, the same to Polish RWD-4 of Jerzy Bajan. DH-60G of Hubert Broad was awarded only with 56 pts, while BFW M.23c of Fritz Morzik with 54 pts. The second worst was the evaluation of Sidney Thorn's Avro Avian - 43 pts.

The first was a trial of quick wings' folding, which was a feature to save place in hangars. The quickest were the British crews of DH-60's (Hubert Broad's crew folded wings in mere 48 sec), but the Germans were awarded with extra 6 points for a way of folding in their aircraft, and BFW M.23c were given most points (24 pts). John Carberry's Monocoupe and Polish RWD's were handicapped, not having folding wings.

The next were quick engine starting test, and on August 3, a fuel consumption trial on a 304 km distance. The best in fuel consumption, awarded with 30 pts, were RWD-2 and then German Klemms and BFW's.

After these trials, leaders in a classification became Germans: Reinhold Poss (382 pts), Oskar Notz (380 pts), Fritz Morzik (378 pts), then John Carberry (377 pts), Hubert Broad (375 pts) and Winifred Spooner (370 pts).

On August 6 and 7 there was a short take-off trial, demanding flying over an 8.5m-high gate with a rope. Each crew had 4 trials. The German pilot Ernst Krüger was the best, starting from the lowest distance of 125.5 m, then Fritz Morzik (126.4 m) - both flying the BFW M.23c, and awarded with 30 pts. Next places were occupied also by the Germans, the sixth was Winifred Spooner flying DH-60 (142 m - 25 pts).

The last was a short landing trial, from above an 8.5m-high gate. The best result, 127.3 m, was made by the German Theo Osterkamp, flying older model of Klemm L.25 Ia, then Friedrich Siebel (Klemm L.26). The third was Winifred Spooner (21 pts); Fritz Morzik and Reinhold Poss had the 5th and 6th result respectively.

[edit] Results

After a short landing test, on August 8 there was an ending ceremony. The first three places were occupied by the Germans, the winner was Fritz Morzik again. On the fourth place was Miss Winifred Spooner, who managed to improve her position during technical trials since the race over Europe.

Only 35 crews of 60 completed the contest, among them 20 German, 6 British, 4 Polish, 2 Swiss, 2 French, 1 Spanish.

  Pilot country aircraft registration
/ starting number		 points: race
+ technical = total
1. Fritz Morzik Flag of Germany Germany BFW M.23c D-1883 / B3 263 + 164 = 427
2. Reinhold Poss Flag of Germany Germany Klemm L.25E D-1901 / B8 264 + 159 = 423
3. Oskar Notz Flag of Germany Germany Klemm L.25E D-1902 / C1 261 + 158 = 419
4. Winifred Spooner Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom DH-60G G-AALK / K8 260 + 156 = 416
5. Willy Polte Flag of Germany Germany BFW M.23c D-1892 / F2 262 + 147 = 409
6. John Carberry Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Monocoupe 90 G-ABBR / K7 268 + 137 = 405
7. Dietrich von Massenbach Flag of Germany Germany BFW M.23c D-1888 / C7 256 + 142 = 398
8. Hubert Broad Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom DH-60G G-AAHR / K3 270 + 125 = 395
9. Ernst Krüger Flag of Germany Germany BFW M.23c D-1891 / E8 254 + 140 = 394
10. Oskar Dinort Flag of Germany Germany Klemm L.25E D-1900 / B9 250 + 135 = 385

Some other results:

14. Jean R. Pierroz Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Breda Ba-15S CH-257 / S1 238 + 124 = 362 (the best Swiss)
16. Sidney Thorn Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Avro Avian G-AAHJ / K1 250 + 88 = 338
17. Maurice Finat Flag of France France Caudron C.193 F-AJSI / M2 214 + 123 = 337 pts (the best French)
19. Stanisław Płonczyński Flag of Poland Poland RWD-2 SP-ADG / P3 236 + 100 = 336 pts (the best Pole)
30. Antonio Habsburg-Bourbon Flag of Spain Spain DH-60G M-CKAA / T5 144 + 101 = 245 pts (the best Spanish)

Due to the German victory, the next Challenge 1932 was organized in Germany as well. The next Challenge, due to regulations' changes, turned out to be more difficult contest. For 1932 contest, most countries developed advanced sport aircraft, with high technical performance.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Marian Krzyżan: "Międzynarodowe turnieje lotnicze 1929-1934", Warsaw 1988, ISBN 83-206-0637-3 (Polish language)
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