King's Cup Race

This article is about the British air race. For other uses, see King's Cup (disambiguation).

The King's Cup Race is an annual British handicapped cross-country air race, is run by the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association and was first contested on 8 September 1922. The event was open to British pilots only, but that did include members of the Commonwealth.[1]

The event was established by King George V as an incentive to the development of light aircraft and engine design. The first race was an 810-mile contest from Croydon Aerodrome, south of London, to Glasgow, Scotland and back again after an overnight stop. The winner of the first race was Frank L. Barnard, chief pilot of the Instone Air Line, in a passenger-carrying Airco DH.4A.[2]

There were no races during World War II (1939–45), and the contest did not resume until 1949. The race was abandoned in 1951, due to bad weather.

Along with the Schneider Trophy, and the British Air Racing Championship, it is one of the most sought after prizes of an air racing season.

Airco DH.4A (G-EAMU), after winning the first King's Cup air race, 1922

Winners

Finish date Location of finish Course
length
miles		 No. of
starters
 Winning pilot Aircraft type Identity Race
no.
 Avge
speed
mph
9 September 1922 Croydon 810 22 Frank L. Barnard Airco DH.4A G-EAMU 123.6[3]
14 July 1923 RAF Hendon 794 17 Frank T. Courtney A.W. Siskin II G-EBEU 149
12 August 1924 Lee-on-Solent 950 10 Alan J. Cobham de Havilland DH.50 G-EBFN 106.6
4 July 1925 Croydon 1,608 14 Frank L. Barnard A.W. Siskin V G-EBLQ 141.7
10 July 1926 RAF Hendon 1,464 14 Hubert S. Broad de Havilland DH.60 Moth G-EBMO 90.4
30 July 1927 Hucknall 540 16 W. L. Hope de Havilland DH.60 Moth G-EBME 5 92.8
20 July 1928 Brooklands 1,097 36 W. L. Hope de Havilland DH.60 Moth G-EBYZ 7 105.5
6 July 1929 Heston 1,170 41 R. L. R. Atcherley Gloster Grebe II J7520 39 150
5 July 1930 Hanworth 753.25 88 Miss Winifred Brown Avro Avian III G-EBVZ 55 102.75
25 July 1931 Heston 983[4] 40 E. C. T. Edwards Blackburn Bluebird IV G-AACC 117.8
9 July 1932 Brooklands 1,223 42 W. L. Hope de Havilland Fox Moth G-ABUT 7 124.25
8 July 1933 Hatfield 831[5] 42 Geoffrey de Havilland de Havilland Leopard Moth G-ACHD 23 139.51
14 July 1934 Hatfield 801 41 Harry M. Schofield GAL Monospar ST-10 G-ACTS 15 134.16
7 September 1935 Hatfield 801 43 Tommy Rose Miles M.3B Falcon Six G-ADLC 176.28
11 July 1936 Hatfield 1,380 26 Charles E. Gardner Percival Vega Gull G-AEKE 6? 164.47
11 September 1937 Hatfield 1,443 27 Charles E. Gardner Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL 4 233.7
2 July 1938 Hatfield 1,102 19 Alex Henshaw Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF 22 236.25
30 July 1949 Elmdon 60 36 J. Nat Somers AFC Miles M.65 Gemini 3 G-AKDC 9 164.25
17 June1950 Pendeford 186 36 Edward Day Miles M.14 Hawk Trainer 3 G-AKRV 14 138.5
12 July 1952 Woolsington 131.2 12 C. Gregory Taylorcraft Plus D G-AHGZ 5 113.5
21 June 1953 Rochford 59.34 12 Pat Fillingham DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-AKDN 54 142
19 June 1954 Baginton 68 15 Harold Wood Miles M.38 Messenger 2A G-AKBO 38 133
20 August 1955 Baginton 68 15 Peter S. Clifford Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF 97 213.5
21 July 1956 Baginton 68 16 James H. Denyer Auster J/1N Alpha G-AJRH 7 124
14 July 1957 Baginton 40.6 35 Fred Dunkerley Miles M.77 Sparrowjet G-ADNL 98 228
12 July 1958 Baginton 71.6 21 James H. Denyer DH.82A Tiger Moth G-AIVW 30 118.5
11 July 1959 Baginton 72 21 A. J. Spiller Percival Proctor 3 G-AHFK 64 143
9 July 1960 Baginton 68.36 21 John de M. Severne Druine D.31 Turbulent G-APNZ 7 109
15 July 1961* Baginton 72 21 H. Brian Iles Miles M.18 G-AHKY 35 142
18 August 1962 Baginton 67.5 21 Peter S. Clifford Tipsy Nipper 2 G-ARDY 11 101
5 August 1963 Baginton 72 22 Paul G. Bannister Tipsy Nipper 3 G-APYB 10 102.5
1 August 1964 Baginton 72 22 Dennis M. Hartas LeVier Cosmic Wind G-ARUL 75 185
21 August 1965 Baginton 40 12 John Stewart-Wood Cessna 172C G-ARYS 34 131.5
12 August 1966 Baginton 66 16 John A.C. Miles DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-APTS 23 135
19 August 1967 Tollerton 75 17 Charles B.G. Masefield N.A. P-51D Mustang N6356T 100 277.5
24 August 1968 Tollerton 79.2 16 F.R.E. Hayter DH.87B Hornet Moth G-ADKM 42 121
12 July 1969 Rochester 50 16 Robin D'Erlanger Druine D.31 Turbulent G-ASAM 3 99.5
28 June 1970 Tollerton 95 26 Mike Pruden Champion 7ECA Citabria N7566F 118 129.5
14 August 1971 White Waltham 155.5 30 J. Bradshaw Percival P.56 Provost G-AWPH 33 204.5
15 July 1972 Booker 120 58 Stan Warwick Glos-Airtourer T4 G-AZBE 95 164.5
9 September 1973 Cranfield 112.5 28 H.W. Bonner DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-ARWB 77
29 September 1974 Tees-side Jan Behrman Piper PA-24 Comanche 70? 186.6
28 September 1975 Baginton 68? 21 John Cull Bölkow Bo 208C Junior 128.66
15 August 1976 Baginton 102 18 A.J. Spiller Cessna 180 G-ASIT 64 162.89
11 September 1977 Baginton 18 Andrew Chadwick Rollason Beta G-AWHX 33 197.19
17 September 1978 Thruxton 102 22 John Stewart-Wood Piper PA-34 Seneca G-BDRI 34 200.48
9 September 1979 Jurby, Isle of Man 25 Ian Dalziel Miles M.3A Falcon Major G-AEEG 54 136.3
21 September 1980 Finningley 103 A.J. Spiller Cessna 180 G-ASIT 64
19 September 1981 Finningley 103 22 Josephine O'Donnell Piper PA-18 Super Cub G-NICK 103 102
4 September 1982 Finningley Geoffrey Richardson Bolkow Bo 209 Monsun G-AZOB 104 154.81
17 September 1983 Finningley 105 29 Don Sainsbury Piper PA-28R Cherokee Arrow 166.54
15 September 1984 St Athan 110 18 K Fehrenback Beagle Pup 100 G-AZDA 120.65[6]
15 September 1985 Shoreham G Franks SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 G-BDEN 69
31 August 1986 Thruxton S/Ldr C Hilliker
4 September 1988 Leicester S/Ldr M Baker
3 September 1989 Leicester R Hayes/R Nesbitt
2 September 1990 Leicester A Hawley
1 September 1991 Leicester S Jones
6 September 1992 Leicester Peter Crispe Cessna 337F Skymaster G-AWVS
5 September 1993 Leicester Roger Hayes
4 September 1994 Leicester Geoffrey Boot Cessna 340 N66SW 220
3 September 1995 Leicester D Soul
1 September 1996 Leicester E Coventry
7 September 1997 Leicester Melanie Willes
5 September 1999 Leicester Roger Hayes
3 September 2000 Leicester Milan Konstantinovic
9 September 2001 Leicester J Spooner Cessna 182 G-CBIL
8 September 2002 Leicester S Ollier
6 September 2003 Leicester Geoffrey Boot Beagle Pup 150 G-TSKY 131
12 September 2004 Leicester Phil Wadsworth
21 August 2005 Shobdon Roger Hayes
13 August 2006 Shobdon Nigel Reddish Vans RV-7 G-SEVN 777
1 July 2007 Sywell Neil Cooper Beagle Pup 150 G-IPUP 12
10 August 2008 Sywell Nigel Reddish Vans RV-7 G-SEVN 777
16 August 2009 Sywell Richard Marsden Vans RV-6 G-TNGO 23 190
15 August 2010 Sywell Roderick Morton Slingsby T.67 Firefly G-KONG 293
14 August 2011 Sywell 120 13 Malcolm Montgomerie Cessna 152 G-BJWH 72 116
19 August 2012 Shobdon 97 Gordon Bellerby Grumman AA-5B Tiger G-BXFW 82 124.5
18 August 2013 Shobdon 97 13 Geoffrey Boot Siai Marchetti SF260W G-NRRA 31 204
17 August 2014 Shobdon 121 13 Michael Wingenroth Beagle Pup 150 G-TSKY 2 132.6

'*' As of 1961, aircraft designed outside Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations were allowed to enter.

Notes

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia of Sport, Charles Harvey (ed.) - Purnell & Sons 1959
  2. ↑ Berliner, Don. Concise History website
  3. ↑ Lewis 1971, pp. 128–129.
  4. ↑ route was Heston, Mousehold (Norwich), Sheerburn, Hooton, Heston, Bristol, Heston
  5. ↑ held as 13 heats
  6. ↑ "Beagle Pup wins King's Cup". Flight International, 29 September 1984, Vol. 126, No. 3927. p. 791.

References

External links