1927
For the 1927 competition, six aircraft, from three manufacturers, were taken to Venice: a pair of Supermarine S.5s, three Gloster IVs and a single Short Crusader. The Crusader was slower than the others, and was intended for training, but crashed on 11 September 1927. The cause was later identified as a control rigging error, following re-assembly after the journey from the UK to Venice.
The Supermarine S.5s came in first and second, with neither the Gloster nor the three Italian aircraft completing the race. As the winning nation, the UK would host the following event. This was the last annual competition. Subsequently, the race was held on a biannual schedule, to allow more time for development between races.
| Pilot | Aircraft | Race position |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Lieutenant S. Kinkead | Gloster IVB N223 | did not finish |
| Flight Lieutenant S. Webster | Supermarine S.5 N220 | 1st place, at 281.65 mph |
| Flight Lieutenant Worsley | Supermarine S.5 N219 | 2nd place, at 272.91 mph |
| Squadron Leader L. Slatter | Short Crusader N226 | |
| Flying Officer H. M. Schofield | Short Crusader N226 | did not compete, injured in Crusader crash |
Read more about this topic: High Speed Flight RAF