Replica Racers

[Ira_Silverman]

While visiting the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA last week, I came across three extremely interesting replica Schneider Trophy Racing seaplanes.

The first, a 1913 Deperdussin Monocoque, was accurate down to the last detail. The second was an accurate replica of Jimmy Doolittle’s Navy-Curtiss R3C-2 (the original is in the NASM). The third appears to be a fictitious aircraft that appears to be a Macchi M.52, EXCEPT that it is a biplane. To my knowledge, there was no Macchi aircraft of this configuration.

I was told the replicas are non-flying, but do have engines to spin the prop and provide exhaust gasses. They were made for a movie, but nobody seemed to know what movie.

Any suggestions as to where these replicas may have appeared?

VBR,

Ira

[leo]

During WWII there was a movie made about the Spitfire Fighter and its designer. I seem to remembr a lot of footage about the Schneider Trophy. I don't remember the name of it, my brain is much too hiskey soaked for that, but perhaps someone eslse does. Incidentally, I don,t remember that movie giving any credit to Ernst Heinkel and the He 70, which greatly influenced the development of the Spitfire.

[Ira_Silverman]

Leo:

The movie was “Spitfire,” and starred Leslie Howard as Reginalkd Mitchell. High point of the film was the meeting between Howard/Mitchell and Willy Messerschmidt. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during their actual meeting!

I may be wrong, but I don’t think these replicas date back that far. They look more likely to have been constructed in the 1960’s or later. Oncidently, the last time I visited Planes of Fame, in 1995, the WEREN’T there.

The mystery continues…

VBR,

Ira

Ira:

The Schneider Trophy Race biplane you saw may have been a replica of the Gloster IV or Gloster IVA. Both biplanes closely resembled the Macchi M.52.

Regards,
Cliff Presley

[Ira_Silverman]

Hi Cliff:

Thanks for the suggestion.

It does look very much like a Gloster III, actually. What's throwing me is the color. The Glosters were Cambridge blue and the replica is Italian red.

Still searching for the movie...

VBR,

Ira

[Brad]

Hi Ira
At the Owls Head Transportation museum there is a flying replica of the 1913 Dep I think it arrived
about 6 years ago, It was also made for a movie any chance its the same one? Lycoming powered? scary to fly . you can find a pic at the museum web sight and they can tell you its history. Brad

[Ira_Silverman]

Hi Brad:

Thanks for the tip.

I visited the Owl’s Head site. The Dep does look similar, but the one in Chino is a floatplane, and the woodworking on the floats is – well, I wish my furniture looked so good!

I was also told the Chino aircraft was powered but non-flying.

VBR,

Ira

[PeterL]

<CENTER></CENTER>

Just a thought, but all the aircraft listed feature in the "Porco Rosso" anime series. I wonder if someone has been working on a live action version. (Last I read Disney have the rights) On the other hand, two of those listed raced in the US for the 1925 trophy. TV movie?

Peter L

Ira wrote:
<the woodworking on the floats is – well, I wish my furniture looked so good!>

There's a Curtis HS-2L flying boat at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa that generates the same feelings in me. The mahogany hull is varnished to the point where you can see yourself reflected in it. The bit that killed me, though, was this: the thousands of tiny brass screws that secure the mahogany to the frame are aligned so that the slots in their heads all face fore-and-aft, to reduce drag. (!!)