Grooming -- 8 minutes ago
Words: Hamish Roy
In 1934, a wealthy Australian confectioner named Sir MacPherson Robertson put up AUD 75,ooo prize money for a proposed air race between England and Australia. Addressing the race committee for the first time, he charged them with ensuring that it would be the greatest air race that the world had ever seen. Indeed it would be; spanning Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia, the route would see some of the world’s finest pilots attempt to complete this pan-continental far faster than ever before.
The route of the MacRobertson air race. Image: Bremont
The plan of action was remarkably simple. Twenty aircraft, each of them piloted by the foremost aviators from six nations, would set off from RAF Mildenhall in England, making their way to the finish line via 5 compulsory stops: Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin and finally Melbourne. Otherwise, there were surprisingly few rules; no pilot could join a plane after takeoff, and each aircraft had to carry three days’ worth of emergency supplies. Aircraft size, type, weight, design and crew size was, however, unrestricted, which brought competitors flying everything from lightweight two-seaters to new passenger aircraft (the latter hoping to prove themselves and pave the way for new commercial routes).
The DH-88 Comet Grosvenor House. Image: Darren Harbar/Bremont
Some time before the race was due to start, however, it become apparent that Britain lacked an aircraft with the right balance of speed and range necessary to be within a chance of winning. America, on the other hand, had several new passenger planes ready to fly, and looked the favourites to take the trophy. With this potential embarrassment looming, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, an aviator and prominent aircraft engineer, proposed to build an entirely new aircraft for Britain to race. Knowing that the cost of such a project would never be recuperated, de Hallivand proposed that they sell each of the 5 aircraft for a relatively modest £5,000, hoping instead for recompense in the form of good publicity and prestige. The resulting aircraft was the de Havilland DH-88 Comet, a two-seater with a top speed of 220mph and a range of 2,900 miles. Having worked day and night to deliver it on time, the de Hallivand Aircraft Company were able to begin testing just 11 days before the race. Of three initial orders, one had been placed by Albert O. Edwards, the managing director of the Grosvenor House Hotel. This plane, subsequently named Grosvenor House, was to be the British contender for the race.
Image: Darren Harbar/Bremont
Two highly-qualified ex-service pilots were chosen to fly Grosvenor House: Flight Lt. Charles W.A. Scott and Captain Thomas Campbell Black. Both had considerable experience flying long distances in the Empire, and Scott was the holder of the England–Australia record at the time. Using their considerable expertise, the pair battled mechanical faults and exhaustion in order to carve out a considerable lead over the other competitors. Making minimal stops, they were well ahead by the time they reached the Australian leg, despite flying with one of the engines throttled back after it had cut out completely while over the sea. Approaching Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse, the weary pilots dove down towards the crowds, ignorant of the roar that went up as the plane appeared in the distant haze, looking little more than a millimetre-thick spot on the horizon. Once on the ground, however, the jubilation was all too clear; Scott and Black were championed as heroes of the sky, even receiving a congratulatory telegram from the King. They had covered the 11,380 miles in a remarkable time of 71 hours, claiming an unequivocal victory. Indeed, it would be a further 20 hours before another plane touched down to take second place. Commenting on their achievement in his congratulatory speech, Sir Macpherson Robertson, the patron of the race, remarked:
“You have thrilled the world… Your epic flight has manifested the courage and endurance for which British airmen are justly famed. The world is indebted to you for demonstrating aviation’s ability to draw closer the peoples of the earth.”
The Watch
This year, Bremont pay homage to both the de Hallivand Comet and the MacRobertson air race with their 2016 Limited Edition DH-88 watch, sales of which will raise funds for the Shuttleworth Collection, a charity that preserves and restores historical aircraft. It was this very charity that acquired and preserved Grosvenor House, which is now the only flightworthy DH-88 Comet in existence. The cofounders of Bremont, Nick and Giles English, have themselves flown the plane, a priviledge that would have been impossible without the restoration work undertaken by the Shuttleworth Collection.
Image: Bremont
The watch itself captures the design language of the 1930s, showcasing arabic numerals in period typography, tapering minute and hour hands and a matte black metal dial that recalls a vintage instrument panel. Visible through the crystal window in the back of the watch is a wooden rotor containing original spruce plywood from the undercarriage of the winning aircraft. This wood was removed from Grosvenor House in the late 80s, when the aircraft underwent essential strengthening work in order to make it airworthy once again. Now, it takes on a new life, imbuing each Limited Edition watch with a tangible piece of the history it commemorates. The watch will be available in a limited run of 282 editions in polished steel and 82 in rose gold, both of which will house Bremont’s BE-54AE chronometer.
Image: Bremont
For more information, visit www.bremont.com
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