Salò Hosts Seaplane Show Recreating Historic Schneider Cup Races
Following the controversies surrounding the display of the “Red Arrows,” the British aerobatic squadron seen, last summer, from afar, Salò has decided to change genre this year. Instead of jets exceeding the speed of sound, it will feature seaplanes tomorrow.
Organization and Program of the Event
The event, organized by the Comitato promotore della Coppa Schneider, with the patronage of the municipality, will award the “Agello” trophy. Starting at 8 a.m. and until 9:30 a.m., ultralight aircraft will begin arriving. They will perform from 11 to 11:30 a.m. (and subsequently from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m.), in a competition demonstration along a course of about one kilometer, drawn in the gulf and marked by a pair of sailboats, whose masts will serve as… pylons for turns. Ten laps are planned. Acrobatics spins are prohibited.
From 10 to 10:30 a.m., seaplanes from the Aero Club di Como will arrive, performing flights in four time slots: from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5 to 6 p.m., and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Finally, the Cessna Caravan Amphibian, from the well-known American manufacturer, will land. “The large aircraft, in amphibious version with ten seats, powered by a 675-horsepower turboprop engine,” say the organizers, “will allow us to showcase and demonstrate the potential of seaplane use in promoting tourism development in lakeside towns.”
Representation Flights and History of the Competition
After the 11:30 a.m. flight, three flights have been scheduled for VIPs: at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., each lasting a quarter of an hour. The day, called “Salò Seaplane Show,” represents a kind of revival of the legendary “Coppa Schneider,” a pure speed race held from 1913 (Monte Carlo) to 1931 (Spithead, England).
At one point, competitors included the major fleets of nations such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The winner of the last race was the famous Spitfire fighter aircraft. Orio Vergani nicknamed the Italians “Red Raffle”; Il Corriere della Sera published illustrations by artist Achille Beltrame, the predecessor of Walter Molino; La Gazzetta dello Sport reported stories about the personalities surrounding the race.
Many books and essays have been published on the topic. Numerous websites also exist. Italy holds the record for an absolute speed that remains unbroken to this day, achieved by the Macchi Castoldi MC72, which was not prepared for the race. In 1934, Marshal Francesco Agello flew at 709.209 kilometers per hour.
Memorial and Future Developments
In Desenzano, there is a monument honoring the pilots who died during testing, and ten streets are named after the men of the High-Speed Department, the seaplane base where the aircraft were prepared. The new “Small Coppa Schneider” is likely to be organized in Monte Carlo in 2002. Venezia Lido and Naples also claim the candidacy.
The race will no longer feature racer aircraft with 3,000 horsepower but will use lighter and more economical seaplanes. Their weight will not exceed 330 kilograms (single-seaters) or 500 (two-seaters), with a stall speed not exceeding 65 miles per hour. Salò serves as a testing ground. A remembrance of the past, as future plans are reshaped.
