The Aerial Derby was an air race in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Daily Mail in which the competitors flew a circuit around London. It was first held in 1912, with subsequent races in 1913 and 1914. Suspended during the First World War, the event was revived in 1919 with a "Victory Aerial Derby". Further races were held in 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923. Although a race was scheduled for 1924, there were insufficient entries and the event was cancelled.
1912 The first race, held on Saturday 8 June, consisted of a single circuit of an course, starting and finishing at Hendon Aerodrome with control points at Kempton Park, Esher, Purley and Purfleet. At these contestants had to fly low enough for the judges to see the race number of their aircraft. The first prize was £250 and a gold cup.
The first competition was the subject of enormous public interest, with around 45,000 people paying to view the start and finish at Hendon and enormous crowds gathering along the route.The First Aerial Derby. Flight: 15 June 1912, p. 551.
Sopwith was the first contestant to finish; he was then disqualified for having missed the control point at Purley. He appealed against the judgement, and was later pronounced the winner: visibility had been poor, and Sopwith had in fact passed well outside the marker, unseen by the judges.
Fifteen aviators were expected to start the race but due to the bad weather only seven started:
Pilot Aircraft / Engine TimeSpeed Notes S. V. Sippé Hanriot50 hp Gnome Did not finish owing to engine trouble Thomas Sopwith 70 hp Blériot XI-2 70 hp Gnome1h 23m 8.4s Gustav Hamel 70 hp Blériot XI-270 hp Gnome1h 38m 46s Carried Miss Eleanor Trehawke Davies as passenger P. Verrier Maurice Farman70 hp Renault Carried the Daily Mirror photographer Ivor Castle as passenger. Did not finish owing to losing way in cloud. William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse Radley-Moorhouse50 hp Gnome 2h 0m 22s Second prize of £100 James Valentine Bristol Prier monoplane50 hp Gnome 2h 26m 39s Third prize of £50 Maurice Guillaux Caudron monoplane45 hp Anzani Ran out of fuel just before finish while leading the race.
1913 The second competition was held on Saturday 20 September, and was flown over a slightly longer course, alterations having been made because the original route crossed areas prohibited under the recently passed Air Navigation Order. As well as the Daily Mail trophy and £200 prize a trophy and three prizes of £100, £70 and £25 were given by Shell for the winner of a handicap competition.
Entrants and resultsAerial Derby Round London. Flight: 27 September 1913, p. 1064. Pilot Aircraft Handicap Time Speed Notes Gustav Hamel Morane-Saulnier80 hp GnomeScratch 1h 15m 49s Overall winner Harold Barnwell Martinsyde120 hp Austro-Daimler6m 39s 1h 18m 44s Harry Hawker Sopwith 80 hp Gnome 12m 10s 1h 25m 24s F. P. Raynham Avro 50480 hp Gnome11m 43s 1h 26m 1s R. Slack Morane-Saulnier80 hp Rhône5m 4s 1h 29m 59s B. C. Hucks Blériot 80 hp Gnome 19m 0s 1h 30m 53s Winner of the Shell trophy for the handicap competition W. L. Brock Blériot80 hp Gnome 19m 57s 1h 32m 29s P. Marty Morane-Saulnier50 hp Rhône 10m 46s 1h 35m 51s P. Verrier Henry Farman 80 hp Gnome29m 8s 1h 45m 7s
1914 Originally to be held on 23 May, but postponed to 6 June due to poor weather conditions. Weather conditions on the day it was held were little better, with some contestants failing to start because they had been unable to fly to Hendon on the day. Won by Walter Brock.
Entrants and results The Aerial Derby 1914 . Flight: 12 June 1914, p. 620. Competition No. Pilot Aircraft HandicapSealed Handicap for "Shell" Trophy and 100 Sovs. Flight, 12 June 1914. p. 622. Time Speed Notes 1 Filip Bjorklund Blériot50 hp Gnome Omega40m 51s Retired, landing at Epsom. 2 W. Birchenough M. Farman70 hp Gnome48m 21s Retired, landing in Richmond Park 5 R. H. Carr H. Farman80 hp Gnome33m 34s 1h 46m 27 6 P. Verrier H. Farman80 hp Gnome36m 51s 1h 49m 50s 8 L. A. Strange Blériot80 hp Gnome 29m 46s Retired, landing at West Wickham9 J. Alcock H. Farman100 hp Sunbeam 34m 51s Retired 12 W. L. Brock Morane-Saulnier G80 hp Gnome 20m 24s 1h 18m 54s Overall winner13 Louis Noël Morane-Saulnier G80 hp Gnome20m 54s 1h 15m 9s Disqualified for missing two of the control points owing to poor visibility14 Lord Carbery Morane-Saulnier G 80 hp Le Rhône17m 6s 18Howard Pixton Sopwith Tabloid 100 hp Gnome 6m 20s Retired15 R.H. Barnwell Sopwith Tabloid 100 hp Gnomescratch Retired
1919 Dubbed the "Victory Aerial Derby" in reference to the Allied victory in World War I and held on 21 JuneThe Victory Aerial Derby afleetingpeace.com over the same course as the 1914 event, but due to the increased speed of aircraft over two circuits rather than one. Won by G. Gathergood flying a D.H.4R with M.C. Hammersley flying an Avro Baby winning the handicap race.
Entrants and results The Victory Aerial Derby. Flight: 19 June 1919, p. 806. Competition No. Pilot Aircraft Handicap Time Speed Notes 1 Clifford Prodger BAT Bantam170 hp ABC Wasp16m 0s Did not finish2 P. R. T. Chamberlayne Grahame-White Bantam80 hp Le Rhône Did not finish 3 C. Draper B.A.T. Bantam200 hp ABC. Wasp 13m 20s 1h 37m 7s Modified, with reduced -span lower wings. 4 G. L. P. Henderson Avro 504110 hp Le Rhone57m 0s 2h 30m 45.2s Henderson had originally entered a Martinsyde F.4, but was unable to get permission from the War Office to use this machine. 5 R. H. Carr Grahame-White Bantam80 hp Le Rhône Did not finish7 G. Gathergood D.H.4R 450 hp Napier Lion)Scratch 1h 27m 42s Gathergood's D.H.4 had been considerably modified, with a reduced-span lower wing.No. 7.—The Airco (de H.) 4 R., 450 h.p. Napier Lion. Flight: 26 June 1919, p. 844.8 Marcus D. Manson DH.4 375 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle) 9m 30s 1h 36m 41s 9 Howard Saint DH.9240 hp Siddeley Puma 23m 30s1h 51m 55s 10 Robert Nisbet Martinsyde F.4250 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon 4m 0s 1h 31m 3.4s 11 L. R. Tait-Cox Nieuport L.C.1320 hp ABC Dragonfly 4m 0s Did not finish12 C. H. C. Smith Bristol Monoplane110 hp Le Rhône 29m 0s Did not finish14 H. A. Hammersley Avro Baby35 hp Green 1h 25m 0s 2h 41m 23s Winner of handicap competition15 C. Turner BAT Commercial375 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle 16 C. R. Vaughan BAT Bantam170 hp ABC Wasp 17 H. Hawker Sopwith Snapper320 hp ABC Dragonfly Did not start, as permission to fly the aircraft was not given by the War OfficeNo. 17.—The Sopwith Biplane. Flight: 26 June 1919 p. 847.18 J. Alcock Vickers Did not start
1920 No longer sponsored by the Daily Mail, for the 1920 event the prizes were given by the Royal Aero Club. These were £500 for the overall winner, with three prizes of £250, £100 and £50 for the first three places in the handicap competition.The Aerial Derby. Flight: 8 July 1920, p. 711 Held on 24 JulyAerial Derby – 1920 afleetingpeace.com over a slightly amended course of , with Brooklands taking the place of Kempton Park. The overall winner was F. T. Courtney, and the handicap competition was won by H. A. Hammersley.
Entrants and results'Aerial Derby Handicap. Flight: 22 July 1920, p. 809Results of Fifth Aerial Derby at Hendon Flight: 29 July 1920, p.833. Competition No. Pilot Aircraft Handicap Time Speed Notes 1 Bert Hinkler Avro Baby35 hp Green1h 41m 2h 45m 46s 2 H. A. Hammersley Avro Baby35 hp Green1hr 35min 2h 32m 6s Winner of handicap competition 3 Leth Jensen Blériot-SPAD S.2980 hp Le Rhône45m Did not start 4 F. S. Cotton DH 14A450 hp Napier Lion41.5m Did not finish 5 W. L. Jordan Sopwith Snipe200 hp Bentley BR.228m 47m 6s Entered by Francis McClean 6 W. H. Longton Sopwith Snipe200 hp Bentley BR.228m Did not finish 7 J. S. T. Fall Sopwith Snipe200 hp Bentley BR.228m Did not finish8 D. G. Westgarth-Heslam Avro "Schneider"230 hp Siddeley Puma19m 30s Did not finish 10 J.H. James Nieuport Nieuhawk320 hp ABC Dragonfly12m 46m 6s 11 R.H. Nisbet Martinsyde F.6300 hp Hispano-Suiza11m 30s 46m 43.4s 12 T. O'B. Hubbard Martinsyde F.4300 hp Hispano-Suiza10m 30s min 48m 19.8s 13 H. Hawker Sopwith Rainbow320 hp ABC Dragonfly 10m 30s 42m 12s Disqualified for not crossing the finish line properly14 C.F. Uwins Bristol Bullet450 hp Bristol Jupiter 7m 30s 44m 4s 15 F. T. Courtney Martinsyde Semiquaver300 hp Hispano-Suiza 1 min 38m 47.2s Overall winner. Originally to have been flown by Fred Raynham, prevented from taking part by an injury.16 L.R. Tait-Cox Nieuport Goshawk320 hp ABC Dragonfly Scratch Did not finish owing to engine trouble.
1921 Again sponsored by the Royal Aero Club and held on 16 July with a prize of £500 for the overall winner and three prizes of £200, £100, and £50 for the first three places in the handicap competition.The Sixth Aerial Derby afleetingpeace.com
Entrants and resultsResults of Sixth Aerial Derby . Flight: 21 July 1921, p.487 Competition No. Pilot Aircraft Handicap Time Speed Notes 1 T. Tully Avro Baby35 hp Green1h 15m 42s Retired during second lap2 Bert Hinkler Avro Baby35 hp Green1h 7m 24s Did not finish, coming down at Sidcup during his first lap 3 A.H. Curtiss B.E.2e90 hp RAF 1a Did not start, owing to dissatisfaction with his handicap allowance4 D.L. Forestier-Walker Sopwith Pup80 hp Le Rhone37m 6s Retired, landing at Hendon after first lap because he felt ill. 5 A.S. Butler Bristol Tourer240 hp Siddeley Puma37m 6s 1h 52m 1.2s Third in handicap competition6 L.R. Tait-Cox Avro180 hp Wolseley Viper33 min 30 sec 1h 57m 3.2s 7 H.S.Broad Sopwith Camel130 hp Clerget30m 3s 2h 5m 30s 8 W.H. Longton S.E.5a220 hp Wolseley Viper28m 6s 1h 40m 25 Third overall and second in handicap9 F.J. Ortweiler S.E.5a220 hp Wolseley Viper28m 6s 2h 4m 52.8s disqualified for not rounding markers at Hendon properly10J. Noakes Nieuport Nighthawk300 hp ABC Dragonfly17m 34s Did not finish 11 C. Draper BAT Bantam200 hp ABC Wasp 12 S.H.Long Martinsyde F.4a220 hp Wolseley Viper 14H.Hawker Nieuport Goshawk300 hp ABC Dragonfly Died in crash while practising for race 15 C.F. Uwins Bristol Bullet400 hp Bristol Jupiter7m 42s 1h 32m 34.6s Second overall 16 F.T. Courteney Alula Monoplane300 hp Hispane Suiza Did not start 17 J.H. James Gloster Mars450 hp Napier Lion4m 42s 1h 18m 10s Won both overall and handicap 18 Bernard de Romanet De Monge V300 hp Hispane Suiza Did not start 19 D.G Westgarth-HeslamAvro 539450 hp Napier Lion Did not start (aircraft destroyed in crash before race) 20 J. Sadi-Lecointe Nieuport300 hp Hispane Suiza Did not start
1922 For the 1922 competition, held on 7 August,The Seventh Aerial Derby afleetingpeace.com the start and finish point was transferred to Croydon Aerodrome, with the control points at Brooklands, Hertford, Epping and West Thurrock making a circuit of just under . The competition was won by L. R. Tait-Cox flying a Gloucester Mars I and the handicap competition by L. L. Carter flying a Bristol M.1D.
Entrants and results1922 Aerial Derby: Table of Entrants. Flight: 3 August 1922, p. 438. Competition No. Pilot Aircraft and engine Handicap Time Speed Notes 1 R. H. Stocken Martinsyde F.4300 hp Hispano-Suiza 2 H. H. Perry S.E.5a200 hp Wolseley Viper 3 J. H. James Gloucester Mars I450 hp Napier Lion 4 L. R. Tait-Cox Gloucester Mars III200 hp Bentley BR2 1hr 6min 48.4sec Overall winner5 L. L. Carter Bristol M.1D100 hp Bristol Lucifer47min 9 sec 1hr 50min 0.4sec Won handicap competition6 R. A. deHaig Bristol Bullet400 hp Bristol Jupiter 7 F. P. Raynham Martinsyde F.6180 hp Wolsley Viper 8 A. S. Butler de Havilland DH.37275 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon Withdrew after completing first lap9 Bert Hinkler Avro Baby35 hp Green Engine Co1hr 22min 34sec 2hr 35min 4sec 10 C. F. Uwins Bristol Racer400 hp Bristol Jupiter Did not start
1923 Held on 6 August,The Eighth Aerial Derby afleetingpeace.com with the course slightly modified by eliminating the Epping control point.
Entrants and resultsAerial Derby 1923 – List of Entries. Flight: 2 August 1923, p.456. Results of Eighth Aerial Derby and Handicap. Flight 9 August 1923, p. 467.