THE NEW WORLD'S ALTITUDE RECORD

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THE NEW WORLD’S ALTITUDE RECORD

THE world’s height record recently set up by Mr. C. F. Uwins on a Vicker’s Vespa biplane has now been confirmed by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. It will be remembered that Mr. Uwins reached a height of 13,404m. or 43,976ft.

The previous record was held by Lieut. Apollo Soucek, U.S.N. in a Wright Apache biplane with a Pratt and Whitney Wasp engine, at a height of 43,155ft. The flight was a convincing testimony to the value of supercharging, for the power of an internal corn bustion falls to 15% of its ground level figure at a height of 40,000ft. The actual engine used was a Bristol “

Pegasus” supercharged watercooled power unit, which gave complete satisfaction, while the machine was a Vickers Vespa biplane constructed in 1927.