AIR RACING

sport of racing airplanes either over a predetermined course or cross-country up to transcontinental limits. Air racing dates back to 1909, when the first international meet was held at Reims, Fr. Such meets played a large part in the development of airplane design. Air racing, very popular during the 1920s and '30s, was largely subsidized by airplane manufacturers interested in demonstrating their wares. Speed and long-distance records were continually being set, and famous trophy races included the Schneider (France), the King's Cup (England), and the Pulitzer, Thompson, and Bendix trophies in the United States. Of these races, only the last two survived after World War II. After World War II, largely because of increased costs, the advent of jets, and the preemption of the best planes by the military, air racing declined in popularity. Formula One racingin imitation of automobile racing as supervised by the Fdration de l'Automobilein which specific wingspan, undercarriage, airframe weight, stock engine, and brake specifications are predetermined for each class of airplane, with a particular racecourse assigned for each class, originated in the United States in 1969 and has to a large extent superseded other forms of air racing.