all but obsolete Curtiss Hawk biplane that, at a speed of 137mph, was no match for the rest of the competitors. Adriano Bacula came third at 218mph in a Macchi M39. Britain would need highly trained pilots specifically trained at flying seaplanes at speed as well as government sponsorship to pay for the costs of designing the aircraft and training the pilots, and for the first time in 1927 the British Air Ministry agreed to do just that. J. Mitchell designed the S5, an improved version of the S4 built around a more powerful Napier Lion engine and with reduced weight and drag for better performance.
Harry Folland for Gloster designed the Gloster IV biplane, the last biplane entered for the Schneider trophy. The Short Crusader was the only radial-engined aircraft ever entered for the Schneider Cup, but was lighter and smaller than other aircraft. The American team had the Mercury Racer aircraft built by the Mercury Aircraft Company. The Italian team had bred 11s the Macchi M52 aircraft designed by Castoldi, a development of his successful M39 design with a smaller, swept-back wing, smaller tailplane and shorter floats. For two months they practised for the race at Calshot, flying the Supermarine S5, Gloster IV and Short seaplanes before leaving for Venice.
The British Short Crusader, after being shipped to Italy, was discovered to have frayed aileron control cables. New ones were fitted, however this was done incorrectly so that when Flying Officer HM Schofield flew the aircraft it crashed into the sea and broke in half. Britain was represented by two Supermarine S5s, piloted by Flight Lieutenants Sidney Webster and Oswald Worsley, and a Gloster IV piloted by Flight Lieutenant Sam Kinhead. Italy was represented by three Macchi M52s piloted by Major bred 11 Mario de Bernardi, who had won the.
