The Aerial Derby was an

air race Air racing is a type of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a prev ...

in the United Kingdom sponsored by the '' Daily Mail'' in which the competitors flew a circuit around

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. It was first held in 1912, with subsequent races in 1913 and 1914. Suspended during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, 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 and not held again.

1912

The first race, held on Saturday 8 June consisted of a single circuit of an course, starting and finishing at

Hendon Aerodrome Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in London, England, that was an important centre for aviation from 1908 to 1968. It was situated in Colindale, north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became a central hub of civil aviation ("the Charing Cros ...

with control points at Kempton Park,

Esher Esher ( ) is a town in Surrey, England, to the east of the River Mole. Esher is an outlying suburb of London near the London-Surrey Border, and with Esher Commons at its southern end, the town marks one limit of the Greater London Built-Up ...

, Purley and

Purfleet Purfleet-on-Thames is a town in the Thurrock unitary authority, Essex, England. It is bordered by the A13 road to the north and the River Thames to the south and is within the easternmost part of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater Lon ...

. 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. 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:

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 Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...

for the winner of a handicap competition. Entrants and results

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

1919

Dubbed the "Victory Aerial Derby" in reference to the Allied victory in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and held on 21 June 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

1920

No longer sponsored by the ''Daily Mail'', for the 1920 event the prizes were given by the

Royal Aero Club The Royal Aero Club (RAeC) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain, being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910. History The Aero Club was foun ...

. These were £500 for the overall winner, with three prizes of £250, £100 and £50 for the first three places in the handicap competition. Held on 24 July over a slightly amended course of , with

Brooklands Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfie ...

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'

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. Entrants and results

1922

For the 1922 competition, held on 7 August, the start and finish point was transferred to

Croydon Aerodrome Croydon Airport (former ICAO code: EGCR) was the UK's only international airport during the interwar period. Located in Croydon, South London, England, it opened in 1920, built in a Neoclassical style, and was developed as Britain's main ai ...

, 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 results

1923

Held on 6 August, with the course slightly modified by eliminating the Epping control point. Entrants and results

1924

The 1924 competition was to have been held at Lympne aerodrome in Kent, the contestants to fly four laps of a 50 mi (80 km) circuit, but the event was cancelled due to there being too few high speed entrants.No Aerial Derby?
''Flight'': 10 July 1924, p. 434.

References

{{reflist

External links

Pathé News newsreel of 1919 racePathé News newsreel of 1921 racePathé News newsreel of 1922 racePathé News newsreel of 1923 race
Air races Recurring sporting events established in 1912 1924 disestablishments in England 1912 establishments in England Recurring events disestablished in 1924