Wings Over Water: The Story of the World's Greatest Air Race and the Birth of the Spitfire

by Jonathan Glancey

Announced in 1912, the Schneider Trophy stole the imaginations of pioneering aircraft manufacturers in America, France, Britain and Italy, as they competed in a series of air races that attracted a hugely popular following. Perhaps inevitably, the dynamism of rival engineering led to the most potent military fighters of World War Two and Reginald Mitchell's record-breaking Supermarine seaplanes morphed into the Spitfire.Wings Over Water tells the story of the Schneider air races afresh and also examines the wider politics and society of the early twentieth-century that framed the event. It is an exhilarating tale of raw adventure, public excitement and engineering genius.

Genres: Aviation, History

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting history of the Schneider Trophy Seaplane and Flyingboat race series that ended with R.J.Mitchells S6B in 1931. It is really emotive stuff for me as I can, in the mind, smell the oil and hear the roar of the mighty engines and the gleam of the paintwork. Oh! to be a schoolboy again with my Eagle comic. Aircraft today just do not have the magic for me. The book gives a good account of the race and racers and the circuits used in an easily read format. A drawback is the lengthy accounts of reference numbers, horsepower etc that might have been accounted for in an appendix. There is a lot of padding in the story. Interesting and informative but draws away from the trophy races.

There are a good number of photos well displayed in this paperback edition and of course, many of the aircraft can be found on YouTube excerpts. A good book. Nearly a 4 star.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess if you're a fan of flying history you've got a few eras – the pioneers, from Wright to Bleriot and the other long-distance achievements, the war years, the jet age, and that's about it. But this book suitably proves the pioneers led to the war years through a spell of rampant innovation and development, when the Schneider Trophy – a global test of seaplane speed – ramped up faster and faster planes, and stronger and stronger engines. I think there's a case for a general book that any chancing browser might enjoy about that subject, but this might not be it. It is very good, mind, but (much like my eyes glaze over with all the class numbers and 4-10-0s and suchlike of train books) I found myself wanting to skip all the copious detail of engine capacity and horsepower, and cylinder arrangements. This forensic stuff is for the specialist only, I feel.

Either way, the basis of the book is to show that a lot of development needed for the Spitfire and other progressions in jet aircraft after the War was only possible because they'd previously pulled out all the stops in competing for the Schneider Trophy. The author's look at the progression in the industry doesn't stop there, however, and as a result this, whether you are a specialist reader or browser, might just be the best picture of how non-stop the progress in aviation has been and continues to be you've ever thought to read.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been a 5, but the post-Trophy legacy section jumps around a lot, repeats some info, and is just a more clunky and less compelling read as a result. Good book though.

[Richard Goth · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half was a history of the Schneider trophy, which was quite good but the second half was a miscellany of biographical sketches of famous aviation personalities which seemed haphazardly organised. Disappointing.

[Sam Huish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, very dense with information regarding the history of flight as a whole, going well beyond the Schneider air races. Very interesting, although may have benefitted from more images of the aircraft as it covers a great number.

[Chris Tyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s passion for and in-depth knowledge of aviation is clear. This is more than the story of the Schneider Contests, but the story of aviation.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, if you like this kind of thing. Good information about early air racing which then develops into the Schneider trophy.
Enjoyable read, although probably would not read again.

[Peter Timson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the 2021 Atlantic Paperback edition of this book - not listed at the time of this entry.

Okay read. I liked it. Have another couple of Glancey's books (Spitfire & Harrier). Similar style as I remember.