Painted in oils on canvas.  1999. 600mm x 500mm.

‘Into the lead’

In the final of the 1935 King’s Cup Air Race, at the beginning of the fifth lap, the prototype Miles Falcon Six, G-ADLC, sweeps past two of the early starters, to take the lead and go on to win by some six minutes.

The final was a seven-lap handicap race over a triangular course of approximately 50 miles. By accurate course-keeping and immaculate cornering, Tommy Rose, Phillips & Powis’ recently appointed Sales Manager, coaxed some 20 mph above the Falcon’s ‘handicap speed’ and, in just over four laps, moved up from thirteenth place to first.

He had overtaken the two Miles Hawk Trainers seen behind, which were to eventually finish second and third to give the Woodley company a ‘clean sweep’ in this prestigious event – a feat never equalled by any other manufacturer. Indeed, another Falcon Six finished in fifth place, albeit some 10 mph slower than G-ADLC

In the public enclosure at Hatfield were around two hundred Phillips & Powis employees who had come by coaches from Woodley, each one proudly wearing a red and cream rosette, matching the livery of most of the Miles-designed aircraft on view. Anticipation was high, following F G Miles’ win in the Sparrowhawk in the previous day’s elimination race, but nobody could have forecast the triumph they enjoyed in the final.

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