air race

Can anyone provide information on the annual Bibesco Cup Race? I believe these

were held between 1929 and 1933 for fastest flight between Bucharest and Paris

or vice versa. Need dates for each event, names of flyers who took part, the type

of aircraft each flew, and registration numbers for each aircraft. Complete results

for each year would be appreciated.

That's a rather tall order. I'll see what can I find for you.
In the meantime, it would be nice if you could share with us what you already know about these air races.

Gen. Dénes

The 'Bibescu Cup' speed air race was to be held for three consecutive years, for a grand prize of 10,000 French Francs. Participation was open only for Rumanian and French military airmen and was to be flown between Bucharest-Paris and back.

Several well known airmen enrolled in the first race, held in the Fall of 1926, e.g. cpt. Weiss, the Arrachart brothers, Pelletier, Costes, Le Brix, Challe. Rumania was represented by cpt. av. Romeo Popescu and cpt. av. Gheorghe Banciulescu. They flew on the first leg with a Potez XV, while a Potez XXV was used on the second leg. The latter airplane crashed in Czechoslovakia en route to Bucharest on 12 Sep. 1926, killing the on-board mechanic, Stoica, and severely wounding the pilot, Banciulescu, who subsequently will have both of his legs amputated (which would not restrict him from flying again, though).

That's all for tonight.

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on November 01, 2005 03:35 am

Were they allowed to change planes during the race?

Were they allowed to change planes during the race?

Apparently...

Gen. Dénes