The Schneider Trophy – The mother of invention

Prior to World War One, France led the way with aerial competitions, with prizes for altitude, distance and, above all else, speed. The new sport attracted wealthy individuals willing to risk their money, not to mention their necks. Among them was Jacques Schneider, an heir to the Schneider industrial complex, who was having a great time spending his cash on racing cars, motorboats and balloons. An aeroplane was the obvious next step. Unfortunately, a serious crash in a speed boat damaged his arm and prevented him from making solo flights, but there was another means to make his mark. Others with money to splash around, such as the Pulitzer brothers and James Gordon Bennett, had sponsored annual flying competitions in their name and Schneider decided to follow their example.