Tribute to David Rittenhouse by Ivan Berryman. [Original Painting]

The Schneider Trophy is one of the best known air races in history, but excluding a modern revival, there were only 12 of the events held between 1913 and 1931 when Britain won the trophy outright. This painting shows the first of two American winners of the prestigeous competition - Lt. David Rittenhouse of the US Navy - taking off in his Curtiss CR-3 Racer from the Solent on 27th September 1923. With an average speed of 177mph, he was the first competitor to exceed 150mph. When the competition was next held just two years later, the winning average speed was now more than 230mph and the winner was the only other American to win the trophy - one James Doolittle, who went on to become a famous wartime General.

Original painting, oil on canvas, by Ivan Berryman.

Size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm)