RS Models – 94022 – Airspeed Envoy “Schlesinger Race”

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a British Airspeed Envoy transport aircraft introduced in 1934.

The Airspeed Envoy “Gabrielle” (G-AENA) was a British twin-engine monoplane that took part in the Schlesinger Trophy Air Race of 1936, a high-profile competition intended to promote long-distance air travel between Portsmouth, England, and Johannesburg, South Africa. The aircraft was owned by Maxwell H. Findlay and Ken H. F. Waller, two aviators eager to test their skills in the grueling race. The Envoy was a sleek and modern design for its time, featuring twin Cheetah IX radial engines and a streamlined fuselage that promised good range and speed. However, the aircraft was not without its challenges, and long-distance endurance racing posed significant risks, especially given the relatively rudimentary navigation and weather forecasting of the era.

Tragically, Gabrielle’s journey ended in disaster shortly after departure from Portsmouth. On September 29, 1936, the aircraft crashed near Abercorn (now Mbala, Zambia), in what was then Northern Rhodesia. Both Findlay and Waller were killed in the accident, marking one of the darkest moments of the Schlesinger Trophy race. The cause of the crash remains uncertain, though mechanical failure or navigational difficulties may have played a role. The loss of Gabrielle and its crew highlighted the inherent dangers of early long-distance air racing, a competition that pushed both pilots and their machines to their limits. The Schlesinger Trophy itself was ultimately marred by multiple accidents, leading to its abandonment as a recurring event.

Limited Edition of RS Models Airspeed Envoy kit with a single marking for Airspeed Envoy, G-AENA, Schlesinger Race, 1936.