Over the years, this event steadily gained notoriety, eventually becoming a renowned speed competition. Some editions drew crowds of over 200,000 spectators.

At the final edition in 1931, the Supermarine S.6B captivated a record audience of 500,000 by breaking the world speed record not once, but three times—first reaching 610 km/h, then pushing to an astonishing 656 km/h.

In 1928, the rules were revised, and it was decided that the race would be held every two years. This extended interval gave participating nations and their aircraft manufacturers more time to design, develop, and test new aircraft for each edition.

However, by the final race in 1931, neither France nor Italy had completed development of the aircraft intended to represent them. With the United States having withdrawn due to the 1929 economic crisis, the United Kingdom stood as the sole competitor—and ultimately claimed the Cup.

James H. Doolittle, who won in 1925, is the most famous pilot to win the race. He would later rise to prominence during World War II by leading the daring Doolittle Raid on Japan, launching B-25 Mitchell bombers from an aircraft carrier in a bold and unprecedented operation.

A competition created to capture the imagination of industry, governments, and the public alike: this was the Schneider Cup, conceived by visionary French philanthropist Jacques Schneider. More than just a race, it was a celebration of speed and technological progress—staged in some of the world’s most spectacular ports, marinas and coastal resorts.

The first two editions (1913 and 1914) were held in Monaco, between France and Italy, on a 10 km (5.4 nautical mile) triangular course repeated 28 times. The outbreak of World War I brought a five-year hiatus, during which aviation—especially seaplanes—evolved rapidly to meet the demands of modern warfare.

When the race resumed in 1922, it was hosted in the Bay of Naples, along a route stretching from Capo Posillipo to Torre del Greco. It was here that the first Supermarine entry of the Schneider saga triumphed over the Italian Savoia S.51.

In 1923, the Cup moved to England’s Solent estuary (Hampshire). The 20-nautical mile (37 km) circuit traced a path through Southampton Water, between the Isle of Wight and the industrial hubs of Southampton and Portsmouth—both of which would again host the 1929 and 1931 editions of this legendary race. Shaped by the tides and dotted with inlets, this area was ideally suited for the passage of ships, yachts, and racing seaplanes alike.

The 1925 and 1926 races were held in the United States, in the vast Chesapeake Bay and the estuary of the Susquehanna River—overlooking Baltimore and Norfolk. This imposing body of water became a fitting stage for American industrial might and aeronautical ambition.

Yet perhaps the most iconic setting in Schneider Cup history was the Venice Lagoon. The 1920, 1921, and 1927 editions were held here, on circuits that evolved from equilateral triangles to elongated courses bounded by the islands of Lido, Pellestrina, and Chioggia. The 1927 race, run on a 50 km (30 nautical mile) course, drew over 200,000 spectators—cementing Venice’s status as one of the historic cradles of aviation.

The Schneider Trophy was a crucial testing ground for aeronautical innovation during the 1920s and 1930s. The demands for speed and reliability drove the development of new aerodynamic solutions, more powerful engines, and lightweight materials.

Technologies tested in the competition had a direct influence on World War II fighters, such as the Spitfire. The legacy of the race still lives on today in the core principles of modern aerospace engineering.