The Mew Gull passes the home pylon on course. In 1938 this very aircraft "achieved a staggering 270mph, faster than a Hawker Hurricane at sea level" (the quote is from the historic aviation website http://www.realaero.com/mewgull/mewgull.htm). In 1939 Alex Henshaw (still very much alive at age 90) set a number of long-distance speed records in this plane flying round trip from London to Cape Town.