Coupe Michelin

The Michelin Cup refers to a number of competitions sponsored by the French tyre manufacturer Michelin for long distance flight made in aeroplanes.

The first Michelin prize was announced in March 1908. The principal prize, to be awarded annually for an initial period of eight years, was a prize for long distance flight, and consisted of a bronze statue as a trophy (valued at 10,000 FF-French francs) and a money prize of 20,000 FF. The flying club of the winner also received a replica of the trophy if they did not already own one. Administration and determination of the exact conditions for each year were delegated to the Aéro-Club de France (AeCF). Attempts to win the prize could be made anywhere in the world where there was a flying club associated with the AeCF.

At the same time, Prix d'Aviation Michelin was a special prize of 100,000 francs offered for a flight by an aircraft carrying a passenger, taking off from either the department of Seine or Seine-et-Oise and the cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand, and landing on the summit of the Puy de Dôme inside six hours starting from the time at the Arc de Triomphe. This was won by Eugène Renaux on 7 March 1911, flying a Maurice Farman biplane.

In 1909, a second award, the British Empire Michelin Cup, was announced, for flights made by aviators who were citizens of the British Empire, flying aircraft of all-British manufacture. The original award therefore became known as the International Michelin Cup.

When the prizes were first instituted, 25 French francs were worth one pound Sterling.

International Michelin Cup

1908

Won by Wilbur Wright with a flight made on 31 December 1908 at Le Mans officially reckoned as . The course over which the flight was made was an isosceles triangle with two sides of 1 km and a third of 200 m, totalling 2.2 km. The flight had to be made before sunset and only complete circuits counted. Wright took off at 2 pm and completed 56 circuits before sunset. He then landed, flying a further 1.5 km to set a new world distance record of 124.7 km.

1909

For the greatest distance exceeding 123.2 km. in a closed circuit made before the end of the year: 20,000 francs, and a bronze replica of the Michelin trophy.

Won by Henry Farman with a flight of lasting 4h 6m 25s made on 3 November 1909 at Chalons.

1910

Won by Maurice Tabuteau flying a Maurice Farman biplane with a flight of , taking 7hr 48m 36.6s at Buc on 30 December 1910.

1911

In 1911, the closing date for the competition was brought forward to 31 October.

Won by E. Helen flying a Nieuport II monoplane on 8 September 1911, when he covered in 14 hr 7 min.

1912

For the 1912 competition, the rules were considerably more elaborate. The flight had to be made over a course made up of three different circuits, each starting from the same point. The first and third, each of about , had to have three or four compulsory landing-places, and the second, of , one or two landing places. Refuelling was only allowed at the starting point of each circuit. The circuits had to be covered in order, and if a competitor landed somewhere other than a nominated airfield, they had to start that circuit again. For every 75 kg of useful load carried apart from the pilot and necessary fuel, a bonus of 25% was allowed on the time, up to a maximum of 100 per cent. The extra load could be made up of passengers or ballast. Competing aircraft had to carry a sealed barograph, and an average speed of at least had to be maintained.

The 1912 prize was not won by any competitor, and the prize money was added to the prize for the following year.

1913

The 1913 competition was very different. It was awarded for the greatest distance flown on a series of consecutive days, flying over a course, with a compulsory landing after each circuit.

The Cup was won by Emmanuel Helen flying a Nieuport monoplane, with a total distance of flown between 22 October and 29 November 1913.

1914

The nature of the competition was changed again for the 1914 competition, the prize being awarded for the fastest time over a circuit of about .
Won by Eugène Gilbert flying a Morane-Saulnier monoplane. Starting from Villacoublay at 03:04 on 8 June 1914, he flew via Peronne, Rheims, Saint-Dizier, Gray, Joigny, Beaune, Vienne

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