Supermarine S.6 at Woolston by J. M. Page

A watercolour and gouache on board of a Supermarine S.6 racing seaplane by J.M. Page.

The seaplane is illustrated in good detail. The grass covered headland to the front of the plane and a boat at sea with a white building and 2 dormant seaplanes to the rear are drawn far quicker and out of focus to place them firmly in the background. The painting is signed and dated 'Page 29' with 'Supermarine Seaplane S6' below. To the centre of the bottom edge, the artist has added a blue width line with 6" to its middle. A printed cutout stating 'Schneider Trophy' is stuck to the bottom edge with VII written above. To the back of the board is a label to the centre giving the information '7. Supermarine 6, Woolston, 1929, J.M. Page. Racing No. 2' with an image of the destroyed plane partially stuck over it. 'J.M. Page 1929' is also written to the back in watercolour.

Two all metal, single seater S.6 racing seaplanes were built by Supermarine at Woolston to compete in the 1929 Schneider Trophy. They were numbered N247 and N248 respectively. N247, which went on to win the trophy, is pictured in this illustration. The winning pilot was the RAF's 25 year old Flying Officer Henry Richard Danvers Waghorn, who was also later awarded the Air Force Cross for his victory. Interest in the race was such that it was reported that 1 million people watched it.

The N247 S.6 and its twin, the N248, were updated to take place, along with 2 S.6B, in the following Schneider Trophy held in 1931. The N247 was destroyed in a fatal accident on take-off during a training exercise for the race. The race was won by Britain for the third time in a row by one of the S.6Bs with the S6 N248 not used. N248 can now be seen at the Solent Sky museum in Southampton.

A good painting of one of only two Supermarine S.6 seaplanes that were made. Dated 1929.