## A Historic Air Race Over the Mediterranean On April 23, 1910, during the first Nice air meeting (April 10–25), a 24 km round-trip race between Nice and Cap Ferrat took place. The event attracted many early aviation pioneers, including Frenchman Hubert Latham, who flew his Antoinette VII monoplane to victory with a time of 16 minutes 46.6 seconds. Latham's dominance over seven competitors—Métrot, Rolls, Duray, Riemsdyck, Efimoff, Chavez, and Van den Born—demonstrated his exceptional skill in flying over the sea. ## The Race Results Charles Rolls (of Rolls-Royce fame) finished second in 18 minutes 24.8 seconds, and Duray took third in 18 minutes 36 seconds. The race was marked by Riemsdyck's crash into the sea, though he survived. Métrot came last, nearly 7 minutes behind the winner. ## Why This Matters for Aviation Students This early air race highlights the rapid progress of aviation in 1910, just seven years after the Wright brothers' first flight. For ATPL and ATC students, understanding the evolution of aircraft performance and navigation is crucial. Latham's Antoinette VII was a pioneering monoplane design, and the race over water foreshadowed the importance of overwater navigation and emergency procedures that remain relevant today.