Aeroplane Monthly 1993-08
-
G.Johnston - "No longer an island"
Луи Блерио пересекает Ла-Манш. 25 июля 1909г.: установленный газетой "Daily Mail" приз в 1000 фунтов стерлингов за перелет через Ла-Манш выиграл Луи Блерио. Француз взлетел на своем моноплане Bleriot Type XI недалеко от Кале в 4 ч 35 мин утра и в 5 ч 12 мин, невзирая на туман над Ла-Маншем, в котором летчик едва не заблудился, и перегрев мотора Anzani мощностью 25 л. с. (мотор охладил дождь), приземлился в Великобритании в районе замка Дувр. Ла-Манш был покорен за 37 мин. На следующий день на первой полосе британского таблоида "Daily Sketch" красовался портрет Блерио с подписью: "Плакали наши денежки". От правительства Франции Блерио получил сумму, эквивалентную 3000 фунтам стерлингов. Денежные призы позволили летчику основать собственную фирму.
One of the most famous pictures in early aviation: Louis Bleriot (in unmistakable helmet and moustache) in front of his monoplane at the cross-Channel landing spot in Northfall Meadow behind Dover Castle on July 25, 1909.
THE END OF A FAMOUS FLIGHT: As recorded elsewhere in this issue, the Mollisons, after accomplishing a magnificent flight across the Atlantic, met with misfortune - happily without very serious consequences - when landing. Twenty-four years ago - on July 25, 1909 - Louis Bleriot made history when attempting a similar exploit, the crossing of the English Channel. He, too, crashed on landing at Dover, as shown in the accompanying illustration. The progress made in flying since that time is remarkable when we compare his flight with the recent accomplishments of Gen. Balbo and his "Armada," Wiley Post's Round-the-World "trip," and that of the Mollisons referred to above.
Bleriot poses atop his aircraft.
Another view of the Bleriot XI, its undercarriage and propeller smashed, on the slopes of Northfall Meadow immediately after the cross-Channel flight.
Two views of the cross-Channel Bleriot XI on display after the flight, apparently in Selfridges department store in London’s Oxford Street.
Bleriot (centre left) with his cross-Channel monoplane, its wings derigged and stowed on special frames alongside the fuselage. To his right stands his wife, who pursued him across the Channel aboard the French destroyer Escopette.
"M BIeriot's sketch of his cross-Channel flight. In the Daily Mail this very interesting 'chart' sketch by M BIeriot on Sunday, was published on Monday. The explanation of the drawing is: The lettering: 'Louis Bleriot, arrived in England at 5.12, left France at 4.35'. 'Cal.', in the bottom right-hand corner, means Calais. The black dot is the point of departure, and the line the line of flight. The significant 'Rien' and the mark of interrogation indicate the point at which the aviator was for 10min completely lost. 'Vent' = wind, and 'Fal' = falaise or cliff. 'Dou' = Douvres - Dover - and the perpendicular line the lie of the coast.
Note how the line of flight is well to the east of Dover and how M Bleriot's chart illustrates the distance he had to beat westward against the wind before finding a place to land in the Northfall Meadow." - Flight, July 31, 1909
This drawing of the Bleriot XI appeared in Flight of July 31, 1909, accompanying the magazine’s technical description of the aircraft.