9 сентября 1911г.: первая в Великобритании официальная перевозка авиапочты выполнена на моноплане Bleriot Густавом Хамелем с аэродрома Хендон, графство Мидлсекс, в Виндзор, графство Беркс.

"...the driver sat partly exposed to view... with his hands on a raked-column steering wheel". Typical example of this early arrangement are provided by the Bleriot monoplane.

Bleriot is most famous for his development of the archetypal pre-Great War monoplane, specifically the Bleriot XI, the type in which he made his historic crossing of the English Channel in July 1909. Here a Bleriot XI gambols in front of spectators at Bournemouth racecourse in 1910.

Луи Блерио над Ла-Маншем на подлете к английскому берегу.

Луи Блерио у своего самолета после перелета через Ла-Манш

Another view of the Bleriot XI, its undercarriage and propeller smashed, on the slopes of Northfall Meadow immediately after the cross-Channel flight.

Louis Bleriot at Northfall Meadow, Dover (25 July 1909).

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.

Влияние перелета Блерио на публику Европы преувеличить невозможно. У многих изменились представления о географии, а Франция лишний раз подтвердила свой статус ведущей авиационной державы того времени.

Two views of the cross-Channel Bleriot XI on display after the flight, apparently in Selfridges department store in London’s Oxford Street.

1909-1934: The Bleriot monoplane (25-h.p. Anzani 3-cyl. air-cooled "fan-type" engine) on which M. Bleriot flew the Channel on July 25, 1909, on view at Buc Aerodrome last Saturday.

The 1911 Queen Bleriot replica is the result of a six-year project by the New York-based Long Island Early Fliers Club. Built to commemorate the first American aerial mail flight, made 75yr ago by Earle L. Ovington on September 23, 1911, the Bleriot is now on display in the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island.

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.

Mr. R. O. Shuttleworth, in the cockpit of his cross-Channel Bleriot, chats to Mr. A. E. Grimmer, who, in 1913, bought and flew the original from the remains of which this perfect replica was rebuilt.

1909-1934: M. Laurent Eynac - usually, but not at present, French Air Minister - Lord Londonderry, and M. Louis Bleriot beneath the latter's historic machine at Buc.

Bleriot sets off on his Channel flight. The machine is the still airworthy Bleriot which occasionally flies in France. An apparently unavoidable departure from strict accuracy is that the Anzani engine is not a three-cylinder of the type used on the memorable flight.

Bleriot poses atop his aircraft.

Достижение Блерио запечатлели газеты и открытки, они способствовали росту известности француза. Блерио всеми силами стремился популяризовать авиацию.

THIS WEEK’S GREAT ANNIVERSARY: On Tuesday a banquet was held in London to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first flight across the English Channel, made by Louis Bleriot in 1909. Bleriot - who died three years ago - is seen in this picture, and the historic arrival at Dover is also shown.

Postmaster-General Hitchcock hands over the first US airmail consignment to Earle Ovington at Nassau, Long Island, on 25 September 1911.

Военный летчик севастопольской авиационной школы лейтенант Дыбовский

Создатель первого в мире цельноалюминиевого самолета Джон Муазан перед своим последним полетом

Jeffrey Quill seated in a Bleriot monoplane, rather slower than he was used to, at the RAeS Garden Party at White Waltham in May 1949.

Back to those happy-go-lucky days: the old-timers’ park, with the Gordon-Bennett Bleriot flanked by two less racy Bleriots.

The Chanter Flying School's two Bleriot XIs and the Chanter monoplane, powered by a three-cylinder Anzani engine.

Three Anzani-engined Bleriot XI Monoplanes left RAF Colerne on Wednesday, March 17, 1976, due to the closure of the station museum. The centre aircraft, an original belonging to L. D. Goldsmith and registered G-AVXV, went to RAF St Athan, and the other two, built from spares and new parts, went to the RAF Museum and the RAF Benevolent Fund, the latter to be kept at Salisbury Hall.

BOURNEMOUTH-1910: Some of the "Slight 'Planes." (3) Armstrong Drexel on the Bleriot monoplane, and Grahame-White on his H. Farman, about to start.

An almost perfect reconstruction - Mr. R. O. Shuttleworth's Bleriot, with a genuine three-cylinder Anzani engine. It took off and flew a short straight.

"Robert" lending a helping hand in holding back Marcel Desoutter's Bleriot monoplane before the latter sets out on one of his excellent exhibition flights.

M. Pegoud setting out to give his first demonstration of looping in England at Brooklands, September, 1913.

The Bleriot monoplane reproduction built by Dart Aircraft for Richard Nash of the Internationel Horseless Carriage Company. It was flown in company with Richard Shuttleworth’s genuine 1909 Bleriot at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Garden Party at Heathrow in May 1937.

В полете аэроплан "Блерио XI"

Jeffrey Quill puttered around in the Bleriot, rarely above 10ft.

On July 31, 1977 at Old Warden, Neil Williams attempted to take the Shuttleworth's Bleriot monoplane on a circuit of the aerodrome, but the aeroplane force-landed in a cornfield.

The DEUTSCHES MUSEUM'S plate shows the Messerschmitt Me 262, Fokker D VII, Bleriot XI, Wright Model A, Grade monoplane, Lilienthal glider and Junkers Ju 52/3m.

Музейный "Блерио-11", представляющий самолет Пегу.

"Блерио" в мертвой петле.

Пегу выполняет "мертвые петли"

A rare photograph of Adolphe Pegoud demonstrating the cable-and-hook system with a ground-based structure and a Bleriot XI. From the positioning of the aircraft at the beginning of the aerial runway, it is likely that Pegoud is bringing the machine in to alight on the wire after having accomplished a successful take-off and circuit of the flying ground.

Adolphe Pegoud in the cockpit of the Bleriot XI fitted with the hook and suspended from the wire. Pegoud was Bleriot’s favoured test pilot and undertook numerous flights in which he “pushed the envelope” of what was possible with an aircraft in terms of manoeuvrability. Pegoud was the first pilot in Europe to fly inverted and perform a loop, in 1913.

Обладавший шармом и репутацией решительного мужчины, Блерио использовал личную славу во благо авиационной науки. Блерио сфотографирован вместе с великим французским летчиком Адольфом Пегу, который впоследствии стал первым в мире асом-истребителем.

Адольф Пегу на очередных гастролях возле своего "Блерио".

Пегу перед своим боевым "Блерио", лето 1914г.

Capitano Piazza and his Bleriot XI.

Recalling Old Times: At the Staaken (Berlin) Easter Meeting, Herr Antonius Raab flew a Bleriot Cross-Channel type of monoplane.

French aviator Henri Salmet was on hand at Leeds with his two-seat Bleriot XI-2 to provide entertainment - and pleasure flights for the more brave-hearted. Salmet had played a major part in Claude Grahame-White’s “Wake Up England” aviation tour the previous year.

Another Japanese postcard relating to Charles Niles, this one showing Niles’s Bleriot being wheeled out, probably at the Aoyama Parade Ground in Tokyo. The Westerner directing the move, on the right, may be Niles’s mechanic Frank Murray. By the time of the Japanese tour, Niles had established a reputation for daring aerobatics.

Niles in the cockpit of his Bleriot preparing for a flight in Japan. Contemporary articles in the Japanese press stated that this aircraft was powered by a 50 h.p. Gnome engine, although for his exhibition flying in the USA Niles had used Gnome engines of greater power, more likely for the type of flying he would undertake.

Tom Sopwith and Mr Sassoon aboard Sopwith's 70 h.p. Bleriot at a Hendon meeting in April 1912.

Tom Sopwith pictured in his 70 h.p. Bleriot at Brooklands on Sunday, April 14, 1912, the day he flew it from Brooklands to Chertsey Bridge and back. The identity of his passenger is not known.

Walter L. Brock - chewing hard, no doubt - on his Bleriot, is being rapidly overhauled by M. Martz on the Morane Saulnier during the First International Contest, October, 1913.

AN OLD TIMER: A replica of a Bleriot monoplane, type XI, which was flown at Hanworth by M. Quatremarre.

INTERESTING MACHINE AT ORLY: The Bleriot Channel type monoplane as used by Bleriot in his Channel flight of 1909.

"Блерио" летчика А.Васильева

Взлет самолета Васильева

Самолет Васильева над Валдаем

Frenchman Henri Salmet, chief instructor of the Bleriot School at Hendon, flies along the coast off Brighton Beach in his Bleriot XI during his 1912 Daily Mail Tour of Britain flights.

Самолет «Блерио» XI Севастопольской офицерской школы авиации. Аэродром Куликово поле, весна 1912 г.

BORN 1910 AND STILL GOING STRONG: M. Quatremarre flying the Bleriot monoplane at Hanworth.

Gustav Hamel making his last flight at Brooklands, in a Bleriot XI monoplane. Hamel’s aviation achievements were outstanding, including the first cross-Channel flight with a woman passenger, the first flight from the UK to Germany and the carriage of the first official airmail in Britain. Aged only 24 years old, Hamel went missing over the English Channel on May 23, 1914.

Walter Dappen's picture of the Jean Salis Bleriot, taken at Bex, Switzerland on August 24, 1980, took the third prize.

SOME EARLY AEROPLANES: THE BLERIOT MONOPLANE, SHOWN IN 4, WAS A TWO-SEATER. LATERAL CONTROL WAS BY WING-WARPING

Some of the old types which will be seen at the R.A.F. Display at Hendon on Saturday: The Bleriot monoplane

A two-seat Bleriot XI built after its creator's report. The increased height of the cabane and consequent improvement in the angle of the landing wires are obvious.

Став знаменитым после перелета через Ла-Манш, самолет Bleriot XI строился в больших количествах и в нескольких вариантах. В Bleriot XI-3 три человека размещались тандемом, а двигатель на нем стоял более мощный, чем на базовом Bleriot XI.

One of the first Bleriot XI-2 'Genie' (Engineer) monoplanes to be delivered to the Ottomans. It has not yet been given national markings consisting of an Ottoman-Turkish flag on the rudder.

The first two crews to attempt the long-distance flight from Istanbul to Egypt in 1914, standing in front of Bleriot XI-2 'Ertugrul'. From left to right: Sadik, Hakki, Fethi and Nuri.

Bleriot XI-2 'Ertugrul' with its crew of Fethi and Sadik plus officers and local dignitaries in Damascus. The aircraft crashed near Lake Tiberius on the next leg of its journey, killing both crew.

A unique photograph of Bleriot XI-2 'Ertugrul' at Yesilkoy during the World War One. It was taken either just before the aeroplane left for Canakkale prior to the Gallipoli campaign, or more likely, after it returned late in March 1915. The red-white-red cockade form of national markings are visible beneath its wings, these perhaps having been inspired by French practice during the first months of the war before the Ottoman Empire entered as an ally of Germany. Several pilots can be identified, including Sakir (1), Cemal who flew this Bleriot over Gallipoli (2) and Fevzi (3). The black African pilot standing in front of the engine is Naval Yuzbasi Ahmet Ali Arab who is understood to have been descended from a freed slave in the Ottoman Sultan's Palace. He and a colleague named Ali Mehmet were the first two black pilots in the history of aviation.

The Bleriot XI-2 taking off from Yesilkoy on the first leg of its attempted flight to Alexandria. A dark patch on the top front of the engine cowling was where its name 'Ertugrul' was painted in Turco-Arabic lettering.

Поручик Симеон Петров в кабине одноместного "Блерио-XI".

Поручик Христо Топракчиев у своего самолета.

The Bleriot XI sold for £12,000 at Christie's on June 30, 1981.

Учебный "Блерио" с трехцилиндровым двигателем "Анзани".

"Блерио-XI" с семицилиндровым ротативным двигателем "Гном".

Самолет Блерио "Олуй" - первый сербский военный (вооруженный) самолет

A two-seater Bleriot monoplane of 1913 which was extremely popular in its time, and was flown a lot by such famous pilots as Hamel, Hucks and Brock. The tail skid, placed far forward on the fuselage, acted as a fairly effective brake. The positively-cambered tail plane and negatively-cambered elevator feature was retained in this machine, but never afterwards.

Самолет Блерио "Гоночный"

Самолет типа "Блерио-XI", собранный на заводе Дукс (г.Москва) с его маркировкой. 1913г.

Моноплан "Блерио XII" штабс-капитана Б.В.Матыевича-Мациевича перед взлетом

Летчики 3-й эскадрильи Королевского авиационного корпуса сфотографированы на фоне Bleriot XI (слева) и Parasol (справа), Амьен, 1914год. Первые самолеты союзников не стали для германских аппаратов достойными противниками.

The Bleriot XI during the dismantling test at the Hendon Demonstration of Military Aircraft - May 1911.

Вариант с высокорасположенным крылом Bleriot XI Brevet Goulin обеспечивал летчику лучший обзор вниз при выполнении разведывательных полетов. На снимке: самолет вооруженных сил Великобритании.

A pair of Bleriot Monoplane wings well on the way to completion.