Louis Blériot: First Fly English Channel » Aviation pioneer

Special Cable to The Washington Post

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:00:46 +0000

Special Cable to The Washington Post

London, July 25, 1909 —

Bleriot’s own account of his exploit, which will appear in the Daily Mail tomorrow, is graphic. He says:

“It is more important to be the first to cross the channel by aeroplane than to have won the prize of 1,000 pounds. I am more than happy that I have crossed the channel. At first I promised my wife that I would not make the attempt. Then I determined that if one failed I would be the first to come, and I am here…

“At 4:30 daylight had come… A light breeze from the southwest was beginning to blow. The air was clear. Everything was prepared. I was dressed in a khaki jacket lined with wool for warmth over tweed clothes and beneath my engineer’s suit of the blue cotton overalls. My close fitting cap was fastened over my head and my ears.

“I had neither eaten nor drunk anything. My thoughts were only upon the flight and my determination to accomplish it this morning. At 4:35 the signal is given, and in an instant I am in the air, my engine making 1,200 revolutions, almost its highest speed, in order that I may get quickly over the telegraph wires along the edge of the cliff. As soon as I am over the cliff I reduce my speed. There is now no need to force my engine. I begin my flight steady and sure toward the coast of England. I have no apprehensions, no sensations, pas du tout__

“I am alone. I can see nothing at all. For 10 minutes I am lost.

“It is a strange position to be alone,

Louis Bieriot just prior to departing Calais the morning of July 25, 1909.

unguided, without a compass in the air over the middle of the channel. I touch nothing. My hands and feet rest lightly on the levers. I let the aeroplane take its own course. I care not whither it goes. For 10 minutes I continue, neither rising nor falling nor turning, and then 20 minutes after I have left the French coast I see the green hills of Dover, the castle, and away to the west the spot where I intended to land.

“What can I do? It is evident that the wind has taken me out of my course. I am almost west of Margaret’s Bay, and I am going in the direction of the Goodwin Sands. Now it is time to attend to steering. I press a lever with my foot and turn easily toward the west, reversing the direction in which I am now traveling. Now, indeed, I am in difficulties, for the wind here by the cliffs is much stronger and my speed is reduced as I fight against it, yet my beautiful aeroplane responds —

“Once more I turn my aeroplane, and describing a half-circle I enter the opening and find myself again over dry land. Avoiding the red buildings on my right, I attempt a landing, but the wind catches me and whirls me around two or three times. At once I stop my motor, and instantly my machine falls upon the land from a height of 65 feet. In two or three seconds I am safe upon your shores. Soldiers in khaki run up, and a policeman and two of my compatriots are on the spot. They kiss my cheek. The conclusion of my flight overwhelms me. I have nothing to say, but accept the congratulations.

“Thus ended my flight across the channel. The flight could easily be done again. Should I do it? I think not. I have promised my wife that after a race for which I have entered I will fly no more.”

Special Cable to The Washington Post

London, July 25, 1909 —

Louis Bleriot just prior to departing Calais the morning of July 25, 1909

Bleriot’s own account of his exploit, which will appear in the Daily Mail tomorrow, is graphic. He says:

“I am alone. I can see nothing at all. For 10 minutes I am lost.

“It is a strange position to be alone,

Louis Bieriot just prior to departing Calais the morning of July 25, 1909.

Unguided, without a compass in the air over the middle of the channel. I touch nothing. My hands and feet rest lightly on the levers. I let the aeroplane take its own course. I care not whither it goes. For 10 minutes I continue, neither rising nor falling nor turning, and then 20 minutes after I have left the French coast I see the green hills of Dover, the castle, and away to the west the spot where I intended to land.

Aviation pioneer, Louis Blériot

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:47:45 +0000

We speak of an apparatus French aviation pioneer, Louis Blériot was its builder and completed its factory in Neuilly near Paris, is a monoplane that his drive was equipped with a motor of 28 hp REP had their peaks at about 60 km / h speed and a height of close to 80 meters, which was released at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Paris in 1908, although in fact it received its baptism in the air for months February 1909.

The English Daily Mail newspaper, in 1908 offered a prize of 500 pounds for the first aviator to reach across the English Channel (Calais) and in 1909 took up this offer and doubled their number, 1,000 pounds, which made it Several pilots attempted this feat, then so was flying over the peninsula area, it was not easy to try on the open sea, since they were very frequent engine failures and it was more advisable to view a landing at any seeding and receive aid rather than a amerizaje do not know where.

Eager to participate in this event is necessary to make changes in his Blériot XI, replace your original engine for a 25 hp Anzini propelling propeller Chauvierre, this new engine was built with a tricylinder holes in the walls of their cylinders at their most under the motion of the piston thus obtained are not overheating and improved leakage, it was getting an engine that will ensure at least 45 minutes to fly smoothly, as they felt that at that time could win this competition .

On June 26, 1909, a test of his new airplane and set a new European record of staying in flight with 36 minutes and 55 seconds. Convinced skills gained his plane moved to the town of Calais and on July 25 of that year, 04.35 hours when they were perceived that the wind speed and direction were correct as the flight begins , the same route out of the boat harbor “Escopette” that would support but little time and is only exceeded in the air by the waves of the Atlantic under their feet. Perceived overheating engine but a lucky rain helps to keep up. When you reach the 36 minutes of his journey in sight the peaks of Dover (England) made a final rectification of its course and landed on a plateau where he received two of his fellow soldiers and a policeman English. The prize was hers, had flown to 64 km / h and an altitude of 76 meters.

This airplane also noting other feats, the September 23, 1910 the Peruvian pilot of French origin Jorge Chavez managed to cross the Alps for the first time on a flight that originated in Brig (Switzerland) and a destination in Domodossola (Italy).

This model came to make no less than 5600 copies which gave the air units of France, England and other countries. Following the crossing of Calais by Louis Blériot, England found their weak defense by air.

The first to fly a biplane powered motor: Wilbur and Orville Wright

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:49:40 +0000

In 1903 the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first to fly a biplane powered motor, the stunt, originally a short flight takes in the U.S. December 17, Kitty Hawk (North Carolina) and mark the beginning of aviation.
For the first time a mind heavier than air and an explosion engine achieves an ascent flight and controlled descent. The achievement was made possible after years of testing and over a thousand thanks to their inventive efforts and skills of mechanics. Was the result of matching a motor to achieve low power and low weight and experience to capitalize on the lift and aerodinamia tested during the last decade.

First to Fly

The significance of the achievement of the Wright originally going unnoticed for most of the news media publication or rejecting in some cases such as the Associated Press come weeks later as a brief mention in their reports but without major international comments.
His steps will be followed soon by other pioneers, but only at the end of the decade, the aircraft will make its final push to start building the first military aircraft.
Attempts to register the patent of his invention to the Patent Office of the U.S. Wright forced to invest increasing resources and legal, over the next three years. The potential military uses that are beginning to loom for aircraft and major economic interests at stake do not appear to be unrelated to the difficulties they face.
In 1905 the Wright show in Dayton, Ohio, with their Flyer III model for a reliable aircraft to fly for 38 minutes setting a new world record time in flight.
The fledgling interim aviation in France is the setting for other resonant progress, there is where Wilbur and Orville Wright get the recognition they are initially reluctant in their own country.

Luois Blériot, history of an obsession

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:32:56 +0000

Blériot began his lifelong obsession with aviation when he visited a local exhibition and saw Clement Ader’s early, bat-wing shaped plane. Inspired by the strange looking craft, he began to build, test, and crash numerous planes of his own over the next nine years. Rather than follow one type of design for his planes, Blériot worked by trial and error – working first with gliders, then box-kite biplanes, and finally with monoplanes. By 1909, with his finances drained, Blériot finally produced a plane which didn’t immediately crash, the Blériot XI.

In a marketing ploy to increase its circulation, the “Daily Mail” newspaper of London offered a cash prize to the first pilot to fly across the English Channel – a risky proposition at the time. Blériot sensed this was his golden opportunity. Even though his plane had never run for more than 20 minutes – about half of the Channel’s 22-mile distance – the pilot remained undaunted.

Blériot had two fierce rivals for this title. The first was the daring Hubert Lathan, an Englishman who had made France his home. Loved by both the French as well as the English, he was favored to win. The other flyer, Charles de Lambert, was a Russian aristocrat with French roots – not to mention one of Wilbur Wright’s best students. In July of 1909, the three competitors each arrived on the shores of Calais, France. Lathan had arrived first and attempted a crossing on July 19th. Six miles from shore, though, he developed engine trouble and was forced to make a sea landing. Meanwhile, Lambert suffered a major crash of his own during a test flight, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Blériot, himself, experienced the misfortune of a badly burned foot when he a petrol line broke during one of his trial runs. But Blériot persevered.

Louis Blériot stands next to his plane after completing his historic crossing of the English Channel on July 25, 1909.

While Lathan was regrouping, Blériot watched the weather. At dawn on July 25th, he took off for England despite blustery winds and his injured foot. By the time Lathan’s camp realized that Blériot was not making a test run but attempting the crossing, it was too late to chase him. With no compass to guide him, Blériot beat the odds and managed to somehow successfully cross the Channel. He immediately gained worldwide fame. His rival, Hubert Lathan, even re-attempted Blériot’s flight four days later, only to again smash his plane into the ocean when the engine failed.

While Blériot’s flight was not the longest of its time, his achievement was nonetheless historic. His crossing captured the world’s attention and continued to popularize the field of aviation. After his famous flight, Blériot formed a plane company which became quite successful, first manufacturing copies of his Blériot XI, and later producing the S.P.A.D. fighter flown by the Allies during WWI. Louis Blériot would continue to make contributions to the field of aviation until his death on August 2, 1936.

Louis Blériot began his lifelong obsession with aviation when he visited a local exhibition and saw Clement Ader’s early, bat-wing shaped plane. Inspired by the strange looking craft, he began to build, test, and crash numerous planes of his own over the next nine years. Rather than follow one type of design for his planes, Blériot worked by trial and error – working first with gliders, then box-kite biplanes, and finally with monoplanes. By 1909, with his finances drained, Blériot finally produced a plane which didn’t immediately crash, the Blériot XI.

The “Daily Mail” newspaper of London offered a cash prize of 1000L to the first pilot to fly across the English Channel – a risky proposition at the time. Blériot sensed this was his golden opportunity. Even though his plane had never run for more than 20 minutes – about half of the Channel’s 22-mile distance – the pilot remained undaunted.

Blériot had two fierce rivals for this title. The first was the daring Hubert Lathan, an Englishman who had made France his home. Loved by both the French as well as the English, he was favored to win. The other flyer, Charles de Lambert, was a Russian aristocrat with French roots. In July of 1909, the three competitors each arrived on the shores of Calais, France. Lathan had arrived first and attempted a crossing on July 19th. Six miles from shore, though, he developed engine trouble and was forced to make a sea landing. Meanwhile, Lambert suffered a major crash of his own during a test flight, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Blériot, himself, experienced the misfortune of a badly burned foot when he a petrol line broke during one of his trial runs. But Blériot persevered.

Louis Blériot stands next to his plane after completing his historic crossing of the English Channel on July 25, 1909.

While Blériot’s flight was not the longest of its time, his achievement was nonetheless historic. His crossing captured the world’s attention and continued to popularize the field of aviation. After his famous flight, Blériot formed a plane company which became quite successful, first manufacturing copies of his Blériot XI, and later producing the S.P.A.D. fighter flown by the Allies during WWI. Louis Blériot would continue to make contributions to the field of aviation until his death on August 2, 1936.

The old dream of flying like the birds began to be realized in the late eighteenth century

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:57 +0000

The old dream of flying like the birds began to be realized in the late eighteenth century, thanks to the balloon of the Montgolfier brothers. Just over a century later, the man managed to fly a plane. From the time you go remote, myths and legends speak of men who flew like birds.

The first flight experiment real, decisive for the development of air navigation, was the brothers Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier in June 1783. His ship was a huge balloon with passengers who reached the height of 2,000 m. The principle of the invention was simple: fire under a balloon light material. c balloon is inflated and rose, because the hot air inside was lighter than the surrounding air. The news of the Montgolfier encouraged other attempts. On November 21 1783 a young nobleman of Pilatre Rozier was the first passenger in Paris from the air in a balloon that had a burner. A few days later, the physicist Jacques-Alexandre Charles repeated the experiment with a more technically advanced, which i used hydrogen instead of hot air: he was born on gas balloon. The dirigible As the balloon did not allow a management of the world, began to project a dirigible craft, driven by propellers. This was performed after he invented the gasoline engine, much more powerful and lighter than the vapor. The first dirigible flight took a significant place on Lake Constance (Germany) in June 1900. Its inventor was the German Count von Zeppelin Fcrdinand. Since then, the airship had spread and was quite used for military purposes in the First World War. Became a symbol of technical progress, but was soon abandoned because of the tragedies caused by the use of hydrogen, a flammable gas. Flying machines The study of the aerodynamics of the airplane and the idea had many predecessors in France and England in the first half of the nineteenth century. Attempted to build a rigid-wing vehicle, driven by a propeller engine light, whose flight is based on four different forces. The combination of these forces could overcome those pushing it towards the ground.

The first airplane was efficient work of the American brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. Having long studied the failures of their predecessors, December 17, 1903 managed to fly for the first time ever, a machine driven by its own strength and able to travel without losing speed. It was a biplane with wings of an opening of 12.5 m and two drivers (one above and one in the queue), which had a gasoline engine of 70 kg and 12 horsepower. Since then the aircraft had a rapid development

Frontal view of a Bleriot XI

throughout the world. On July 25, 1909 the French invented by Louis Blériot’s wing, succeeded in flying across the English Channel and in 1927, Captain Charles Lindberg (USA). in his monoplane Spirit of St. Louis made crossing the Atlantic in a solo flight that lasted 33 hours.

Jets and rockets

Until the end of World War II, the mechanical flight was substantially unchanged from that in 1903, the Wright brothers made the first airplane to fly in the fifty years following major improvements were made to the new aircraft. However, the engines and the flight were the same as the first prototype. Only the principle of propulsion by reaction with both engines and jet propulsion rocket engine, introduced a fundamental change. The principle that there is a bomb on a moving reaction was known since antiquity: if you leave air, steam or other gas contained in a container, a hole, the gust of air expelled gives the object momentum (a good example is a balloon that suddenly deflates). We had to wait until the technology progressed pond oxidant fuel in many areas before they can apply this law of physics on the fly. In order for an engine based on this kind of momentum was efficient, it was necessary to construct a building with materials resistant to high speeds and temperatures.

Jets

The first to patent a jet engine was the French engineer René Lorin, Airplanes in 1911 driven by such engines were built shortly before World War II in Germany, Italy and England. The most important was produced in 1941 by the English aviator Frank Whittle, who had planned a decade earlier. The aircraft did not need propellers Whittle because, on the engine pistons and cylinders were replaced by a combustion chamber and a turbine, with great violence to expel gas from the back of the tube reactor, the plane was moving. With this system, implemented prior to the war planes after the first English attempt at the flight line, can reach speeds previously unimaginable.

Helicopter

The idea of a vertical takeoff aircraft is old, and many inventors designed and tested such machines in the course of history. However. the first who managed to build a helicopter efidente. ie. an aircraft driven by a rotor (propeller revolutions making pallet horizontal from the ground), were the technicians of the German aeronautical industry Focke, 1940. As their work is not known until the end of the Second War, the invention of the helicopter is generally attributed to the Soviet engineer Igor Sikorsky. who built his prototype, the XR-4 for the U.S. Army in 1941. Because it is able to stand motionless in the air and requires minimal space for takeoff and landing, the helicopter is extremely useful for many practical purposes.

Cross the English Channel using a single jet-propelled wing

admin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:23:43 +0000

A Swiss adventurer will today make a record-breaking attempt to become the first person to fly solo across the English Channel using a single jet-propelled wing.

First man cross channel in jet

Yves Rossy, known as Fusionman, will jump from a plane more than 8,200ft (2,500m) above ground, then fire up jets on his homemade wing and soar across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The 49 year old is hoping to make the flight from Calais to Dover just after 1pm BST after suffering a setback earlier this week when poor weather conditions postponed his attempt by a day.

Rossy, a former military pilot, aims to trace the route of French aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in a plane 100 years ago.

Flying at speeds approaching 125mph, it is expected that the 22-mile televised flight across the Channel should take Rossy around 12 minutes to complete.

To achieve the feat, Rossy must overcome significant challenges, not least the container ships that will be passing through the sea.

In an interview earlier this week, he said: “If I calculate everything right, I will land in Dover. But if I get it wrong, I take a bath.”

Rossy – a pilot with Swiss International Air Lines -will review safety measures before take-off in Calais, especially important as his jet-propelled wing needs to be ignited while still inside the plane.

He has never flown for longer than 10 minutes. And his wing weight and measurements must be incredibly precise, with even the addition of a tiny camera possibly affecting how long he can stay in the air.

Over the past few months, he has been fine-tuning the wing’s design and performance and carried out several test flights in wind tunnels and the Swiss Alps.
His wing weighs about 55kg with fuel and includes four simple, kerosene-burning jet turbines to keep him airborne.

Created from a lightweight carbon composite, the wing has no steering devices, meaning Rossy will have to use his head and back to control the wing’s movement.

He will be outfitted with a special suit, helmet and parachute as part of the precautions to protect him from the jet turbines mounted just centimetres from him on the wing.

If the weather conditions turn out to be poor, another attempt at the crossing will take place tomorrow.

National Geographic Channel will broadcast the flight live around the world except France, Canada and Switzerland and will stream it live online at http://www.natgeotv.com/jetman