Henry Farman biplane on its “neighbors” was made on 1 km closed circuit officially controlled in Issy-les-Moulineaux, January 13 1908. He completed the first flight over the countryside, 27 km in 20 minutes, Bouy to Reims, 30 October 1908. The Wright brothers fly to France and make 123.200 km in 2 h 18 min, 31 December 1908.

The land is overflown. It remains for aviators to cross the seas.

On 5 October 1908, the British newspaper “Daily Mail” creates a price of 1 000 pounds sterling, to reward the aviator who manage to cross the English Channel using a heavier than air. The lighter than air in fact have already traversed. On 7 January 1785, Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries went to Dover to board a gas balloon to land in the forest of Guines near Calais.

It’s the turn of fans heavier than air now attempt the crossing.

An aviator, Serge de Bolotoff, is the first applicant in November 1908. He was thinking to use an airplane triplane built by the Voisin brothers, equipped with an engine of Panhard et Levassor 110 HP and then, faced with the difficulty, he gave his project soon.

Will remain in the competition three competitors:

• Hubert Latham (1883-1912), with a “Antoinette IV, built by Léon Levavasseur. The “sportsman”, after having participated in competitive canoe racing car driver became the company Antoinette in 1909.
• Louis Blériot (1872-1936) with his Bleriot XI. Engineer, he made his fortune in the sale of automobile headlamps, before a passion for aviation. After an association with the Voisin brothers, he built his own aircraft and developed the monoplane “Bleriot XI, which Gabriel Voisin itself recognize that all the best equipment from that time are just copies more or less successful. Neighboring cites, in particular, the aircraft Ryan “Spirit of St Louis” by Charles Lindbergh in 1927.
• Charles Lambert (1865-1944), Russian Count of French origin, with a Wright airplane. After interested in hydrofoils, Charles Lambert became an aviation enthusiast emerging: it is one of three licensed pilots at the Wright School of Pau, in early 1909.

On 12 June, Hubert Latham on his Antoinette IV, 55 hp engine, has conducted approximately 40 km in 39 minutes. La Mancha to the point where it is less wide, measuring about 34 km, the aircraft also seem to point to attempt the crossing. Sometimes, July 3, at Sangatte, near Calais, with the manufacturer Levavasseur Léon. On 19 July he took off at 6 h 47 du matin du Cap Blanc Nez. Suddenly, when the flight is more regular, the engine stops and the aircraft fell to the sea, 18 km from the coast of France. Fortunately for the pilot, the fuselage is shaped hull of the boat, floating on the sea … The “Antoinette IV” is raised by the destroyer “The Harpoon” and transported to Calais by the tug “The Calaisiens. It seems that the failure was due to the arrival of gasoline. It reached the engine by fine screens to be easily clogged. It would probably have sufficed to filter more carefully before the start … Also Hubert Latham is determined to try again.

Louis Blériot, July 19 1909, after learning of the failure of Latham, is committed to the price of the Daily Mail. On 13 July he was already 41 km in 44 min 13 s. He feels capable of crossing the English Channel aboard his airplane and he settled on 21 July in the hamlet of Barracks, near Calais. The aircraft used is the Bleriot XI, which flew for the first time in Issy-les-Moulineaux, January 23 1909. It is equipped with an engine Anzani 3 cylinder 25 HP. His Italian, Alessandro Anzani, is present to assist the builder and pilot in his attempt. A few days before his trial, Blériot was burned at the foot twice when he experienced his “Blériot XII. This burn was caused by the exhaust pipe of the engine with the coating of asbestos had jumped. So injured foot, walking with crutches, he will begin crossing the English Channel.

But Latham was another device, the ‘Antoinette VII. Between him and Blériot, who is leaving the first. This will Blériot! After a test flight of 10 minutes, finding the suitable time, July 25 he flew to 4 h 35. Note that the pilot can not swim! In the event of a fall, a cylinder filled with air to ensure the flotation of the device and a lifejacket allow the pilot to float. Flying at an altitude of 80 to 100 meters with an average speed of 60 km per hour, it will reach the English coast. Having drifted northeast, and could not cross the cliffs, he turned to the left along the coast to find a place for landing, if possible Shakespeare Hills. Blériot finally discovers the prairie of North Foreland Meadow, he said that as agreed, waving a tricolor flag, the journalist of the daily “Le Matin”, Charles Fontaine. The landing was hard, the chassis of the plane collapses and a blade of the propeller Chauvière detach. But the English Channel, 38 km, is crossed in 32 minutes. The land has been affected at 5 am 17.

Blériot returned in the evening against France on the destroyer “the escopetas” which followed during the flight and on board which was his wife. On 26 July, he returned to Dover and travels to London where Lord Northcliffe, owner of the Daily Mail, “gives him a cup and the prize money. The aircraft is set in London. Blériot, back in Paris, received a triumphant welcome. The Bleriot XI is purchased by the newspaper “Le Matin” 10 to 000 F. It is presented to the public at the offices of the newspaper, then at the Air Show before being handed over at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers.

Charles Lambert, a student of Wilbur Wright at Pau, moved him to Wissant, near Boulogne-sur-Mer. It’s a biplane aircraft “Wright” built by Toxna, equipped with an engine and Marre Bariquand of 24 hp. His attempt it seemed redundant after the successful Bleriot? On 27 July, at 8 am 30, he decided to do a test before making a decision. A bad landing the aircraft is temporarily out of use. The circumstances have decided for him. He abandons, for the following other successes.

Latham, sportingly tries again crossing on a new device, the ‘Antoinette VII, 50 hp engine. It took off July 27 to 17 h 50. At 18 h 16, the engine stops and the plane has to land on water, only a mile of the coast of England. He covered 34 km at a speed of 90 km / h. It seems that there was a pipe ruptured gasoline. Latham waived, but other exploits are waiting too. In August 1909, he beat the distance record (over 154 km) and height (155 m). On 7 January 1910, it reaches 1 000 m altitude.

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If all previous attempts have failed, that of Bleriot, and will succeed to posterity.

This year, from April to July, the city of Cambrai will celebrate this great human adventure, which is also that of the nascent aviation … Numerous events will take place, which Cambrésiens invite all visitors and aviation enthusiasts or simply curious to discover and celebrate Louis Blériot and aviation.

The events already passed:

• April 17 – J-100, launch of Operation Blériot in Cambresis, with hoteliers and the Grand’Place restaurateurs.Animation
• From 6 to April 30 – Exhibition at the Cathedral of Cambrai.
• Thursday 14 May – Conference on Louis Blériot theater Cambrai.
• Saturday, May 23 – Trip up the Avenue de la Victoire by a plane engine and installation of aircraft on the Grand Place, opposite the Hotel de Ville.
• From 6 to June 13 – Week of aviation film in the cinema at the Palace Cambrai, and June 6, projection free outdoor film “Top Gun” of the place behind the cinema.
• From June 24 to July 12 – Blériot Village on the Grand, which presents a sculpture made from 200 tons of sand by the artist Laurent Dagron, an exhibition of drawings by children … and provides visitors a point of tourist
• On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July – Exhibition of 100 models which discuss the history of aviation at the Palais des Grottes.

Events underway:

• Until October 31 – Exhibition at the Tourist Office Cambrésis (maison espagnole).
• June 20 to July 26 – Exhibition at City Hall on Louis Blériot which includes artefacts and collectibles.

Events still to come:

• Saturday, July 18 – Grand airshow at the aerodrome of Cambrai-Niergnies, which illustrate a century of aviation legend with an exceptional.

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In 1900, Louis Blériot decided to study and learn all the theories. He drew his own conclusions and decided to build these models on its own assumptions. In 1906, he founded his own team and miscellaneous equipment, try it himself with many accidents. With the help of a young engineer Raymond Saulnier, he directed the single Blériot XI.

On this device, on 25 July 1909, Blériot took off near Calais, at 4 am for crossing the English Channel. He joined Dover in England after 37 minutes of flight and about 38 Km This success earned him multiple orders from around the world which will ensure the future of the firm. Blériot continually drive itself at the end of 1909 to devote himself to the company Blériot Aéronautique,

In 1914, Louis Blériot acquires Devices Deperdussin “SPAD. Many factories had come Blériot SPAD. In July 1936 the health of Louis Blériot deteriorate and he died on 1st August 1936 of a heart attack.

Note that the first pilot’s license issued by the Aero Club of France in 1910, was given Blériot, not for his exploits, but simply he was the first alphabetically.

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A programme of events in Kent and Pas-de-Calais is aiming to celebrate the centenary of the first cross-Channel flight by Louis Blériot and bring residents from the two regions closer together.

The Channel Hop programme is a partnership project between Kent County Council (KCC) and the Pas-de-Calais Conseil Général. It includes events in both regions, so residents can experience each others’ cultures and develop new friendships.

In Kent, the KCC-led events will include discovery trails for French and English school children, art exhibitions and guided walks. Other organisations are also holding events to celebrate the centenary. These events include Margate’s Big Event in June, organised by Thanet District Council and a spectacular air show and firework display in Dover in July, organised by Dover District Council.

A dedicated Channel Hop website (link opens in a new window) has been set up to bring details about the events together in one place and it also has information about the history of the regions and historical images.

Myriam Caron, Channel Hop Project Manager for Kent County Council said:”The Channel Hop project is about helping Kent and Pas-de-Calais residents make the most of the events going on this year and develop the existing friendship.

“The centenary of Blériot’s flight across the Channel is a great opportunity for us to hop across and enjoy both regions.”

Apart from the Channel Tunnel link, the two regions are connected by strong business links, 22 twinned towns and villages and a treaty of friendship between Kent County Council and the Pas-de-Calais Conseil Général.

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