Throughout the weekend of 25-26 July 2009, Dover will host a prestigious international festival in celebration of Blériot’s achievement in becoming the first person to fly across the Channel, and to commemorate the pioneering age of aviation.

The weekend, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the first hovercraft crossing of the English Channel between Calais and Dover by Sir Christopher Cockerell, aims to be an event for all the family to enjoy.

Among the attractions on show will be:

• A historic recreation of Blériot’s flight across the English Channel by the distinguished Swedish pilot, Mikael Carlson, flying one of his two Blériot XI aeroplanes.
• A procession of aeroplanes flying from Calais to Dover that will form part of an Air Pageant commemorating 100 years of aviation.
• Participation by the Royal Air Force featuring, amongst others, the famous Red Arrows.
• The transformation of the Seafront, which will be home to a number of Anglo-French and Anglo-Italian themed activities.
• A firework spectacular across the harbour on the Saturday evening, courtesy of Standard Fireworks.

Dover District Council’s Leader, Cllr Paul Watkins said: “This will be a truly memorable event that will play an important part in our continuing efforts to showcase Dover, its world class heritage, its town and its port. Dover 2009 will be an occasion for local people and also visitors from far and wide to experience the rich culture and heritage of Dover, the warmth of its hospitality, its proud history with France, its long association with the Armed Forces and its role as one of Europe’s busiest gateways. We hope that everyone will join in to make Dover 2009 a memorable event.”

To make Dover 2009 a truly international event Dover District Council is working closely with colleagues in the Communauté d’Agglomération du Calaisis (CAC) to ensure that the centenary celebrations are a prestigious showcase for Dover and Calais.

Monsieur Philippe Blet, President of the CAC said: “The centenary of Louis Blériot’s epic flight across La Manche, and the exciting plans now being developed, herald a new phase of cooperation between Calais and Dover especially as we look forward together to London 2012 and the opportunities for sustained economic growth.”
Further information about the celebrations can be found on the official Dover 2009 website – www.dover2009.com – which will also feature details of new events as they are confirmed over the coming months.

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The feat of crossing the sleeve is for Quimby to achieve, but she is afraid that somebody do it before the exploit. It is therefore a party secretly in March 1912 for England, has borrowed a monoplane 50 HP Louis Blériot, who was the first person to cross the English Channel in 1909.

Quimby left for England in March 1912, and to pursue its main objective aviation and becoming the first woman to cross the English Channel. Although Louis Blériot flew the English Channel in July 1909, no woman has ever accomplished the feat.

Blériot, intrigued by the objective of Quimby, his expedition to one of his Blériot monoplanes of 50 horses (37 kW), a single seat aircraft for Blériot vol.A hand and a few others, nobody knew the plan Quimby.

On 16 April 1912, Quimby took off from Dover, England, en route to Calais, France. Flying at altitudes between 1000 and 2000 feet (305 and 610 meters), Quimby followed its path through the fog and made the flight in 59 minutes, having derived some of the planned landing about 25 miles ( 40 km) from Calais on a beach in Hardelot, France.

Harriet Quimby became the first licensed female aviator in the United States on 11 August 1911.

She wanted to keep secret because she feared that another woman can try to do it before the flight. She also feared that people can try to stop it because of the risks involved, especially the unpredictable weather.

Gustav Hamel, one of the friends of Quimby was one of the people who tried to stop it. With the best of intentions, Hamel offered to hide with a purple dress and the flight for her. He suggested that she could hide in a remote area in France and quickly reach the scene of the landing, but Quimby has refused the offer.

Very few people have learned of his feat, though, because of the bad press it receives. The Titanic sank only two days before and was still the main news of the day.

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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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