Pioneer pilots
What was the name of the first plane to fly across the English Channel?
In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would fly across the
English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. On July 19th, 1909,
in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette
IV.' He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was
forced to land on sea. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
Two days alter, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'. Bleriot had been
making planes since 1905 and this was his lattes model. A week before, he had completed a
successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles. Latham, however, did not
give up easily. He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antoinette'. It looked
as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel. Both planes were going to take off on
July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough, After making a short test flight at 4,15 a.m.,
Bleriot set off half an hour later. His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes. When he landed
near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a
week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again. His engine failed
and he landed on the sea for the second time.