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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0420.PDF
JULY 17, 1909. M. BLERIOT'S GREAT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT.—M. Bleriot In full flight on his long cross-country journey passing over the village of Monerville. on Tuesday, July 13th, he was up again, and together with his host, M. Leblanc, M. Fournier, and his wife, set off in motor cars for the scene of the trial, where they were met by M. Guyot, who had come over from Orleans by road. Thus were the officials of the Aero Club of France in readiness to observe the flight, and record it in the world's history. Under fifty yards' start sufficed to get the flyer aloft, and hardly had M. Bleriot passed the word that he was ready than he was flying along at a height of some 25 metres above the ground. Off chased the three motor cars in pursuit, and soon the cavalcade was spinning along over the high road to Orleans, while Bleriot himself sped over hedges, ditches, fields and trees as he cleaved his own course in a direct line for his destination. Now ascending a little, now coming closer to the earth, the Bleriot flyer kept steadily on, and those awake at this early hour could only stare in amazement at the wonderful episode. Presently the railway between Etampes and Orleans hove in sight, and the locomotive of an approaching train whistled with all its might. Heads were thrust out of carriage windows, first in alarm, then in amazement as the astonished occupants had the experience of witnessing under unique conditions- the new locomotion which needs neither road nor rail. It was an inspiring moment, as Bleriot, gracefully increasing his altitude to clear the telegraph wires, sailed calmly over the railway high above the train, waving his hand to the excited and cheering passengers. •• —•- n-,1,' One of the great questions which is always advanced when the subject of flight is on the tapis, is what will happen if the pilot has to descend en route in the middle of his journey. The conditions of the Prix de Voyage afforded an opportunity for the competitor to give a demonstration on this point, and M. Bleriot, sportsman that he is, took advantage of the rules by voluntarily descending in a field near Barmainville, although as a matter of fact he gained nothing by so doing, and stood to lose on the chances of failure which are naturally inseparable from a re-start. At the expiry of 10 minutes the timekeepers who were on the spot again gave the: M. BLERIOT'S GREAT CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT.—After covering the 25 miles across country, M. Bleriotalighted at the pre-arranged spot—La Croix-Biquet—about 15 kilotns. from Orleans. Immediately after his descent the whole machine was dismantled ready for transport back to its shed. The process of dismantling is seen above.. 422
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