Louis Blériot made history with the Blériot XI, the world’s oldest airworthy airplane. This remarkable aircraft has a rich legacy woven across long-distance travel, air shows, mail service, military operations, and film. Here’s the history of the Blériot XI, including its significance in aviation history.

The Legendary Blériot XI

Before French aviator Louis Blériot designed the Blériot XI alongside Raymond Saulnier in 1909, humans could only dream about powered flight over long distances. The planes that flew then, flew on borrowed time, they only lasted a few moments in the air. Today, the Blériot XI stands as a monumental achievement in aviation history for inspiring air travel.

The Visionary, Louis Blériot

Louis Blériot showed remarkable vision as he went from manufacturing automotive headlamps to developing the first ever working monoplane. Outstanding success in aviation today, including space exploration can be largely credited to this inventor who dared to be different. Besides his success with the Blériot XI, Blériot also pioneered joystick and foot-operated rudder control in aircraft.

Design and Innovations

The Blériot XI was one of the first planes to use wing warping, an innovative technique that allowed pilots control the aircraft’s roll by twisting the wings. It had a lightweight wooden frame from oak and poplar and unique curved wings for better lift, stability, and maneuverability. Also, the aircraft had a 25-HP Anzani engine capable of 1-hour flights.

Early Flights and Development

Although the Blériot XI made its first flight on January 23, 1909, at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, it had issues and underwhelming performance. Then, Blériot and engineer Raymond Saulnier reduced the weight and replaced the original engine with the 25-HP Anzani. After mastering the Blériot XI with several daring flights, Blériot flew the plane to legendary status.

The Historic Channel Crossing

On July 25, 1909, Louis Blériot achieved what many deemed impossible: he flew across the English Channel. The Frechman captured the global attention with his 23.5-mile journey from Calais to Dover. He fought against fierce winds and treacherous conditions, yet his determination never wavered. Besides inspiring air travel and aviation, this history-making brought Blériot fame.

Instant Fame for Blériot

Blériot’s 36-minute, 30-second flight from Calais to Dover made him an overnight celebrity. As a reward, the Daily Mail newspaper awarded him £1,000 (equivalent to £115,000 in 2018) for doing something no one had done before. Notably, the original Blériot XI that crossed the Channel is displayed at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris.

National Recognition

His accolades didn’t stop with Lord Northcliffe (owner of the Daily Mail newspaper). The French government awarded Blériot the Legion of Honour for his pioneering flight. Also, the Institut de France, France’s preeminent learned society, jointly awarded Blériot and Gabriel Voisin the Prix Osiris on June 16, 1909, recognizing their contributions to aviation.

Influx of Orders for the Blériot XI

Blériot didn’t get all the accolades, though. After the successful Channel crossing and the historical flight, there was a huge demand for Blériot XIs. By September 1909, just two months later, Blériot had already received orders for over 100 aircraft. People from all over the world, from enthusiasts to countries, wanted their own Blériot XI.

It Had Other Record-Breaking Flights

On April 16, 1912, Harriet Quimby became the first woman, and American female pilot to fly across the Channel. Though saddening, the event didn’t stop daring pilots. On cue from Earle Ovington who piloted the first authorized US Mail flight in 1911, Maurice Guillaux conducted Australia’s first air mail service between July 16-18, 1914.

It Became Popular for Long-Distance Travels

The Blériot XI wasn’t a one-hit wonder; it still broke long-distance travel records after its initial flight. In April 1912, Denys Corbett-Wilson made the first successful flight from Britain to Ireland. Then, Norwegian Tryggve Gran made the longest flight over open water on July 30, 1914, flying 4 hours, 10 minutes across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway.

Airspeed and Altitude Record

On October 29, 1910, Alfred Leblanc set a flight airspeed record of 68.20 mph while flying a Blériot XI. Likewise, Roland Garros set two world altitude records in 1912 flying an adapted Blériot XI to 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) on September 6 1912. Their achievements fueled its reputation as a legend in aviation history.

It Served in the Military

In 1910, Italy and France became the first countries to enlist Blériot XIs in military service. A year later, Italy used them when Captain Carlo Piazza conducted the first aerial reconnaissance flight using a Blériot XI during the Italo-Turkish War. Also, French, British, and Serbain squadrons used variants in WWI for observation, training, and even light bombing.

It Kicked Off Flying Schools

After Blériot XI’s success, Louis Blériot established training schools for pilots. Buyers needed capable hands, so it made sense to train them at his establishment. These French schools produced over 1,000 pilots between 1910 and 1914. Soon after, flying schools at London and America and normalized the education of pilots.

It Appeared on the Silver Screen

One notable documentary is “Louis Blériot, the Impossible Crossing” (2021), which chronicles Blériot’s groundbreaking flight across the English Channel. The film detailed Blériot’s challenges before success. It also showcased the team of enthusiasts who attempted to replicate his journey using a fully authentic reproduction of the Blériot XI, powered by its original engine.

Preservation and Restoration

As time passed, the Blériot XI faced inevitable wear and tear, but aviation enthusiasts and historians stepped in with restoration efforts. Because of them, many Blériot XIs still fly at airshows and museums. You’d find a flyable 1909 Blériot XI at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, England and another at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.