1909. On 25th July, 1909, Bleriot made the first Cross-Channel flight in

the machine illustrated below. [Illustration: Bleriot XI.] This machine had ~length~, 23 feet (7 m.) ~Span~, 25-3/4 feet (7.80 m.) ~Area~, 167 sq. feet (15-1/2 m squared.) Aspect ratio 4-1/2 to 1. ~Motor~, 22-25, 3 cylinder Anzani. ~Speed~, _about_ 45 m.p.h. (73 k.m.) _Special features_: Fixed wings with rounded edges. Twin elevator and fixed surface tail. [Illustration: BOUSSON-BORGNIS (1907-08).] [Illustration: BREGUET (1906). The first Breguet, known as _Breguet Gyroplane I_. Made a flight in October, 1906, being the first helicopter to leave the ground.] [Illustration: BREGUET-RICHET II bis. (1909). A large and unsuccessful development of the gyroplane.] [Illustration: BREGUET IV (1910). On its appearance, this machine was generally laughed at and nicknamed the "Coffee Pot," till in Aug., 1910, it made a world's record by carrying six, and later proved itself superior in stability to anything then existing.] [Illustration: CHAUVIERE (1909-10). Attempt to develop a monoplane with propellers in rear. The idea has been resuscitated for some 1913 military monoplanes.] [Illustration: COLLOMB (1907-09). Ornithopter, from which great things were once expected.] [Illustration: CORNU (1908). An early helicopter for which flights were claimed, but have also been denied.] [Illustration: D'EQUIVELLY (1907-08). Interesting example of the strange machines devised by pioneers.] [Illustration: H. FARMAN (1907). This famous machine is the first _Voisin_, and the one on which H. Farman taught himself to fly. It was the first machine to make a turn in the air. Won the Deutsh-Archdeacon Grand Prix, 13th January, 1908, with a flight of 1 minute, 28 seconds. The extra third plane was added later. An Austrian Syndicate subsequently bought the machine.] [Illustration: H. FARMAN (1908). Farman's first idea of a monoplane. It proved too heavy to fly with the power provided. Was eventually sold to a German officer. Three sets of wings and entirely enclosed body.] [Illustration: GABARDINI (1909-10). Very early hydro-aeroplane, antedating the _Fabre_.] [Illustration: GIVAUDIN (1908-09). Built by the Vermorel Co. The first conception of an idea which has since attracted a certain class of inventor in Germany, Italy and the U.S.A.] [Illustration: MILITARY (1909). The first special military aeroplane ever built. It was specially designed by Capt. Dorand, for what were then held to be the aerial necessities of the French Army. The planes were placed well above the body, giving the pilot a very clear uninterrupted view.] [Illustration: PISCHOFF-KOECHLIN (1906 or earlier). Dates from the days when a box-kite was the elementary idea in design, and the accepted position of the aviator lying prone.] [Illustration: PISCHOFF-KOECHLIN (1908). Very early example of a tractor biplane. The extra span of the upper plane is also of interest. The machine had twin mono-elevators aft and also twin rudders.] [Illustration: R.E.P. (1908). Early example of enclosed stream line body. Apparently the first machine in which steel construction appeared.] [Illustration: VOISIN (1908). The first European aeroplanes to fly with any real success.] [Illustration: VUITTON-HUBER (1908). Early helicopter.] [Illustration: VUIA (1908). Earliest known machine with folding wings.] [Illustration: WITZIG-LIORE-DUTILLUEL (1908-09). First or one of the first appearances of the idea of a series of staggered planes, with which Sellers has ever since experimented in the U.S.A.] ~GERMAN.~ [Illustration: BEILHARZ. (1909). First design in which a completely closed in body figured.] [Illustration: GEISLER (1908).] [Illustration: GRADE (1908). The first German built machine to fly.] [Illustration: LORENZEN (1908-09).] [Illustration: PARSEVAL (1909). Early hydro-aeroplane. Specially designed for military purposes by Major Parseval.] [Illustration: SCHOLTZ (1908). Never left the ground.] ~ITALIAN.~ [Illustration: MILLER (1908-09). First aeroplane to be designed and constructed by Italians.] ~SWISS.~ [Illustration: DUFAUX (1908-09). First Swiss machine.] ~U.S.A.~ [Illustration: BOKOR (1909). The third American machine to leave the ground; the second purely U.S. one.] [Illustration: CALL II (1909).] [Illustration: CYGNET II (1908). Designed by Dr. Graham Bell, of the Aeronautical Society of America. Bell (Canadian), Glen Curtis (U.S.), Herring (U.S.), and Burgess (Canadian). It made short flights.] [Illustration: ENGLISH (1909). In 1909 extraordinary claims were made for this machine and great things expected. On a full power trial in its shed it broke loose, and smashed itself against the roof. No recorded outdoor results.] [Illustration: HERRING-BURGESS (1910).] [Illustration: HULBERT (1910). This strange machine built in Switzerland by Dr. Dane Hulbert, achieved several flights. The planes were placed longitudinally instead of in the usual way.] [Illustration: JUNE BUG (1908-09). Famous machine of its era. Built by the Aeronautical Society of America (see _Cygnet II_). Second machine to fly in the U.S.A. Did 2000 miles before being broken up.] [Illustration: KIMBALL (1909). First machine in which a large number of propellers was attempted. Failed.] [Illustration: LOOSE (1910).] [Illustration: LUYTIES OTTO (1908).] [Illustration: MOISSANT (1910). Built entirely of aluminium. Designed by the late John Moissant. Failed.] [Illustration: RICKMAN (1908).] [Illustration: ROSHON (1908).] [Illustration: WILLIAMS (1908).] [Illustration: ZERBE (1909).] [Illustration] [Illustration: WRIGHT (1908). Two views of the machine with which Wilbur Wright startled all Europe from August, 1908 to April, 1909. First U.S. machine to fly.]