OJBs Web Site: Bleriot Movie

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

(Up to OJB's Bleriot Page)

Bleriot Movie

For many the Bleriot was the highlight of the show. This old machine seemed to have more character than anything else displayed. Its a historically significant aircraft because Louis Bleriot was the first to fly one across the English Channel from France to England on 25 July 1909. The journey of 24 miles took 36 minutes. This doesn't sound like much but in such a fragile machine, no instruments, and a primitive engine which was so badly built it constantly smeared the pilot with oil, it was really quite courageous! After this performance Bleriot received many orders for the machine which in some ways was considered very advanced for the time.

Here's the specs. Wing span: 28 ft 6 in, length: 25 ft 3 in, height: 8 ft 4 in. Weight: 700 lbs loaded. Engine: Anzani three-cylinder of 20 hp. Maximum speed: 45 mph. Note that the machine used in the Channel flight was a different version than the one shown.

Use the controller above to watch the Bleriot "drift" past (this requires Quicktime, and is a moderately large movie). I apologise for the poor quality of this movie but it was originally encoded in the "early days" of internet video!

Comment on this page: Interesting • OK • Boring or: View Results