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August Louis Bleriot Nationality: French Place of Birth: Cambrai, France Date of Birth: July 1, 1872 Date of Death: August 2, 1936 |
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August Louis Bleriot graduated from Ecole Centrale Paris with a degree in Arts and Trades. After graduating Bleriot went into business manufacturing automobile headlamps. His lifelong love of aviation began at age 30 when he taught himself to fly, in an aircraft of his own design. His skills as a pilot and designer improvied by trial and error. He made his first flight in 1907 at Bagatelle, France. In two years his aviation company was producing aircraft known for their quality and performance.
Louis Bleriot became famous for being the first to fly an aircraft across the English Channel. On July 25, 1909, in his Model X 125 horsepower monoplane from Les Barraques, France to Dover, England. This 22 miles, 40 minute flight won for him the much sought after London Daily Mail prize of 1000 pounds sterling. In the 1914-1918 War his company produced the famous S.P.A.D. fighter aircraft flown by all the Allied Nations. His skill and ingenuity contributed to the advance of aviation technology in his time, and popularized aviation as a sport. He remained active in the aviation industry until his death on August 2, 1936. |
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Original material copyright © 7/8/99 W. Ira Boucher. All Rights Reserved. |
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French Designer - Louis Bleriot