100 years ago: right now. 25th July 1909, approx 4:40am GMT
Louis Blériot over the English Channel. Travelling at just over 40 miles per hour, and at an altitude of about 250 feet, the little XI monoplane out-paced its naval escort ship, the Escopette, which carried his wife Alicia. Within minutes Blériot was on his own over the channel and due to weather conditions could not see either coast for part of the flight.
“I am alone. I can see nothing at all. For ten minutes, I am lost.”
July 25, 2009, 4:40am
