Blériot VII
| Blériot VII | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Louis Blériot |
| First flight | 1907 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Blériot VII was an early French aeroplane built by Louis Blériot.
Design and development
Following the success with the
On 5 October Blériot began taxying trials at
The aircraft was first flown on 16 November, when Blériot made a flight of around 500 m (1,600 ft),[2] and further flights were made during November.
At the end of November further modifications were made: the wing was moved from its position immediately above the lower
In this configuration the aircraft was flown by Blériot on 6 December. On this occasion he succeeded in making a U-turn in the air, and the performance of the aircraft was impressive enough for Patrick Alexander to write "I think Blériot is now leading the way".[3]
However, the next flight trials, on 18 December, ended with a crash: the left wheel collapsed, causing the wing to dig in and the aircraft to turn over, resulting in its destruction. Blériot escaped without serious injury, his life possibly saved by the cabane structure, which acted as a roll bar.
Specifications
Data from Opdycke 1990, p.49
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 25 m2 (270 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 425 kg (937 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × piston engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Elliott, Bryan A. (2000). Blériot: Herald of an Age. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-1739-8.
- Opdycke, Leonard E. (1990). French Aircraft Before the Great War. Atglen, PA: Schiffer. ISBN 0-7643-0752-5.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 161.
- Devaux, Jean and Michel Marani. "Les Douze Premiers Aéroplanes de Louis Blériot". Pegase No 54, May 1989.
External links
