Blériot XXVII

The Blériot XXVII, dating from 1911, was built for speed. This streamlined single-seat racing monoplane with a rotary engine, shared many construction features with other contemporary Blériot monoplanes, such as the shoulder-mounted wing.

This example was thought to have been the 1911 Gordon Bennett Cup racer, but may actually have been built by Louis Blériot during his summer holidays in that year. It could also be the Type XXVII ordered by René Barrier for use in the USA. In 1914 it was put into storage in Le Havre and was not flown again until 1936. It underwent further restoration in 1963 and 1974.