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Blériot XXVII

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1911-1939, In Storage, 85/A/226

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.

Single engine aircraft with yellow canvas body and wings, © RAF Museum

Wright Flyer in flight

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/13

Although the Wright Brothers first flew in 1903, the Wright Flyer III of 1905 was their first practical aeroplane. When they demonstrated the aircraft in France in 1908, various companies asked permission to build copies, including Short Brothers in England.

A biplane in flight, RAF Museum

Side view of Santos Dumont 14BIS, 1906

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/8

Alberto Santos-Dumont made his first aeroplane flight in Europe using his 14Bis canard biplane on 23 October 1906. This photograph shows his next flight on 12 November 1906.

A biplane in flight, RAF Museum

The Jacques Charles and Robert brothers hydrogen balloon at Gonesse, 27 August 1783

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/1

Jacques Alexandre César Charles, Anne-Jean Robert and Nicolas-Louis Robert built the first hydrogen-filled balloon and flew it from the Champ de Mars, Paris, on 27 August 1783.

Villagers attacking a balloon, RAF Museum

Wright Flyer, in flight, side view, 1905 (sic)

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/14

Although the Wright Brothers first flew in 1903, the Wright Flyer III of 1905 was their first practical aeroplane. When they demonstrated the aircraft in France in 1908, various companies asked permission to build copies, including Short Brothers in England.

A biplane in flight, RAF Museum

Doncaster fliers, the aviators, their machines and flights

Film & Sound, In Storage, FC97/285

Film featuring scenes of the 1909 Doncaster Aviation Meeting. Includes demonstrations by Roger Sommer, Leon Delagrange and Samuel Cody. Further scenes of Cody’s flying around this time are then shown.

Image pending

Side view of Paul Cornu Helicopter, 13 November 1907

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/9

The Paul Cornu helicopter hovered briefly on 13 November 1908. This is believed to be the first proper helicopter flight.

A man sitting in a primitive helicopter, RAF Museum

Langley Aerodrome, front view, in flight (Drawing), 1901

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/10

Samuel Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was a pioneer of heavier-than-air craft which he called aerodromes. His team managed to fly an unmanned scale model in 1901.

A drawing of an aeroplane in flight, RAF Museum

The Great London to Manchester aerial race, 1910

Film & Sound, In Storage, FC92/26

Film in which Claude Grahame White and Louis Paulhan are seen competing in the 1910 London to Manchester air race. The two competitors depart from Wormwood Scrubs and Hendon respectively.

Image pending

General view of Blanchard's Balloon, during crossing of Channel, 7 January 1785 (sic)

Photographs, In Storage, PC73/37/12

It is claimed this shows Jean-Pierre Blanchard's balloon after crossing the English Channel. Only one person is shown in the balloon, however, Dr John Jeffries having accompanied Blanchard.

A balloon being attacked by an angry mob, RAF Museum