AVIATION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 18

AVIATION.

MONSIEUR BLERIOT'S VISIT. DEVELOPMENTS OF TWENTY YEARS. vtaoM ova ova cobb«9pokdbkt.; LONDON, August 1. Twenty years ago, M. Louis Bltl-not amazed the world by flying tirrohh the Channel. On the twentieth anniversary he crossed again, flying over the historic route, and halting for a short period on the spot, near Dover, where lie landed at liis first attempt. In an interview, M. Bleriot empha-siM-d the contrast between his flight last week and his flight on July I'oth, 11)09. "Both machines I designed raysclt, Ik- said. -'But the first was of 2o hurst power, whereas today's machine develops 1000 horse power. _ Twenty vears ago the crossing took 37mm. Today we cross in l*2min--and part of tiiat time we spent waiting for the R.A.F. escort. Yet to-day's crossing did not seem nearly so fast as did the first. Then I seemed to be travelling at an almost incredible speed." Another twenty years, he added, would see aeroplanes crossing the Atlantic as regularly as thev now cross the Channel. Hia Welcome at Croydon-

A lifeat cheer went tip from the densely-packed spaces around Croydon Aerodrome when M. Bleriot's monoplane came into view. On the landing ground were some of the giant air liners that carry 2000 people every week. Among those who met him were men and women to whom flying long distances is a daily incident. The first to greet him was Lord Thomson, the Secretary of State for Air. Others who shook him warmly by the hand were Air Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Brancker, Mr F. Montague (Under-Sec'-etnrv for-Air). Olonel the Mnster of Sempill (on behalf of the Royal Aeronautical Society), Lieut-Com-mander H E. Perrin (ojti behalf of the Rova! Aero Club). Sir Samuel Instone, the Hon. Ladv Bailey, and Captain P E. Acland (on behalf of the British aircraft manufacturers).

Amasing Progress. M. Bleriot was entertained at dinner bv the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. The Hon W. P. MacCraeken, • Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics in the United States, proposed a toast to "The Pioneers of Aviation." He did so becauso ho was the representative of the country which numbered among its citizens the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright. B'rom the time the \ brothers Wrigh* first flew every country had made a substantial contribution to the development of the new art. Since M. Bleriot flew the Channel in 1909, they had seen every continent spanned, every ocean crossed, and the Arctic and Antarctic invaded. M. Bleriot referred to the work of other pioneers in aviation, including the late Sir John Alcock, Sir Arthur Whitten Brown and Mr T. Sopwith. Sir Arthur W. Brown said that m their pioneer Atlantic flight he and Sir John Alcock were but following ' n the footsteps of M. Bleriot, who had shown them that the .aeroplane was more than a toy for flying around an aerodrome Mr Sopwith said that aviation was still in the oioneer staoie and development was still proceeding as quickly as ever. I think the pioneers are lucky to be alive to-dav," he observed. At Mr Sopwith's call a silent toast was drunk to the men who gave their lives in the cause of aviation. Britain's Patron Saint. Mr Sef ton Braneker proposing '' The Sport of flying," referred to the great success which had attended the light aeroplane club movement. "1 believe to-day that in the British Empire we have more purely amateur flying and more private owners than in the rest of the world put together, and 1 believe we have got *he best light aeroplane." Only the other day an old gentleman of 65 went up from Norfolk in a light aeroplane, and landed in Rotterdam. (Cheers) Speaking of those who had done much for the sporting side of aviation, Sir Sefton mentioned- Stir Charles Wakefield. "I. always call Sir Charles Wakefield our patron saint," he said. What Strides Rave Been Made. Madame Bleriot also travelled by air, but in another aeroplane. Dunne the flight she talked to a "Daily Mail" representative thus: "It seems amazing to recall that only twenty years ago my husband was the first man to fly the Channel. lam ttfinking this as our aeroplane passes over Hardelot-Plage, where my children are wondering how their parents are faring. "My husband is in his latest-designed machine, a giant bomber of the French Air Force, in company with M. Bossoutrot and M. Bajac. two of the "aces*' of the French Air Service. "I have crossed the Channel many times, but never before by air. strange though it may seem for the wife of the first man who accomplished the feat. How I recall the vearsr of labour when ray husband was planning to reaiiso his dream. 1 remember o vividly following anxiously my hnsr band's progress from the cliffs of Sangatte to Dover "When I saw his little machine flattened out on the side of the cliff I could hardly believe uiv eyes. They told me that he had succeeded, but at first sight his frail craft looked to me. as its white wings shimmered in the sunlight, more like a quantity of linen spread out to drv than an aeroplane "I am sure that at this moment, when we are over the Channel, my husband's emotions are very deep. He must be thinking of that dav 20 vears ago when nil the world doubted What strides we have made since then!"