THE FLIGHT FROM CALAIS TO DOVER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 27 July 1909, Page 1

THE FLIGHT FROM CALAIS TO DOVER.

A PRENCHMAU WINS THB "DAILY MAIL" PEIZE. M. Bleriot, who crossed the Chan* nel from Calais to Dover in his monoplane, wins the. "Daily Mail" prize of £1000. • . ' When in mid-channel M. Bleriot was not aware pi his whereabouts, and then found himself near Deal. He could- have landed on the beach, but- turned to beat up the coast towards tho appointed objective. When Bearing Dover he wag ■seriously troubled by defective currents, and was compelled to stand o:it to sea. Thenj steering for a gap in the cliffs, he again oncountered adverse air currents! -. • After passing over .the cliffs an eddying wind behind Dover ■ Cast"c turned the monoplano round in tw«. complete circles. M. Bleriot stopped the machinery and descended rather precipitately. ••" The strength of the winds averaged from ten to twenty knots fro:a the start. - 1 M. Bleriot's twenty horse pow-rr machine is described as the lighted and most compact aeroplane in existence. It flew like an arroir. The "Daily Telegraph" estimates M. Bleriot's speed, at forty miles sa hour. The "Morning Post" states th:>.t the distance covered was 26. milc3, in 33 •minutes. M. Bleriot received an ovation .it Dover. He returned to Calais aboard tho destroyer Escopette,- where he was accorded t great ovation. •He .received a telegram from M. Depasse, a deputy, representing the Parliamentary group on aerial locamotion, heartily .congratulating hi:u as the first conqueror of the Channel. On hearing of M. Bleriot's success, Baron 'lie Forest increased his'" offer to £2000 for tho ' ni3t ctoesChannel flight to be. made by a Britisher in a British built aero-. plane, to £4000: - .