Side view of Bleriot XI in Northfall Meadow near Dover, after crossing the Channel, 25 July 1909

On 25 July 1909 Louis Blériot was the first man to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane, using his Blériot XI powered by a three-cylinder Anzani radial engine.

Louis Blériot was born in Cambrai, France, in 1872. His company produced car headlights, allowing him time to experiment with aeroplanes. Unlike many pioneers, Louis designed and built monoplanes. By crossing the Channel, he won the £1,000 prize offered by the Daily Mail newspaper. His success made him famous and attracted orders for his aircraft. He opened a flying school at Hendon in 1910 and soon had a factory at Brooklands.