The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has provided the best glimpse so far of their ongoing Bleriot XI restoration in a newly posted update.
The type is famous for being the first aircraft to cross the English Channel in July 1909, and it was used by several famous early aviators from Louis Bleriot himself, to Adolphe Pégoud to Harriet Quimby. It even saw service in the early months of WW1. The museum’s specific example was built from factory drawings by Ernest C. Hall of Warren, Ohio in 1911. He donated it to the museum in 1939. It was removed from public display in 2023 for restoration, with work beginning earlier this year.
The new update shows progress on the aircraft’s engine, controls and fuselage. Check it out below.
Continue reading USAF Museum Releases New Photos Detailing Bleriot XI Restoration
