Today in History

July 25, 1909

First flight across the English Channel

The trip took 37 minutes, it was raining and strong winds pushed the small plane off course. The monoplane flew at an average airspeed of 40 miles per hour at an altitude of 250 feet. But on this day in 1909, French pilot Louis Blériot flew the 22 miles from Calais to Dover, becoming the first person to pilot a heavier than air craft across the English Channel.

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