The Henry Ford
Henry Ford Museum Greenfield Village IMAX Theatre Benson Ford Research Center Ford Rouge Factory Tour
   
Heroes of the Sky


 



Inventors


The Planes: 1909 Bleriot XI

click me
Enlarge photo

Dimensions:
Length: 25' 8"
Wingspan: 28' 8"
Weight (empty): 500 lbs.

Construction Materials: Wood and fabric, braced with wire
Builder: Bleriot-Aeronautique, Paris, France
Cost: Approximately $4,500
Number Built: Approximately 300
Engine Type: Gnome, 7-cylinder, 50-horsepower, rotary, air-cooled internal combustion engine
Engine Builder: Probably Societé de Moteurs de Gnome et Rhone, Paris, France, but possibly built under license in England, Italy or the United States.
Configuration: 1-pilot tractor monoplane
Maximum Speed: 50 m.p.h.

Nine Hours to Takeoff
The Bleriot XI was a very popular plane because it could be shipped anywhere and then assembled from drawings in about nine hours. This was the smallest, lightest plane built to date. The pilot sat out in the open, without a seat belt or safety restraints.

Back

 




  
 

the planes   make a paper airplane  
Teachers, get lesson plans and see the curriculum ties to the Heroes of the Sky.
See the planes on exhibit, check out the specifications and get a sneak peak in a few cockpits. Try one of these high- flying designs at home!

 






Copyright © 2014 The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford is an AAM accredited institution. The complex is an independent, non-profit, educational
institution not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or the Ford Foundation.