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He had an early interest in aviation and in 1900, built a motor-powered machine called an ornithopter, which was intended to fly by flapping its wings. Like other ornithopters before, this experiment failed, but he continued working toward a practical aeroplane.
During 1903, Blériot teamed up with Gabriel Voisin , another aircraft designer, to form the Blériot-Voison Company. The company built a floatplane glider, which flew during 1905. They also developed a biplane powered by an Antoinette motor. The company broke up in 1906, and Blériot began to build and fly aircraft of his own design.
As lightweight engines became available, he developed planes with various configurations ranging from box-kite biplanes to a canard (tail-first) monoplane. The Blériot V was the world's first successful monoplane. This aeroplane got off the ground in 1907 but soon crashed and was abandoned.
A 1000 pound prize being offered by the London Daily Mail for the first successful flight across the English Channel interested Blériot and encouraged him to develop his fourth monoplane and first truly successful aircraft, the Blériot XI. After setting a European endurance record of 36 minutes 55 seconds and winning a cross-country prize, Blériot felt confident about embarking on his cross-Channel trip. He made the trip in 37 minutes, delighting the French and worrying the British, who felt that they had suddenly become vulnerable to air attack.
Shortly after, Blériot turned his attention to aeronautical design and engineering. He became president of the floundering aircraft company Société pour les Appareils Deperdussin in 1914. He renamed the company Société Pour Aviation et ses Derives (SPAD) and turned it into one of France's leading manufacturers of combat aircraft. During World War IWorld War I (also known as the First World War , the Great War the War of the Nations and the "War to End All Wars") was a world conflict occurring from 1914 to 1918. No previous conflict had mobilized so many soldiers, or involved so many in the field of, SPAD built more than 5,600 aircraft for France and exported some to Britain and other countries. He also opened flying schools before World War I in England at BrooklandsBrooklands was a motor racing circuit built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. The brainchild of Hugh Locke-King, it was opened on June 17 1907 and was the first custom-built banked motor race circuit in the world. Requirements of speed and spectator visi and Hendon Aerodromes as well as a factory in 1917 at Addlestone, near Brooklands, Surrey.
After the war, Blériot formed his own company, Blériot-Aéronautique , for the development of commercial aircraft. He died on August 2, 1936.
See also: Early flying machinesA listing of primarily pre Wright brothers flying machines and work, and a analysis of debates over early flying machines . Heavier than air flying machines included, as lighter than air machines are subject to much less controversy. The goal is to examin