From former TWA Capt.Hugh Schoelzel.
It was my honor to fly this original 1909 Bleriot this week. It is the oldest flying airplane in the country, second oldest in the world.Its sister ship was the first airplane to cross the English Channel, also in 1909.It has an original Anzani engine, which has been powering it for 100 years. Since it has no flying instruments, I have no idea how fast it flies, but would guess something around 30mph.It uses wing warping for roll control, which is marginally effective at such slow speeds.The rudder is small, but produces adequate yaw, albeit somewhat delayed after control input. Pitch control is similar to modern light airplanes when flown at absolute minimum speeds.The 35 hp engine starts and runs well, but having only three cylinders fires every 240 degrees of rotation, which is to say it is not the smoothest.Who knows how much horsepower it still produces?There are neither brakes nor any way to steer it effectively on the ground, so wing walkers are necessary.It barely makes enough speed to takeoff, and with its highly cambered airfoil seems to levitate as much as fly.In flight it feels like I imagine a butterfly would, affected by the slightest wind change.
The margin between stall and level flight is only a couple of knots.Drag is very high, so it descends quickly with either less than full power or minor excess pitch.It lands nicely, but with little control at such minimal speeds. Built just six years after the Wright brothers first flew, it is an amazing accomplishment for Louis Bleriot to have flown across the English Channel in an identical airplane. Sitting in its wicker seat, surrounded by an incredible century of history and patina, and flying with the same sense of anticipation of the unknown as Louis Bleriot, was humbling and an honor.
Hugh
The Bleriot (ol' 56)in the article is part of the 'Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome' collection which was started by Cole Palen along the lines of the Shuttleworth Collection in England. It is a restored aircraft and does not appear to be identical to Bleriot's aircraft in which he flew the English Channel. It looks like a later model.
The give away is the rudder. The rudder on aircraft in which Bleriot crossed the channel was taller and a different shape. This can be seen on the video of Bleriot crossing the English Channel. The difference is clear in the photo of the Bleriot I found in a bad way at the back of a hanger at the Taube (France) Flying Club. The club members did not seem the slightest bit concerned about the sad state of the plane.
Name plate. ol' 56
Harriet could have flown a Bis but pictures of her in her aircraft appear to be in a tandem configuration.