The Blériot XI model is a rare pre-First World War aviation artifact produced by New York City’s Ideal Model Aeroplanes and Supplies Co. The Canada Aviation Museum’s model, measuring just under 100cm in length, was possibly assembled from a kit around 1912 and is an exact flying model 1/10 the size of the real Blériot XI. What is significant about this model was its ability to fly! This free flight model, driven by a rubber band stretching from the propeller shaft to the tail section could fly about 30 meters. A 1919 brochure suggests that with practice even greater flights could be attained. Although the museum’s model shows signs of its age – it is missing the fabric that originally covered the fuselage and the wings and its once brightly painted wooden frame barely displays its original colors – it is remarkable that this fragile century old model exists today. The Blériot XI, designed by Louis Blériot, was first flown on 23 January 1909. On 25 July 1909, the Blériot XI, with Blériot aboard, was the first airplane to cross the English Channel. Although the Blériot XI looks quite fragile it was fairly solid and reliable for the time and was one of the first aircraft to be put to military use by European armed forces. A few Blériot XI also appeared in Canada’s first air meets held in Montreal and Toronto. Unfortunately, a Blériot XI was damaged en route from Montreal to Toronto due to unaccountable negligence: someone decided to ship the airplane in an opened top railway car resulting in the warping of its wings.

Alexandra Mills