In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would
fly across the English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt
was made. On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off
from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV.' He had travelled only
seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to
land on the sea. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked
up by a ship.#
Two days alter, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No.
XI'. Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model.
A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he
covered twenty-six miles. Latham, however, did not give up easily. He, too,
arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antoinette'. It looked as if
there would be an exciting race across the Channel. Both planes were going to
take off on July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough, After making
a short test flight at 4.15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later. His
great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes. When he landed near Dover, the first
person to greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a week
later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again. His
engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.&