BLERIOT X1 (replica)

	Wing span : 4.9 m (16 feet) Max weight : 50 kg ( 112 lb) Engines : 110 cc twin cylinder 2-stroke with electronic ignition. Construction: Fuselage - wire braced ash frame. Wings and tailplane - spruce, balsawood and beech plywood. Control: 35 mhz, 6 channel radio control, duplicated to provide a failsafe system.
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This is a half scale replica of the first aircraft which flew across the English Channel on the 25th July 1909.

The original full size version was designed and built by Louis Bleriot and his successful Channel crossing was made after much dedication, expence and considerable risk of personal injury.

This replica was built by Bruce Harding and Syd McKee, both ex-Wessex Water employees, as part of an awareness campaigne to promote interest in the Water Industries charity "Water Aid" which helps to provide sanitation and water supplies to the developing world. It was intended to attempt to fly the replica under radio control across the English Channel and it was designed and built with this objective in mind. However, whilst the machine has made several successful taxiing runs, it has never taken to the air as the engine is simply not powerful enough to sustain flight. It is modelled as closely as possible on the original aircraft but ailerons have been added to the wings to improve the "roll" characteristics in flight, as the original wing warping system is notoriously ineffective. Approx 16 kg of lead is required at the front of the aeroplane to place the centre of gravity in the correct position.