RAF Museum, Hendon - Bleriot XI - On 25 July 1909 Frenchman Louis Bl廨iot became the first person to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane winning a place in history. In the wake of the Channel flight the Bl廨iot XI enjoyed great popularity, and it was built in both single and two-seat versions in large numbers in France, Britain and a number of other countries. Development of the aircraft followed, and although its basic form remained the same, it was fitted with progressively more powerful engines and underwent numerous other modifications. The Type XI was a versatile machine serving as a training aircraft at flying schools the world over while at the same time setting records for speed, distance, altitude and endurance and even being used for aerobatics.