Hundreds of pilots in modern and antique airplanes are crossing theEnglish Channel Saturday to mark 100 years since the first over-water,international airplane flight.
On July 25, 1909, FrenchmanLouis Bleriot flew from Calais to Dover. His success is credited withturning flight from an eccentric pastime into a serious pursuit.
After the flight, Bleriot received hundreds of orders for copies of the plane he built, many from European militaries.
Theoriginal plane is on display at the Museum of Arts and Crafts inParis. On Saturday, French pilot Edmond Salis used an exact replica ofthe wooden and cloth plane built by Bleriot to recreate the crossing.
Hetold reporters he felt some of the same apprehension he imaginedBleriot felt on making the crossing. But like Bleriot, Salis took offfrom the beach now named after the famous aviator, and landed withoutproblems in Dover nearly 40 minutes later.