Channel flight tomorrow
- 14 April 2011 11:08101656A Dutch aviator is planning another attempt to fly a model plane across the Channel, after last year's flight ended in failure.
Henk van Hoorn attempted to fly a radio-controlled half-sized model of Bleriot's monoplane across the Channel, controlling it from an accompanying helicopter. He had been planning to land it in a field next to Wallett's Court Hotel at Westcliffe, between Dover and Deal, where supporters were waiting to greet him.
But 20 minutes after taking off from France, the model plane's engine cut out and it crashed into the sea. It was rescued by the crew of a Dutch navy training vessel and Mr Van Hoorn collected the wreckage from them.
Now he hopes to launch the plane again tomorrow if the conditions are right. This time he will also have a boat crossing the Channel for support. - 14 April 2011 11:12101657Wonder if they need a pilot.......who can we think of who likes to make a splash in the newspapers..............I know let all vote for Vic!If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
- 14 April 2011 12:56101665Thanks for this info Howard.
Henk and the other Dutch pilot flew Goy Feltes a full size replica across last year and back for the de Lesseps centenary, successfully and landed at Waldershare; also Pascal Kremer from Luxembourg flew his Bleriot replica across and back.
I wonder where Henk hopes to land his model ?
Here are some details of last year's successful flight.
The replica planes which flew over were:
Dutch Bleriot registration PH-BLE built to 1911 specifications: The pilot was Henk van Hoorn - flew from Calais to Dover on Thursday 20 May evening, landing at Waldershare.
Bleriot XI modern replica, LX-TEC owned by Pascal Kremer of Luxemburg who was one of the builders of the aircraft. Flew from Calais to Dover on Thursday 20th in evening (pilot was Pascal Kremer); and returned to Calais (pilot was Goy Feltes); Flew from Calais to Dover on Friday 21st, morning (pilot Pascal) and Dover to Calais in the evening (pilot Goy Feltes), taking off from Waldershare at 5.30pm.
The Dutch Bleriot stayed at Waldershare in case weather prevented Pascal returning on the Friday with his Bleriot. The flights were accompanied by a helicopter.
Michael and Suzanne de Lesseps, the pilots, members of the various groups and local guests met and celebrated with champagne at Waldershare Gliding Club, afterwards visiting the Bleriot Memorial and Wanston Farm at St Margarets at Cliffe (where Lesseps had landed in 1910). Among the guests were members of the Clayson farmily of St Margarets whose family in 1910 had been present and met Jacques de Lesseps on his landing. Also the present occupiers of Wanston Farm. And also present were members of the Early Birds Foundation, the Dutch aviation replica/reconstruction group, owners of PH-BLE and Chairman of St Margarets Parish Council. The party then enjoyed a special reception lunch at St Margarets hall, before returning to Waldershare to prepare for the take-off, which took place at 5.30pm.---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 14 April 2011 15:56101680i agree kath, it would be nice to know where and when he plans to land.
i suppose we will have to check out info first thing in the morning, the report did not say whether he intended to do a return trip. - 14 April 2011 16:08101681The Clayson family I know them well,still in St Margarets today.
- 15 April 2011 11:39101815he made it this morning, landed in westcliffe near st margaret's, guided in by "bloobirds model club" of dover.
- 16 April 2011 03:12101979Here are some photos of the full size Bleriot XI replica flown over by Mikael Carlson for the centenary of the epic flight a couple of years ago. Taken at the Duke of Yorks whilst it was being dismantled after the flight, with the intrepid aviator giving it a bit of a polish.
- 16 April 2011 13:53102048Here is a photo of the Bleriot full size replica which Henk van Hoorn flew across the Channel last year for the Lesseps flight centenary:
Dutch Bleriot registration PH-BLE built to 1911 specifications: The pilot was Henk van Hoorn - flew from Calais to Dover on Thursday 20 May evening, landing at Waldershare.
-------
TODAY is the 99th anniversary of Harriet Quimby's flight from Whitfield airfield, across the Channel. Next year will be the centenary.
A short piece of film of her flight appears in the compilation of old film, on: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=78523
this is a fascinating old film, showing pre 1900 film, London, rise of the suffragette movement, what women had to put up with, coal mine work etc, Buckingham Palace, London, yarmouth, hastings,
- a piece in middle shows Harriet Quimby the first woman to fly the Channel, in 1912 taking off from Whitfield airfield---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
