Blériot VII
| VII |
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| Role |
Experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer |
Louis Blériot |
| Produced |
1907 |
| Number built |
1 |
The Blériot VII was an early French aeroplane built by Louis Blériot. Inspired by his success with the tandem wing configuration of the Blériot VI, he continued this line of development in October 1907. The rear wing of his new design was somewhat smaller than the forward wing and therefore represents another step toward the configuration that would later be adopted as the basis for the vast majority of aircraft. The tail surfaces could be moved together, to act as elevators, or independently to act as ailerons, as one of the first known manifestations of what would become elevons in designs of later decades.
On 5 and 6 November, trials at Issy-les-Moulineaux revealed structural weaknesses which Blériot addressed before making a flight of 500 m at 90 km/h (1,640 ft at 56 mph) on November 16. Many other successful flights were carried out before the aircraft was destroyed on December 18.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Length: 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 25.0 m2 (269 ft2)
- Gross weight: 425 kg (937 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Antoinette V-8 piston engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
References
See also
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