AIRSHIPS AND AIRPLANES 



307 



mained in the air more than two hours, and carried passen- 

 gers at a height of 400 feet. From this time on very rapid 

 progress was made in the development of the airplane. 



Crossing English Channel. A prize of 1000 pounds was 

 offered by an English newspaper to the first man who should 

 cross the English Channel in an airplane. Several attempts 

 were made to win this prize. The first attempt was made by 

 a young Frenchman, M. Hubert Latham ; but he was un- 

 successful, for his engine stopped after he had started across 

 the Channel, and he was obliged to descend to the water by 

 a series of long glides. His machine floated, however, and 



FIG. 123. First Wright plane. 



he was rescued. The next attempt was made by another 

 Frenchman, Louis Bleriot, who successfully flew across the 

 Channel from France to England on July 25, 1909, and thus 

 won the prize. 



In August of the same year the first aviation meet was 

 held at Rheims. Here many wonderful feats were per- 

 formed in a great variety of airships and airplanes. A 

 prize was offered for the one making the greatest speed, and 

 another for the one attaining the greatest height. The prize 

 for height was won by a Frenchman, M. Latham, who 

 reached a height of 500 feet. The prize for speed was won 

 by an American, Glenn H. Curtiss, who flew at the rate of 

 47 miles an hour. 



