Blériot VII

VII
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

Performance

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 161.
• Devaux, Jean and Michel Marani. "Les Douze Premiers Aéroplanes de Louis Blériot". Pegase No 54, May 1989.
• Nova: A Daring Flight
• earlyaviators.com
• U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission