News Archive
Dover 2009, centenary celebration of Blériot's first cross-Channel flight, 25-26 July 2009
Cruel blow kills a pilot's dream!
Amy Bear was due to fly with Swede Mikael Carlson during the historic re-enactment by Blériot XI aeroplanes of the historic first flight across the English Channel on 25 July 1909. Only using original parts, engine and authentic material and techniques, Mikael Carlson had built a replica of the original machine - a Thulin A model, built by Swedish firm AETA in 1914 under licence from Louis Blériot - and planned to fly it on this momentous flight with Amy Bear and her friend Louis on board, who were both complete with their own log books!
However it was not to be! At literally the last minute, with Mikael seated and the engine fully primed, the French authorities decided that, although it was a beautiful sunny evening, the winds were too strong and the centenary flight could not go ahead. Mikael was grounded! At the lavish reception laid on at the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Dover, the plane's grounding was a great disappointment for the hundreds of aviation enthusiasts who had gathered to greet it and watch Mikael Carlson (with of course Amy Bear and her friend Louis!) being welcomed and then whisked away to a gala dinner.
AWB's plans for Amy therefore were also thwarted! But they paled into insignificance in comparison. However, determined not to be defeated, Mikael took off the next morning and arrived at the Duke of York's Royal Military School just before 9am on Sunday 26 July, 33 minutes after departing from Calais Airport.
Speaking following his landing, he said: 'It feels great, it was a lovely flight. We were so lucky with the weather as we had a tail wind when we took off from Calais. It worked very well after what happened yesterday, which was frustrating. Of course, it was a disappointment, it was a big black cloud hanging over us, but we've now done the flight.'
Mikael paid tribute to Blériot's past achievement. 'The flight by Blériot was one of the most important flights that's ever been done, alongside the Wright Brothers and the journey to the Moon. Blériot's flight was exceptional in those days. He was the first to cross the Channel, he wrote history and opened people's eyes.' Mikael's plane was later that day put on display at London's Selfridges store in Oxford Street, as was the original in 1909!
So ended an extraordinary two days for AWB! But the story has a happy ending! After their adventures, Amy and Louis were safely returned to AWB trustees for safe keeping with their log books duly signed - their momentous mission having been accomplished!
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