In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of 1,000 pounds to the first man who would fly across
the English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. On July 19th,1909,
in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from French coast in his plane the "Antoinette".
He had only travelled seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced
to land on the sea. The "Antoinette" floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called "No.11". Bleriot had been
making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model. A week before, He had completed a successful
overland flight during which he covered 26 miles. Latham, however, did not give up easily. He, too,
arrived near Calais on the same day with a new "Antoinette". It looked as if there would be an
exciting race across the channel. Both planes were going to take off on July 25th, But Latham failed
to get up early enough. After making a short test flight at 4.15, Bleriot set off half an hour
later. His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes. When he landed near Dover, the first man to
greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile
of Dover, But he was unlucky again, His engine failed and he landed on the sea for a second time.