The VanDersarl Blériot: a 1911 airplane homebuilt by teenage brothers
14 days ago
- #aviation history
- #Blériot XI
- #homebuilt aircraft
- The Blériot XI, designed by Louis Blériot, was a significant early aviation design despite its flaws.
- Teenage brothers Jules 'J.J.' and Frank VanDersarl built their own Blériot XI in 1911, adapting a car engine for flight.
- The VanDersarl Blériot differed from the original in engine type, empennage structure, and build quality.
- The brothers successfully flew their homemade plane, which was later restored and made airworthy after a century.
- Restoration involved authentic materials, including a reconstructed engine and period components.
- The FAA registered the VanDersarl Blériot as an experimental airplane in 2012, allowing limited flights.
- The plane's first flight in over a century occurred on November 3, 2012, with strict flight restrictions.