He organized Bleriot’s school for aviators at Pau, and became its director. Its excellence is exhibited in the quality of its pupils; among them Chavez, Morane, and Aubrun.
The achievement through which Leblanc is most widely known is his winning of the 489-mile race over the northern part of France in August, 1910, and with the victory the prize of $20,000 offered.
CLAUDE GRAHAME-WHITE.
Claude Grahame-White, the most famous of British aviators, learned to fly in France, under the tutelage of M. Bleriot, Having accomplished so much, he went to Mourmelon, the location of Farman’s establishment, and made himself equally proficient on the Farman biplane. While in France he taught many pupils, among them Armstrong Drexel. Returning to England, he opened a school for English aviators.
He came into prominent public notice in his contest with Paulhan in the race from London to Manchester, and although Paulhan won the prize, Grahame-White received a full share of glory for his plucky persistence against discouraging mishaps.
At the Boston-Harvard meet, in September, 1910, Grahame-White carried off nearly all the prizes, and in addition won for himself a large measure of personal popularity.
On October 14th he flew from the Benning Race Track 6 miles away, over the Potomac River, around the dome of the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and over the course of Pennsylvania Avenue, up to the State, War, and Navy Department building, alighting accurately with his 40-foot biplane in the 60-foot street. Having ended his “call,” he mounted his machine and rose skilfully into the air and returned to his starting point.
At the Belmont Park meet, in October, Grahame-White captured the international speed prize with his 100-horse-power Bleriot monoplane, and finished second in the race around the Statue of Liberty, being beaten by only 43 seconds.
LOUIS PAULHAN.
Louis Paulhan was, in January, 1909, a mechanic in Mourmelon, France, earning the good wages in that country of $15 per week. He became an aviator, making his first flight on July 10, 1909, of 1¼ miles. Five days later he flew over 40 miles, remaining in the air 1 hour 17 minutes, and rising to an altitude of 357 feet, then the world’s record. He flew constantly in public through the remainder of 1909, winning many prizes and breaking and making records.