Bleriot XI

A team of North West Coast job seekers, participated in the federally funded Work for the Dole Program (WftD), recreating the historic Bleriot Monoplane.

This working replica is one of only a handful of its kind in existence WORLD WIDE.  The Bleriot could be purchased in 1910, as a kit, for several hundred pounds and was the first aircraft to cross the English Channel. This aircraft also provided the very first air mail delivery between Melbourne and Sydney early in the 1900’s when air flight was very much in its infancy.  Indeed a photograph at our National Library depicts a Bleriot, piloted by Gaston Cugnet, during take off prior to crashing into the tennis courts at the Jolimont end of the ‘Gee’.  This occurred in the twilight of December 3, 1910 – very much a case of ‘those magnificent men in their flying machines!’

The work of the group drew international attention with past TAFE engineering student producing engineering drawings, components and a scale model.  With the assistance of the WftD team, over two days each week, progress was fantastic according to our local engineering teacher and avionics enthusiast Ron Sushames. Ron states that “The operational replica was donated to the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston after it appeared at the Devonport Air Show in 2003. An expression of interest from New Zealand was also received for the craft to be featured in an air show across the Tasman. With Business & Employment’s assistance and finances provided through the Work for the Dole Program not only was our technical skill showcased on the international stage but the commitment and perseverance of our jobseekers was presented to local employers and public alike.”

Ron is extremely passionate about this aircraft, so much so that he took it upon himself to travel across America, note book in hand, visiting the sites (such as the famous Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC) that house the few remaining aircraft to ensure that a faithful Tasmanian reconstruction of the Bleriot was possible.  An original engine was provided, on loan, from NSW and the construction team completed an operational ‘twin’ from castings of this historic and priceless power plant.