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Flying was Santos Dumont's great hobby。 Even in boyhood； when far
away in Brazil； he had been keenly interested in the work of Spencer；
Green； and other famous aeronauts； and aeronautics became almost a
passion with him。
Towards the end of the year 1898 he designed a rather novel form of
air…ship。 The balloon was shaped like an enormous cigar； some 80 feet
long； and it was inflated with about 6000 cubic feet of hydrogen。 The most
curious contrivance； however； was the motor。 This was suspended from
the balloon； and was somewhat similar to the small motor used on a
motor…cycle。 Santos Dumont sat beside this motor； which worked a
propeller； and this curious craft was guided several times by the inventor
round the Botanical Gardens in Paris。
About two years after these experiments the science of aeronautics
received very valuable aid from M。 Deutsch； a member of the French Aero
Club。 A prize of about L4000 was offered by this gentleman to the man
who should first fly from the Aero Club grounds at Longchamps； double
round the Eiffel Tower； and then sail back to the starting…place。 The total
distance to be flown was rather more than 3 miles； and it was stipulated
that the journeywhich could be made either in a dirigible air…ship or a
flying machineshould be completed within half an hour。
This munificent offer at once aroused great enthusiasm among
aeronauts and engineers throughout the whole of France； and； to a lesser
degree； in Britain。 Santos Dumont at once set to work on another air…ship；
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which was equipped with a much more powerful motor than he had
previously used。 In July； 1901； his arrangements were completed； and he
made his first attempt to win the prize。
The voyage from Longchamps to the Eiffel Tower was made in very
quick time； for a favourable wind speeded the huge balloon on its way。
The pilot was also able to steer a course round the tower； but his troubles
then commenced。 The wind was now in his face； and his engine…a small
motor engine of about 15 horse…power…was unable to produce sufficient
power to move the craft quickly against the wind。 The plucky inventor
kept fighting against the…breeze； and at length succeeded in returning to
his starting…point； but he had exceeded the time limit by several minutes
and thus； was disqualified for the prize。
Another attempt was made by Santos Dumont about a month later。
This time； however； he was more unfortunate； and he had a marvellous
escape from death。 As on the previous occasion he got into great
difficulties when sailing against the wind on the return journey； and his
balloon became torn； so that the gas escaped and the whole craft crashed
down on the house…tops。 Eyewitnesses of the accident expected to find the
gallant young Brazilian crushed to death； but to their great relief he was
seen to be hanging to the car； which had been caught upon the buttress of a
house。 Even now he was in grave peril； but after a long delay he was
rescued by means of a rope。
It might be thought that such an accident would have deterred the
inventor from making further attempts on the prize； but the aeronaut
seemed to be well endowed with the qualities of patience and
perseverance and continued to try again。 Trial after trial was made； and
numerous accidents took place。 On nearly every occasion it was
comparatively easy to sail round the Tower； but it was a much harder task
to sail back again。
At length in October； 1901； he was thought to have completed the
course in the allotted time； but the Aero Club held that he had exceeded
the time limit by forty seconds。 This decision aroused great indignation
among Parisiansespecially among those who had watched the flight
many of whom were convinced that the journey had been accomplished in
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the half…hour。 After much argument the committee which had charge of the
race； acting on the advice of M。 Deutsch； who was very anxious that the
prize should be awarded to Santos Dumont； decided that the conditions of
the flight had been complied with； and that the prize had been legitimately
won。 It is interesting to read that the famous aeronaut divided the money
among the poor。
But important though Santos Dumont's experiments were with the air…
ship； they were of even greater value when he turned his attention to the
aeroplane。
One of his first trials with a heavier…than…air machine was made with a
huge glider； which was fitted with floats。 The curious craft was towed
along the River Seine by a fast motor boat named the Rapiere； and it
actually succeeded in rising into the air and flying behind the boat like a
gigantic kite。
12th November； 1906； is a red…letter day in the history of aviation； for
it was then that Santos Dumont made his first little flight in an aeroplane。
This took place at Bagatelle； not far from Paris。
Two months before this the airman had succeeded in driving his little
machine； called the Bird of Prey； many yards into the air； and 〃11 yards
through the air〃； as the newspapers reported； but the craft was badly
smashed。 It was not until November that the first really satisfactory flight
took place。
A description of this flight appeared in most of the European
newspapers； and I give a quotation from one of them： 〃The aeroplane rose
gracefully and gently to a height of about 15 feet above the earth； covering
in this most remarkable dash through the air a distance of about 700 feet in
twenty…one seconds。
〃It thus progressed through the atmosphere at the rate of nearly 30
miles an hour。 Nothing like this has ever been accomplished before。 。 。 。
The aeroplane has now reached the practical stage。〃
The dimensions of this aeroplane were：
Length 32 feet Greatest width 39 feet Weight with one passenger 465
pounds。 Speed 30 miles an hour
A modern aeroplane with airman and passenger frequently weighs
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over 1 ton； and reaches a speed of over 60 miles an hour。
It is interesting to note that Santos Dumont； in 1913that is； only
seven years after his flight in an aeroplane at Bagatelle made him world…
famousannounced his intention of again taking an active part in aviation。
His purpose was to make use of aeroplanes merely for pleasure； much as
one might purchase a motor…car for the same object。
Could the intrepid Brazilian in his wildest dreams have foreseen the
rapid advance of the last eight years？ In 1906 no one had flown in Europe；
by 1914 hundreds of machines were in being； in which the pilots were no
longer subject to the wind's caprices； but could fly almost where and when
they would。
Frenchmen have honoured； and rightly honoured； this gallant and
picturesque figure in the annals of aviation； for in 1913 a magnificent
monument was unveiled in France to commemorate his pioneer work。
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CHAPTER XXVIII M。 Bleriot and the Monoplane
If the Wright brothers can lay claim to the title of 〃Fathers of the
Biplane〃； then it is certain that M。 Bleriot； the gallant French airman； can
be styled the 〃Father of the Monoplane。〃
For five years1906 to 1910Louis Bleriot's name was on
everybody's lips in connection with his wonderful records in flying and
skilful feats of airmanship。 Perhaps the flight which brought him greatest
renown was that accomplished in July； 1909； when he was the first man to
cross the English Channel by aeroplane。 This attempt had been forestalled；