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In 1909, Louis Bleriot became the first to fly an airplane across what?

The English Channel, in about 37 minutes.

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  1. The English Channel ✔
  2. The Atlantic Ocean
  3. The Alps

Why: Bleriot flew his monoplane from Calais, France, to Dover, England, in July 1909. The 37-minute trip was the first airplane crossing of the English Channel.

Huh, didn't know that: Bleriot's airplane was a monoplane, with one wing, while the Wright Flyer had two.

The dad joke
Why did Bleriot fly over the Channel? It was too far to swim.
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References

Answer: The English Channel. Bleriot flew his monoplane from Calais, France, to Dover, England, in July 1909. The 37-minute trip was the first airplane crossing of the English Channel.

  1. FAA: 100 Years of Sustained Power Flight History www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/education/educators/curriculum/k12/K-12_One_Hundred_Years_of_Sustained_Flight.pdf
    Louis Bleriot takes off from Calais, France to Dover, England in his monoplane July 25 first aerial crossing of the English Channel
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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