| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | No Reg |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Blériot XI |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Blériot XI |
| Aircraft Version: | Blériot XI Mk.II Looper |
| C/n (msn): | Not known |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Area: | Sydney / Powerhouse Museum [ Off-Airport ]Map |
| Region / Country: | New South Wales, Australia |
| Collection: | Powerhouse Museum |
| Photo Date: | 7 September 2016 |
| Photo by: | Phil |
| Photo ID: | 298418 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
This Blériot arrived in Australia in April 1914 with French stunt pilot Maurice Guillaux. He used it for display flights and flew the first airmail from Melbourne to Sydney in July 1914. Because of the war he had to return to France but the aircraft stayed in Australia. In 1916 it was sold ro Robert Graham Carey of Ballarat, Victoria who flew it for his flying school and on exhibition flights. By the end of 1917 it was stored, until sold in 1920 to KJ Claffey. In 1939 it was bought by the Dept of Civil Aviation. In 1947 it was restored by MA Leech, the head teacher and his trainees at the Aircraft Construction Class of the Sydney Technical College. Later it was given additional facelifts until displayed in the Powerhouse Museum. This photo is copyright © Phil, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 9 November 2020, and has since been viewed 139 times. |