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Replica of Bleriot's historic plane goes on display

Harriet Quimby
Harriet Quimby

A replica Beriot XI monoplane is on display in Dover this weekend as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the first cross-Channel flight by a woman.

American aviator Harriet Quimby made the crossing on April 16 1912, taking off from Whitfield, near Dover, and landing at Hardelot in France 59 minutes later.

But because the Titanic had sunk the previous day, she received little recognition for her achievement.

A group of enthusiasts have got together to make sure that the centenary is commemorated, and a plaque is to be unveiled at Whitfield on Sunday.

But the celebrations have been given a boost by the arrival of a replica of Bleriot's monoplane which is on display at Dover Transport Museum today and tomorrow. The museum is an Old Park, Whitfield.

The plane, which is identical to the one Harriet Quimby borrowed from Bleriot for her pioneering flight, has been especially brought to Dover from Den Haag in the Netherlands.

There is only one other such place in the country, at The Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire.

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