1982 London-Paris ultralight race

Last updated

The 1982 London-Paris ultralight race was a competition for ultralight aircraft and microlight aircraft to fly between London, England and Paris, France, across the English Channel. It was the pivotal event in the European ultralight/microlight aircraft movement that brought ultralight/microlight aviation in Europe into serious public recognition. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History and development

Prehistory

In 1909, a competition for the first airplane to cross the English Channel resulted in victory for Louis Bleriot in his small Bleriot XI monoplane, flying from the French coast to the English coast - one of the most historic flights in aviation history (along with 1903 "first flight" of the Wright Brothers, and the 1927 transatlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh), and a pivotal event for the early development of airplanes. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Development

In 1982, during the rise of the ultralight airplane movement, a race was held to repeat the event - though going the opposite direction, and farther: flying from London, England to Paris, France - crossing the English Channel in the process. [2] [1]

The race was organized by New York-based Fenwick Aviation (which planned a similar event for the autumn of 1983, between New York and Washington, D.C.). [3]

Besides speed, the rules of the race were structured to reward precise navigation and landing, and minimal fuel consumption. [3]

Event and outcomes

Race

There were 76 entrants (68 of whom departed from Biggin Hill Aerodrome, near London. At Lydd, England, near the Channel, 66 landed for refueling. Of those, 64 departed Lydd. Finally, 61 landed at Le Toquet, and 59 flew all the way to Pontoise, a few miles from the race end in downtown Paris. [3]

Nearly all of the pilots had never flown over the Channel before. [2] However, despite the risk of overwater flights in early ultralights, none of the aircraft fell into the sea during the Channel crossing, [2] and there were no injuries. [3]

Victors

Other notables

Nine Huntair Pathfinder I airplanes participated in the 1982 London-Paris. All of them finished, seven of them finishing in the first ten places. Further, a Pathfinder (pilot: Gerry Breen) was joint winner of the speed award. [8]

A small number of Butterfly II motorized ultralight gliders, built by SABENA, and sponsored by R.T.B.F. (Belgian national radio & television), participated in the race. RTBF reporter René Thierry piloted the aircraft to second place in its category. [9]

Impact

The event generated intense media interest, initially portraying the flight as a replay of the comic movie Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines , but gradually responding to the general success and safety of the flights. Industry historians note it as the point at which Europe's ultralight/microlight movement gained substantial respect and attention. [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultralight aviation</span> Aviation field involving lightweight aircraft

Ultralight aviation is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailerons, elevator and rudder, calling the former "microlight" and the latter "ultralight".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Blériot</span> French aviator, inventor and engineer

Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor, and engineer. He developed the first practical headlamp for cars and established a profitable business manufacturing them, using much of the money he made to finance his attempts to build a successful aircraft. Blériot was the first to use the combination of hand-operated joystick and foot-operated rudder control as used to the present day to operate the aircraft control surfaces. Blériot was also the first to make a working, powered, piloted monoplane. In 1909 he became world-famous for making the first aeroplane flight across the English Channel, winning the prize of £1,000 offered by the Daily Mail newspaper. He was the founder of Blériot Aéronautique, a successful aircraft manufacturing company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orteig Prize</span> Award given to the first Allied aviator to fly nonstop from New York to Paris

The Orteig Prize was a reward of $25,000 offered in 1919 by New York City hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first Allied aviator, or aviators, to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice versa. Several famous aviators made unsuccessful attempts at the New York–Paris flight before the relatively unknown American Charles Lindbergh won the prize in 1927 in his aircraft Spirit of St. Louis.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1910:

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1911:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 in aviation</span>

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1912:

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1913:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1909 in aviation</span>

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1909:

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1907:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustav Hamel</span> British aviator (1889–1914)

Gustav Wilhelm Hamel was a pioneer British aviator. He was prominent in the early history of aviation in Britain, and in particular that of Hendon airfield, where Claude Graham-White was energetically developing and promoting flying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoinette (manufacturer)</span> Defunct French aircraft and engine manufacturer

Antoinette was a French manufacturer of light petrol engines. Antoinette also became a pioneer-era builder of aeroplanes before World War I, most notably the record-breaking monoplanes flown by Hubert Latham and René Labouchère. Based in Puteaux, the Antoinette concern was in operation between 1903 and 1912. The company operated a flying school at Chalons for which it built one of the earliest flight simulators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Moisant</span> American businessman, revolutionary, and aviation pioneer (1868–1910)

John Bevins Moisant was an American aviator, aeronautical engineer, flight instructor, businessman, and revolutionary. He was the first pilot to conduct passenger flights over a city (Paris), as well as across the English Channel, from Paris to London. He co-founded an eponymous flying circus, the Moisant International Aviators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blériot XI</span> French airplane

The Blériot XI is a French aircraft from the pioneer era of aviation. The first example was used by Louis Blériot to make the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, on 25 July 1909. This is one of the most famous accomplishments of the pioneer era of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in history but also assured the future of his aircraft manufacturing business. The event caused a major reappraisal of the importance of aviation; the English newspaper The Daily Express led its story of the flight with the headline "Britain is no longer an Island."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blériot Aéronautique</span> French aircraft manufacturer

Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few motorcycles between 1921 and 1922 and cyclecars during the 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Léon Delagrange</span> French sculptor

Ferdinand Marie Léon Delagrange was a sculptor and pioneering French aviator who was one of the top aviators in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hubert Latham</span> French aviation pioneer

Arthur Charles Hubert Latham was a French aviation pioneer. He was the first person to attempt to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane. Due to engine failure during his first of two attempts to cross the Channel, he became the first person to land an aeroplane on a body of water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Arnoux</span> French flying ace

Commandant Maurice Albert Alfred Jean Arnoux was a French World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. After the end of the First World War, he continued his aviation career during the 1930s as an air racer and aviation record setter until the Second World War. He returned to flying fighter planes during the early days of World War II, but was killed in action in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Léon Levavasseur</span> French engineer, aircraft designer and inventor (1863–1922)

Léon Levavasseur was a French powerplant engineer, aircraft designer and inventor. His innovations included the V8 engine, direct fuel injection, and liquid engine cooling. Primarily associated with the Antoinette company, he continued to experiment with aircraft design after the company went bankrupt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Leblanc</span> 20th century French aviator

Alfred Leblanc was a pioneer French aviator.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Burger, Alain-Yves and Norman Burr: "1980-1982," in "History" section, in Burger-Burr's Ultralight and Microlight Aircraft of the World, 2nd. Ed., 1985, Foulis/Haynes Publications (Sparkford, Somerset, England, UK / Newbury Park, Connecticut, USA), ISBN   0-85429-481-3, pages 411-412
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "1982, London - Paris," in " Remarkable feats in Microlights and Paramotors," in "Records," British Microlight Aircraft Association, retrieved September 13, 2021
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "London-Paris Ultralight Race." in "Reporting Points," December 1982, Flying magazine, page 14, retrieved September 13, 2021
  4. "Lindbergh in Paris with Bleriot Photograph," photo and caption, Wisconsin Historical Society, retrieved September 13, 2021
  5. "Blériot XI bis Monoplane Replica - N908LB," EAA Aviation Museum, Experimental Aircraft Association, retrieved September 13, 2021
  6. Stimson, Dr. Richard: "Bleriot Trumps Orville," WrightStories.com, retrieved September 13, 2021
  7. "Louis Bleriot's Record-setting Flight Across the English Channel," U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, retrieved September 13, 2021
  8. "Huntair Pathfinder I," All-Aero.com, retrieved September 13, 2021
  9. "Butterfly." date, Belgian Aviation Preservation Association, retrieved September 13, 2021