page_title: Blériot XI
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Blériot XI / Variants
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: De twee-persoons Blériot-vliegmachine, van 50 P. K. met gnome-motor, dir door de N. V. Rotterdamsche Vliegvereeniging aangekocht is geworden en waarin de aviateur J. van Bussel met zijn leerling te Rotterdam zal opstijgen.
context_page_description: The Blériot XI is a French aircraft of 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".
  It was produced in both single- and two-seat versions, powered by several different engines, and was widely used for competition and training purposes. Military versions were bought by many countries, continuing in service until after the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Two restored examples – one in the United Kingdom and one in the United States — of original Blériot XI aircraft are thought to be the two oldest flyable aircraft in the world.
context_section_description: Blériot XI (REP)
  1908, the first Type XI, powered by a 22 kW (30 hp) REP engine, displayed at the 1908 Paris Salon Exposition, first flown at Issy on 18 January 1909.
  Blériot XI (Anzani)
  1909, the first aircraft re-engined with a 19 kW (25 hp) Anzani engine and with wings enlarged from 12 to 14 m² (130 to 150 sq ft). Fitted with a flotation bag for Blériot's cross channel flight.
  Blériot XI Militaire
  Military single-seater, powered by a 37 kW (50 hp) Gnome engine.
  Blériot XI Artillerie
  Very similar to the Militaire version, but with a fuselage divided into two sections so that it could be folded for transport.
  Blériot XI-1 Artillerie
  Single-seat er powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Gnome 7 Omega, with collapsible fuselage for transportation.
  Blériot XI E1
  Single-seat training version.
  Blériot XI Type Ecole
  A trainer with considerable wing dihedral looped cane tailskid, tip elevators and other modifications.
  Blériot XI R1 Pinguin
  Rouleur or ground training aircraft, fitted with clipped wings and a wide-track undercarriage with a pair of forward-projecting skids to prevent nose-overs. Some examples were fitted with a 26 kW (35 hp) Anzani engine and others with old 37 kW (50 hp) Gnome engines that were no longer producing their full power output.
  Blériot XI (1912)
  From March 1912 with two-piece elevators and high fuselage skid.
  Blériot XI (1913)
  As for Blériot XI (1912) with landing gear re-inforcements removed, powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) Clerget 7Y
  Blériot XI Parasol
  aka Brevet-gourin, modified by Lieutenant Gouin and Henri Chazal with a parasol wing and split airbrake/rudder.
  Blériot XIbis
  In January 1910 the bis introduced more conventional tail feathers and elliptical elevators with a half-cowled Gnome engine.
  Blériot XI-2 Tandem
  Standard tandem 2-seat touring, reconnaissance, training model, powered by a 52 kW (70 hp) Gnome 7 Gamma rotary piston engine.
  Blériot XI-2 bis "côte-à-côte"
  February 1910 2-seat model, with side-by-side seating and a non-lifting triangular tailplane with semi-elliptical trailing-edge elevators, with several variations such as floats extended nose, modified tail-skid and other changes. (Length 8.32 m (27.3 ft), Wingspan 10.97 m (36.0 ft)
  Blériot XI-2 Hydroaeroplane
  Two-seater floatplane with wingspan of 11 m (36 ft) powered by a  60 kW (80 hp) Rhône engine. First flown with an extended rudder with a float on the bottom: this was later replaced by a standard rudder and a float fitted under the rear fuselage.
  Blériot XI-2 Artillerie
  Military Two-seater powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) Gnome 7 Gamma, with modified rudder and undercarriage. Two aircraft or versions of the same aircraft with differing elevators.
  Blériot XI-2 Génie
  Military version designed for easy transport, powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) Gnome 7 Gamma, it could be broken down/reassembled in 25 minutes.
  Blériot XI-2 Vision totale
  An XI-2 modified with a parasol wing in July 1914, also known as XI Brevet-Gouin.
  Blériot XI-2 Hauteur
  Powered by an 60 kW (80 hp) Gnome rotary piston engine and used by Roland Garros in altitude record flights in August 1912 and March 1913.
  Blériot XI-2 BG
  Two-seat high-wing parasol model.
  Blériot XI-3 Concours Militaire
  Tandem 3-seat model, powered by a twin-row 14-cylinder, 100 kW (140 hp) Gnome 14 Gamma-Gamma rotary engine. Span 11.35 m (37.2 ft), length 8.5 m (28 ft)
  Thulin A
  Licence-built in Sweden
caption: Blériot XI-2 bis
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