20 Pioneer pilots

In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of £1, 000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.

1908年,诺斯克利夫勋爵拿出1,000英镑:作为对第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人的奖励。

Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.

然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。

On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the ‘Antoinette IV’.

1909年7月19日凌晨,休伯特·莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦奈特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞。

He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea.

但他只在海峡上空飞行了7英里,引擎就发生了故障,他只好降落在海面上。

The ‘Antoinette’floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.

“安特瓦奈特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过,莱瑟姆方才获救。

Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called ‘No. XI’.

两天之后,路易斯·布莱里奥驾驶一架名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。