Mr. Claude Grahame-White, the noted English aviator, has this to say of his first experience with his big “No. XII.” Bleriot monoplane--which differs in many important features from the “No. XI.” machine in which M. Bleriot crossed the English Channel: “After several disappointments, I eventually obtained the delivery of my machine in working order.... As I had gathered a good deal of information from watching the antics and profiting by the errors made by other beginners on Bleriot monoplanes, I had a good idea of what _not_ to do when the engine was started up and we were ready for our first trial.... It was a cold morning, but the engine started up at the first quarter turn. After many warnings from M. Bleriot’s foreman not on any account to accelerate my engine too much, I mounted the machine along with my friend as passenger, and immediately gave the word to let go, and we were soon speeding along the ground at a good sixty kilometers (about 37 miles) per hour.... Being very anxious to see whether the machine would lift off the ground, I gave a slight jerk to the elevating plane, and soon felt the machine rise into the air; but remembering the warnings of the foreman, and being anxious not to risk breaking the machine, I closed the throttle and contented myself with running around on the ground to familiarize myself with the handling of the machine.... The next day we got down to Issy about five o’clock in the morning, some two hours before the Bleriot mechanics turned up. However, we got the machine out, and tied it to some railings, and then I had my first experience of starting an engine, which to a novice at first sight appears a most hazardous undertaking; for unless the machine is either firmly held by several men, or is strongly tied up, it has a tendency to immediately leap forward. We successfully started the engine, and then rigged up a leash, and when we had mounted the machine, we let go; and before eight o’clock we had accomplished several very successful flights, both with and against the wind. These experiences we continued throughout the day, and by nightfall I felt quite capable of an extended flight, if only the ground had been large enough.... The following day M. Bleriot returned, and he sent for me and strongly urged me not to use the aeroplane any more at Issy, as he said the ground was far too small for such a powerful machine.” [Illustration: Diagram of Bleriot monoplane, showing controlling lever _L_ and bell-shaped drum _C_, to which all controlling wires are attached. When the bell is rocked back and forward the elevator tips on the rear plane are moved; rocking from side to side moves the stabilizing tips of the main plane. Turning the bell around moves the rudder.] [Illustration: