[Illustration: DE HAVILLAND (1909). The performances of this machine secured a Government appointment for its aviator-designer.] [Illustration: HOWARD WRIGHT (1908-09). The first machine in the world in which special attention was paid to securing a stream line body and minimised wind resistance.] [Illustration: HUMPHREY (1908-09). Earliest British attempt at a hydro-aeroplane; possibly the earliest design ever produced anywhere.] [Illustration: HUNTINGDON (DUNNE II) (1910). One of the earliest aeroplanes in existence--designed by Captain Dunne about 1905-06, previous to the secret experiments of the British War Office in Scotland, on the Duke of Atholl's estate. Assigned to Prof. Huntingdon in 1910. Made a few short flights.] [Illustration: PORTE (1908). Designed by Lieut. Porte, R.N., in conjunction with Lieut. Pirrie, R.N. This machine, on which the former well known aviator commenced his flying career, was smashed up in preliminary trials as a glider on Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth. Its design apparently preceded the _Goupy_ in the use of staggered planes.] [Illustration: "SAFETY" (1909-10).] [Illustration: SEDDON. (1910). Designed by Lieut. Seddon, R.N.] [Illustration: SHORT (1910). The first machine to Short's own design. (The tail here shown is a specially large one fitted by Moore-Brabazon).] [Illustration: VALKYRIE (1910). This was one of the first "tail first" machines to be designed. The experimental machine (also known as the _A.S.L._), was completed in Feb., 1910.] ~DANISH.~ [Illustration: ELLEHAMMER (1905). On 12th September, 1906, this machine made the first free flight in Europe. On 28th June, 1908, it won the prize at Kiel for the first flight in Germany (distance, 47 m.) It was a tractor biplane with a revolving Ellehammer motor. It also had a pendulum seat as a stabilising device.] ~FRENCH.~ [Illustration: ANTOINETTE IV (1909). In this machine Latham made the first attempt to fly the Channel, 19th July, 1909.] [Illustration: BLERIOT IV (1907-8).] In 1909 the famous _Bleriot XI_ was built. This did very well at Reims, 1909. On 25th July, 1909, Bleriot made the first Cross-Channel flight in the machine illustrated below. [Illustration: Bleriot XI.] This machine had ~length~, 23 feet (7 m.) ~Span~, 25-3/4 feet (7.80 m.) ~Area~, 167 sq. feet (15-1/2 m squared.) Aspect ratio 4-1/2 to 1. ~Motor~, 22-25, 3 cylinder Anzani. ~Speed~, _about_ 45 m.p.h. (73 k.m.) _Special features_: Fixed wings with rounded edges. Twin elevator and fixed surface tail. [Illustration: BOUSSON-BORGNIS (1907-08).] [Illustration: BREGUET (1906). The first Breguet, known as _Breguet Gyroplane I_. Made a flight in October, 1906, being the first helicopter to leave the ground.] [Illustration: BREGUET-RICHET II bis. (1909). A large and unsuccessful development of the gyroplane.]