Gotta feel bad for Latham

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Hubert Latham,the English contestant to fly across the English Channel.His Antoinette failed him a couple of times.When he found out that Bleriot had took off he quickly went to ready his craft till he was talked out of it,the winds were too strong.He walked to his car and wept.He was glad to find out Bleriot made it across telegraphing a message saying,"Cordial congradulations.Hope to follow you soon."

On page 41. in The First Aviators it reads.

"But a London Daily Mail correspondent who saw Latham that morning amid the French crowds celebrating Bleriot's victory wrote this description of how crushing Latham's two defeats:"I saw against a background of radiant faces and enthusiastic crowds a tall,slim figure with bent head,quivering lips and hands clenched in unavailing regret for a lost opportunity.His eyes were narrowed to a slit.More than once brushed away a tear.The extreme tension of the past fortnight had told upon him severely,and this bitter blow coming at the end of it was having its natural,its inevitable effect."

Your intentions to succeed shall not be forgotten Latham!

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

Hubert Latham,the English contestant to fly across the English Channel.His Antoinette failed him a couple of times.When he found out that Bleriot had took off he quickly went to ready his craft till he was talked out of it,the winds were too strong.He walked to his car and wept.He was glad to find out Bleriot made it across telegraphing a message saying,"Cordial congradulations.Hope to follow you soon."

---

Hubert Latham had the French nationality, just as Blériot. He was the star pilot of the Levavasseur firm who produced the Antoinette monoplanes.

Latham left with an Antoinette IV in the early morning of July 19, 1909, but the engine overheated within 15 minutes, so giving only a fraction of the available power. Latham could only decide to land on sea, being picked up by an escorting French marine boat, the Harpon.

Blériot made his historic flight on July 25, 1909.

Latham did a second try with another Antoinette on July 27, 1909 two days after Blériot. But again fate struck, just three-quarters of a mile from Dover. Again the engine malfunctioned and he landed again on the sea.

The story of Latham is one of those 'could-have-been' stories.

The whole story of Levavasseur, the Antoinette monoplanes and the most brilliant pilot Hubert Latham i stold in a fine book by Stephen H. King - The Passion that left the ground - the remarkable airplanes of Léon Levavasseur. ISBN 978-1-59571-178-6.

Look also here for more information on the book and links to a special Antoinette site.

Cheers

Kees