Après Blériot

I’m doing some research on the early history of French aviation and came across this delightful cartoon (click to enlarge).

The caption says “After Blériot’s flight, how England will defend itself from an aerial attack”. (from Grand-Carteret, John (1909) La conquête de l’air vue par l’image)

The funny thing (to me) is that this cartoon is from just after the super-rich and flamboyant Louis BLÉRIOT made the first successful flight across the English channel. The technology was so new that no one could understand its implications. Or, that in 1909, the air had not actually been conquered. Nor that France’s enemy wasn’t England.

And that giant military-sized bellows and fans arent’ the most effective way to fend of an aerial attack. Unless you’re Wile E. Coyote.