20_Pioneer_Pilots

20 Pioneer Pilots¶

In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of ￡1, 000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV.' He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.

Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No.XI'. Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model. A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles. Latham, however, did not give up easily. He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antoinette'. It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel. Both planes were going to take off on July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough. After making a short test flight at 4.15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later. His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes. When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again. His engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.

Words¶

Lord /lɔrd/ 贵族
coast /kost/ 海岸
ship /ʃɪp/ 船
overland /ˈovɚˌlænd/ 陆上的

Expressions¶

offer sth. to sb. = offer sb. sth. 向某人提供某物
a prize of +money ……金额的奖金
make an attempt to do sth. 尝试做某事
attempt to do sth. 试图做某事
be forced to do sth. 被迫做某事
be picked up by a. ... 被…接走
on the same day 在同一天
It looked as if/though 看起来好像
pioneer 先驱者