Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on delcampe is a Bleriot XI variant Serial Bl.173 at :


https://www.delcampe.net/de/sammlero...878626216.html



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Bleriot 7657 at:


https://www.ebay.it/itm/Bleriot-XI-7...8AAOSwNWxe3Leb


Does the fact that it has two crew automatically make it a Bleriot XI-2?



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Well known photo (original with the RAF Museum as P9458)

I would say yes to your question. I have only seen type XI-2 in connection with the two-seater version.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Bleriot XI-2 Bl.369 (I think) at:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORIGINAL-...cAAOSwklZe8okN


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of an Italian Bleriot XI at :


https://www.ebay.it/itm/Foto-Fotogra...kAAOSwGzdfF8wQ



The serial looks very like Bl.230, however Gentilli and Varriale have serial number 230 as a Caproni Ca.18. So is the number shown on the aircraft actually Bl.250 or perhaps Bl.230 is a french serial?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

To be honest Clint, this one looks much more like BL 250 to me.
Also looks very much Italian.

Beside that, we also know that BL 251 and BL 252 were Blériot XIs...in Italy

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hi Stig,


Thanks for the input. I still think it looks like a 3 (but isn't!) I think realistically it has to be Bl.250. I have everything between serial numbers 249-253 as Bleriot and 228-234 as Caproni, so really 250 must be a Bleriot.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Well Clint

See my "ode of love" for the digits 3 and 5 in Italy and France (elsewhere) :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Totally agree. The person that created the stencil for the numbers on both this machine and the FBA were clearly taking into account the need to confound the enemy :)


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of RFC Bleriot XI 7652, no not the same one from J.M. Bruce Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps at:



https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Aeroplane-ve...4AAOSwkXdeHxUZ


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Bleriot XI-2 Bl.17 of 1 Squadriglia at:


https://www.ebay.it/itm/1914-FOTO-OR...wAAOSwm1NfumIW


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Bleriot XI-2 Bl.221 at:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-Duran-a...EAAOSwleBfwI3d



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on Delcampe is a photo of Bleriot XI Bl.140 at:


https://www.delcampe.net/fr/collecti...318820155.html


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a set of four photos,iuncluding two military aircraft.


Probably of more interest is a Bleriot XI belonging to Carl Clemens Bücker at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/373683455638...kAAOSwkMthFoZs


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of a KuK Bleriot XI (00.02?) at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/175029551072...0AAOSw911hl-4L


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of an Italian Bleriot XI serial E2 at:


https://www.ebay.it/itm/304277509291...4AAOSwhCphx3G6


https://www.ebay.it/itm/304242374064...YAAOSwbp1holAm



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Nice find Clint

Not entirely sure it is the same Blériot though. Look at how relaxed the guy who sits on the fuselage in the first photo is.
Not sure I would have been very comfortable sitting in such a position considering the pointed top visible in photo 2.

Anyway the seller is pretty certain he can earn his entire retirement fund selling a couple of his photos. I know I could survive on half that amount even in Sweden....:D

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hi Stig,


Agreed they are not the same aircraft in the two photos. I think,difficult to be certain because of the guy sitting on the fuselage, that E2 is a monoposto,whereas the other machine is definitely biposto.


Incidently, with regard to the serial. Do you have anything on early Italian serials.I have another Italian Bleriot photo with the serial E46 (pure speculation,does E stand for Esercito?). I'm wondering when the system changed to initials indicating manufacturer before the numeral? Incidentally I have a further photo of an Italian Bleriot with serial S22. Again pure speculation,does the initial letter E or S represent the function of the aircraft Esplorazione (sp?) & Scuola.Any thoughts?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Not much thought really, to be honest....

It seems not even the Italians have found enough material to explain how this early E-M-S standard they adopted in 1912 actually worked

Even Gregory Alegi tries to avoid the topic as much as possible in his WD 108.
Most Blériot XI seems to have carried a M prefix for some reason.
Oddly enough we thus have E, M and S prefixed aircraft. Co-incidence? :) No idea.

Since that initial system ment aircraft of different types could have the same number and even prefix
(Alegi specifically quotes M35 as such), someone realized they needed to get a combined system, and such a system was
in place I believe when WW 1 broke out in Europe.

I have knowledge of one re-serialled aircraft....not much to decorate a X-mas tree with...

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a rather nice photo of a Bleriot Type XXI


https://www.ebay.it/itm/315121546777...UAAOSw2HNls-zZ


Are any photos of this type in military markings known?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

This is most likely the prototype (this one was photographed quite a bit).

I have seen at least three different ones, but the photo numbers range between 70232-70237,
so probably at least six were taken.

Twelve were reportedly built but I have not seen any photo of the seven reported as delivered
to the French Army.

The only well documented XXI is the one which went to Britain.

The Romanian XXI is reasonably covered by Dan Antoniu and said to have been bought by
Liga Nationala Aeriena in 1911 and used in their Scoala de Pilotaj and wfu in 1916
The photo shows it to have roundels under its wings. Letters AR on the fin and a name on
its side, 'Gheorge Gr. Cantacxxx (the xxx are two or three letters hidden by
the prop....

Nothing on those which went to Bulgaria and Russia. The photos of a XXI which is shown
in Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, actually show a Type XI

Cheers
Stig

PS: The last name is actually Cantacuzino

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Thanks for the reply Stig.In many ways more than I was hoping for,which is a good thing:)


When I posted the question I was hoping for photos of the French military machines,lets hope some turn up at some stage. But good to know about the Romanian machine which was not even on my radar.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

It is a bit odd don't you think Clint, that not a single photo has yet come to light?

Were they ordered and later cancelled?
After all, the side-by-side seating cannot have been ideal for military purposes at the time.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

That was kind of where I was going with this question. I would be happy to change my mind if the evidence changes. But distinctly odd that there is no photo of a Bleriot XXI in french military markings.Also which unit would have operated them.Any quick reference on the breakdown of French units prior to say 1912 that you're aware of?


Edit sorry that last part is not clear. Is there anything published saying unit a based at location b operated x amount of aircraft c for each the units of the french military prior to the establishment of the first escadrilles,a kind of order of battle I suppose.?



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Sorry Clint

Nothing on French units before 1912....:o

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a nice photo of Bleriot XI-2 Bl.239 of escadrille BL 18.


https://www.ebay.fr/itm/355494857469...gAAOSw4Shl3M2T


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Bleriot Aircraft
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Italian Bleriot XI-2 Bl.301


https://www.ebay.de/itm/156474784779...wAAOSwe5xnGlaM



Regards,


Clint