Louis Blériot was born in July 1, 1872 in Cambrai France. He was French aircraft designer and aviator. In 1909 Blériot became the first man to fly an aircraft across the English Channel. The flight from Calais to Dover took 37 minutes. As a designer, he was responsible for various innovations, including a system by which the pilot could operate ailerons by remote control, when Louis Bleriot successfully completed his flight on July 25, 1909, it was a remarkable feat. Most aircraft of the time could only fly very short distances. Engines were unreliable and prone to overheating and most could run for only about 20 minutes. Bleriot's flight was the first across a large body of water in a heavier than aircraft, and won him a 1,000 prize a handsome sum in those days. He died August 2, 1936 in Paris