Looking superficially like a Henry Farman pusher biplane, the Type XL of 1913 differed noticeably from the HF by its undercarriage, nacelle and oval rudder. The machine was first presented in May at Salon de Turin, then later exhibited at the Paris Salon, but remained a singular example. It can also be found numbered arabically as the Blériot 40.

The Bleriot X was another of Louis Bleriot’s concept attempts and followed more the design path of the American Wright brothers featuring a “pusher” type propeller/engine arrangement and biplane wings. Construction of this design was never completed.

In the summer of 1910 A. V. Roe and Company declared its willingness to build aeroplanes to other people’s designs. Bolts, fittings and bracing wires were supplied to Miss Lilian Bland who built and flew the Mayfly biplane of her own design at Carnamony, Belfast. The first “Mayfly” of Lilian Bland was tested as a glider, probably during February 1910. It was built after the 1909 Blackpool meet and was an amalgam of the Farman and Wright types seen there. Its span was 8.40 m and constructed in less than three months.

Likely the first woman to build as well as fly her own aeroplane, Bland and S.Givvvany developed it empirically, testing and modifying it as a kite and glider before putting a 20 hp engine in it. This aircraft was fitted with one of the few examples of the 20 h.p. two cylinder, horizontally opposed, air cooled Avro engines. It was never given an Avro designation.

Lilian Bland couldn’t sell her constantly modified “Mayfly” and gave it to the Aero Club of Dublin before marrying and leaving for Canada.

Span: 27’7″
Length: 23′