Bleriot XI 1909 - Macca's Vintage Aerodrome

Bleriot XI 

1909 

Assembly Manual 

for ARF stand-off scale model 

in 1:5 scale. 

Historical data and presentation. 

Model design and drawing by 

Göran Kalderén © 

1996-07-12 

Early reproduction of documentary drawing 

of the airplane in a french magazine. 

Bleriot XI 1909 ARF 1

The man and his aeroplane 

Louis Bleriot was the first aviator that in 1909 

successfully crossed the English Channel. The aeroplane 

was his model XI adapted for the flight, with 

an extra fuel tank mounted aft of the cockpit and the 

tail gear locked and braced in fixed position. The 

engine was an Anzani 3-cylinder "fan-type", aircooled 

with a rating of 28 hp. The plane was slightly 

underpowered and the flight in the early morning 

hours was executed sometimes only a few feet above 

the wet surface. 

This aeroplane became very popular all over 

Europe and was used by flying schools for basic training. 

More powerful engines were introduced and at 

the time of the outbreak of the hostilities 1914 one 

model was equipped with a Gnome Monsoupape 50 

hp rotary engine. The centre of thrust-line was then 

moved up to the centre of the fire wall. 

As to the tail gear this was sometimes simplified to 

two crossed bows of bent rattan appropriately fastened 

to the rear fuselage. The elevator was first 

fitted as the outer sections of the stabilizer but on 

Svensk Flyghistorisk Tidskrift 

This photo shows Bleriot XI in the version 1912, 

registered S-12, with enlarged rudder planform, 

stabilizer with elevator along the rear edge and a 

Gnome rotary engine of 50 hp. 

This photo shows Bleriot XI in two versions. To 

the left the original with tail wheel, outer elevator 

panels and a 3-cyl Anzani 28 hp engine. To the 

right, the 1912 model with enlarged rudder planform, 

stabilizer with elevator along the rear edge 

and a Gnome rotary engine of 50 hp. Note also 

the substitution of the stearable tailwheel with two 

Bleriot XI 1909 ARF 2 

later models as a separate stabilizer and elevator 

along the rear edge of the former. The planform was 

also altered. 

The wings had fixed front spar and the rear 

spars attached with a joint to the fuselage. The wings 

were rigged with 2,5 ° dihedral measured from the 

wing root. Wing warping was executed via a "double 

cloche" the wires from the upper "cloche" were led 

through pulleys in the lover wire pylon out to the rear 

spar and the under side of the wing. The control was 

with a fixed wheel and could be moved forward - aft 

and left - right. The upper warping wires were run 

from the same positions on the upper side of the 

wings freely via pulleys on the upper wing support 

pylon. 

Elevator wires were run via guide pulley straight aft 

to the elevator horn, located in the centre line of the 

fuselage at the elevator main spar. Rudder control 

wires from the rudder bar to the rudder horn. The 

pilot was seated in a comfortable chair in the open 

cockpit frame and he had on his left side a throttle 

regulator and a magneto switch. 

At the beginning of the war Louis 

Bleriot joined forces with the well 

known S.P.A.D airplane company 

and many of his designs were notable 

developments of fighting aircrafts. 

A recent stamp from 

USA celebrating pioneer pilots 

Svensk Flyghistorisk Tidskrift 

crossed rattan bows. The latter model has also a 

turtle deck from the engine cowl to the cockpit. 

The upper winh support pylon is also reduced to 

a single inverted V. These aeroplanes were 

registreded in Sweden with numbers S-14 and 

S-15 and owned by baron Carl Cederström. Sold 

to the Swedish Army Airforce in 1913.

A 

A 

B C 

B 

Control column 

Typical airfoil 

This 3-view depicts the Bleriot XI as it was 

equipped for the crossing of the English 

Channel. The construction drawing shows 

alternative stabilizer, rudder and tail skid 

C 

Control wires 

D 

D 

E 

E 

C - C 

A - A 

E - E 

B - B 

D - D 

Bleriot XI 1909 

assemblies as well as installation of Gnome 50 

hp rotary engine, cowl and turtle decking from 

engine to cockpit. 


The photo above shows a Bleriot XI recently 

restored and flown by Michael Carlsson in Sweden. 

The tail skid is of later design as developed 

by Enoch Thulin on his licence built Bleriot XI. 

Also stabilizer has the later planform with ele- 


vator along the trailing edge. Engine is Thuli A- 

1 that develops 65 hp. Note also the turtle deck 

and the engine cowl. 

The 3-view below shows the licence built Thulin 

A (Bleriot XI bis). 

Thulin A 

(modified, licence built 

Bleriot XI) 

Ikaros 

Svensk Flyghistorisk Tidskrift

The photo above shows Bleriot XI owned and flown by the legendary baron Carl Cederström, here 

at Malmslätt in Sweden 1911. 

Below is the model in 1:5 scale. Kit plane is supplied with spoked wire wheels. The "Louis Bleriot" 

pilot figure is not included. 

The Model 

I have chosen the scale 1:5, as it gives a 

reasonable big airplane but small enough to handle in a 

car, easy to assemble at the airfield and above all, is 

relatively forgiving to fly. The model can be converted to 

the "Channel crosser" but we have chosen to build the 

somewhat later and impoved version. 

As you can see from the documentation the 

variations of the Bleeriot XI are numerous and your choice 

can be any one of the depicted aircrafts. 

The airplane comes with the landing gear 

attached and it remains only to screw the stabilizer in 

place and attach the and the rudder, control wires to the 

rudder and elevator horns. The wings are pushed into 

the fuselage in holes located on the sides and the wing 

supporting wires attached with the kwick links 

"turmbuckles. It may be necessary to adjust the tension 

of the wires. 

Specification 

Wingspan: 1602 mm 63,2 inches 

Length: 1366 mm 53,9 inches 

Stabilizor span: 667 mm 26,7 inches 

Wing incidence: 4 ° 

Stab. incidence: 1 ° 

Wing surface: 52 dm² 74 sq" 

Wing loading: 61 gm/dm² 19 oz/sq' 

Weight: 3200 gm 7 lb 

Engine: 40/60 2-stroke or 60/80 4-stroke 

Engine installation 

The engine is installed with the engine mount 

attached. Upright or slanted as you desire. Drill holes in 

the firewall to suit your engine and use 5 mm. screws 

and blind nuts as supplied. Lead the throttle cable to 

the servo through a hole in the firewall and connect the 

fuel tube from your tank to the carburator. 

Radio/servo installation 

The receiver and battery are located on the upper 

tray behind the fire wall alongside the tank. 


Ikaros


Rudder wires 

Elevator wires 

Upper warping 

wires 

Lower warping 

wires 

The location of the rigging wires. 

The servos for rudder, elevator and trottle are 

affixed in the servo tray with special screws and 

grommets. The wingwarping servo is affixed to the 

bracket below the rear wing tube fitting. 

All rudder surfaces are controlled with pull-pull 

wires, which is scale and very reliable. The wires are 

attached directly to the servo arms. 

Fuselage 

The fuselage is completely built up. This unit is 

complete with wheels and all rigging wires attached. 

The stabilizer must be attached to the fuselage and the 

wing appropriately affixed to the fuselage. The fire wall 

shoul get engine mounts affixed with bolts through the 

fire wall. 

If you have selected the ARF version you now have to 

attend to the finish. The allready covered model leaves 

only insignias and markings to be applied. 

Front landing 

(upper) wires 

Front flying 

(lower) wires 

Front flying 

(lower) wires are 

attached to the lower 

landing gear bar 

Rudder 

The rudder with hinges is pushed in to the 

fuselage and the hinges should be secured in position. 

The only remaining thing is to attach the rudder wires to 

the rudder. 

Stabilizor / elevator 

The stabilizer is attached to the fuselage at the 

underside of the fuselage using supplied screws through 

the stabilizer into the holes with blind nuts attached on 

the inside. 

Aluminium stabilizer support struts supplied, 

are fixed permanently to the fuselage and the stabilizor 

with sheet metal screws. 

Attach the elevator wires from the elevator servo 

arm to the elevator horn. Note that the wires are crossed 

so that the lower wire at the servo attaches to th upper 

horn on the elevator. 

The model has detailed reproduction of the empennage and the "tail skid" is made of rattan.

Model of Bleriot XI at a scale meet in Sweden. Builder and pilot: Lennart Waltersson 

Wings 

The wings are pushed into the holes in the 

fuselage. Start with attaching the upper front "landing" 

wires to the fittings in the wings. 

Next step is to attach the lower front "flying" wires to the 

fittings in the underside of the wings. 

Now add the upper wingwarping wires to the rear fittings 

on the upper side if the wings. 

Finally attach the warping actuating wires from the servo 

arm via the lower pulley out to the rear lower side fittings. 

When moving the servo arm the wing should now "warp". 

A deflection of ½" up and down at the wing tip is 

recomended. Make sure that the warping correspond 

to what you expect from ailerons on a conventional 

model. 

Rigging 

We will run over this step in condensed form 

once again. Start with the front upper wires. Attach the 

wires to the pylon pemanently. Clip the kwick-link 

"turnbuckle" to the eylet in the wings. Leave the kwivklink 

threaded half way on the screw. Insert the wire, 

stretch so that the wing tip gets the required dihedral 

2½° or 38 mm measured at the wing tip, and lock in 

position. Fine adjustments can be made later on the 

"turnbuckle". Proceed with the lower front wires in the 

same fashion. The wing is now locked in the proper 

position. 

Add the upper warping wires by attaching the 

kwick-links in the same manner as before. Starting on 

the outer rigging wire, fix it to the "turnbuckle", route it 

through the pulley in the rear upper pylon and then stretch 

it and fix it to the opposite wing panel. Make sure that 

you get the desired wash out at this moment. Proceed 

in the same manner with the inner upper warping wire, 

The lower warping wires are attached in much 

the same manner with the only difference that you start 

at the servo arm in the fuselage and the wire is routed 

via the pulley to the wing panel fixing point. Note that 

the wires are crossed from the pulley to the servo. 

The rudder an elevator wires ar installed in the 

same fashion starting at the servo arms. The 

"turnbuckles" ar located at the elevator and rudder horns. 

Route the wires straight to the respective ponts on the 

rudder and elevator horns. 

Finishing 

We suggest that you paint all wooden surfaces 

with 2 -3 coats of clear fuel-proofing. The wings and the 

tail feathers could also be given a coat of the same for 

the weathered antique look. Shrinking airplane dope is 

not recommended as you need the flexibility in the wings 

to minimize the strain on the warping servo. 

Dummy engine 

A dummy of the Anzani 3 cylinder engine is supplied 

and has to be removed and replaced wiith your engine 

for flying. 

Scale propeller 

Supplied is the finished scale propeller with front 

mounting plate. The hole is drilled for 6 mm propellershaft 

and may have to be enlarged to fit your engine. 

Flying 

Make sure that you have set the elevator throw 

as recommended. Check also that the wings have proper 

dihedral and wash out. The airplane should balance 

at a point 25 - 30% of the wing cord from the leading 

edge. Add weight at the front if required. 

Take off with this airplane is straight into the 

wind only. Dont try to pull it of the ground. Let it lift off 

gently. Make the turns with wing warping and rudder/ 

elevator. It is not a pattern plane! Enjoy cruising in the 

blue sky and feel the thrill of the early aviator. 

Happy and safe landings! 


What is in the box: 

The ARF kit contains the parts shown in 

the picture below. All the rigging wires are 

6 

K&W 

Model 

Airplanes Inc. 


10 

3 

1. Fuselage with wing warping pylon and 

tail skid assy. 

2. Landing gear 

3. Spoked wheels 

4. Rudder 

5. Elevator 

8 

2 

1 

supplied in the correct lengths and need only 

to be clipped to their positions. 

5 

P.O.Box 1229, Cebu City Centrl. Postoffice 

Cebu City 6000, Philippines 

Visiting address: 

3343 Gun-Ob, Kinalumsan, 

Lapu-Lapu City 6015, PHILIPPINES 

Phone +63 32-340 7147, Cellular +63 917-3200 985 

Telefax +63 32-340 7131, E-mail: kwmairpl@gsilink.com 

7 

6. Scale propeller 

7. Left wing panel 

8. Right wing panel 

9. Wires, turnbuckles and hardware for 

assembly (not shown) 

10. Assembly manual with scale documentation 

4

Bleriot XI 1909 - Macca's Vintage Aerodrome

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