by Graham Tutthill

Today marks the centenary of the first cross-Channel flight by a
woman, and a replica of a Bleriot monoplane has been on
display in Dover during the weekend.

A plaque was unveiled at the Ramada Hotel at Whitfield yesterday
near the site of an airstrip where Harriet Quimby took off for her
59-minute flight across the Channel.

She made the crossing on April 16, the day after the sinking of
the Titanic, so, as a result, received little national recognition
for her achievement.

A group of enthusiasts have got together to ensure that the
centenary is commemorated, not only with the plaque, but they have
also launched an appeal to raise funds for a statue to be placed on
the clifftop. A DVD will also be made telling the story of
Harriet's life.

A replica Beriot XI monoplane was on display at Dover
Transport Museum, having been especially brought to Dover from Den
Haag in the Netherlands as part of the Harriet Quimby Centenary
weekend.

There is only one other such place in the country, at The
Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire. Harriet Quimby borrowed a
plane from Bleriot for her flight in 1912.

Dover businesswoman Louise Miller
(pictured above) has been using her dress-making skills to create a
replica flying suit which the American aviator wore, which she
showed off for the first time at the plaque unveiling, and she
has also been chosen to play the part of Harriet in the DVD.

Filming will take place during the next two months in
Dover, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, and Hardelot near Boulogne,
where Harriet landed.

A promotional video is now on You Tube.

The Harriet Quimby Scrapbook, the life of America’s first Birdwoman 1875-1912, by Giacinta Bradley Koontz, is available for $21 including shipping. To order, enter the book title on www.lulu.com