Lesson20 飞行员的先驱
Pilot’s Pioneer
1908年，诺斯克利夫勋爵拿出1,000英镑，作为对第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人的奖励。
In 1908, Lord Northcliffe handed out 1,000 pounds as the reward to the first one who fly across the English channel.
然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。
But just after one year there came someone to try.
1909年7月19日凌晨，
In the small hours on July 19th, 1909,
休伯特.莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞。
Hubert Latham drove the Antoinette iv and set off from the coast of France.
但他只在海峡上空飞行7英里，引擎就发生了故障，他只好降落在海面上。
But only after 7 miles he had flown, the engine seized up, and he had to descend on the sea surface
安特瓦特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过，莱瑟姆方才获救。
The Antoinette floated on the sea, and until a vessel past, Latham was rescued.
两天之后，路易斯.布莱里奥驾驶一名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。
Two days later, Louis Bleriot came near Calais on a plane called “the 11th”.
布莱里奥从1905年起便开始研制飞机，“11号”飞机是他制作的最新型号。
Bleriot started to research and make plane since 1905, plane “the 11th”was the newest type he had made.
一周以前，他曾成功地进行了一次26英里的陆上飞行。
He had successfully make a 26-mile flight on land a week ago.
但是莱瑟姆不肯轻易罢休。
But Latham didn’t yield easily.
同一天，他驾驶一架新的“安特瓦特”号飞机来到了加来附近。
At the same day, he came near Calais in a new Antoinette plane.
看来会有一场激烈的飞越英吉利海峡的竞争。
It seems that there will be a fierce competence on crossing the English Channel.
两驾飞机都打算在7月25日起飞，
Both these two planes planned to set off on July 25th.
但莱瑟姆那天起床晚了。
But Latham got up late at that day.
布莱里奥凌晨4点15分作了一次短距离试飞，半小时后便正式出发了。
Bleriot had a short test flight in the small hours a quarter past 4, and formally took off half hour later.
他这次伟大的飞行持续37分钟。
His great flight lasted for 37 minutes.
当他在多佛着陆后，
When he landed on Dover,
第一个迎接他的是当地一名警察。
the first one who welcomed him is a police.
莱瑟姆一周以后也作了一次尝试，飞到离多佛不到半英里的地方。
Latham tried another time one week after, he arrived at the place where is no farther than half mile from Dover.
这次他又遭厄运，因引擎故障第二次降落在海面上。
He encountered the adversity for another time, and alighted on the sea level the second time.
