Control mechanism of Bleriot's monoplane, 1909.

French aviator Louis Bleriot (1872-1936) made the first cross-Channel heavier-than-air flight in his No XI monoplane on 25 July 1909. Though his small, air-cooled three-cylinder Anzani motor was barely adequate for the task, he bravely pressed on, landing in Dover to immense acclaim. Bleriot was one of the pioneers of the standard-control layout still used today and patented his system in 1908.