Le Bleriot XI

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2009 marks the Centennial of the first flight across the Channel by French pioneer Louis Blériot, with his now famous Blériot XI.

On July 25, 1909, Louis Blériot made history with his 37 minutes flight from Sagatte to Douvres above the Channel, oil leaking, wood cracking, wind blowing…

One hundred years after, I found myself visiting “Le Blériot XI” stand at the Paris Air Show Le Bourget. This stand was a collaborative project by Dassault Systèmes, the PLM Competency Center, the alumni association from Ecole Centrale, and Dassault Aviation.

On this stand, there was a Blériot XI. Experts will notice by my photo that it is not the Blériot XI, which made the famous flight across the Channel, but a Blériot XI-2. The difference? The second one is a two-seater, its engine “gnome” is a little more powerful, and it was built for the military. Still, for me, the feeling is the same, next to the Blériot XI-2, I touched history.

One hundred years after, we are writing another page of history with 3D. Because of PLM, it has been possible to make the digital mock-up of the Blériot XI-2, from the 2D plan, measures, and simulation. This digital mock-up will allow the construction of a new Blériot XI-2 in Brazil. It is a fascinating project , on which students from Brazil, India and France collaborated.

From the Le Blériot stand, I also wrote a page of my personal history because of 3DVIA Virtools. On June 17, 2009, I became one of the lucky pioneers to virtually fly above the Channel on board of a Blériot XI-2 digitalized.

That is what 100 years of difference makes!

Best,

Valerie

Valerie Ferret works as part of Dassault Systèmes’ Global Affairs and Communities team.

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Valérie Ferret

Valérie Ferret

Valérie Ferret a rejoint Dassault Systèmes en 2008. En tant que Directrice des Affaires Publiques et du Développement Durable, elle est responsable du développement du réseau d’influenceurs mondial et des communautés externes afin de promouvoir la mission de Dassault Systèmes de fournir aux entreprises et aux particuliers des univers virtuels où imaginer l'innovation durable, pour harmoniser le produit, la nature et la vie. Convaincue que les plateformes numériques sont une opportunité unique de redéfinition des modèles économiques aux fins d’innovation durable, Valérie développe de nombreux projets pour embarquer clients et parties prenantes dans la vision du groupe. Valérie est juriste de formation. Elle a débuté sa carrière comme conseil juridique en cabinet d’avocat en France en 2002, puis elle a rejoint une entreprise de distribution postale au Luxembourg pour créer le service juridique. En 2006, elle part aux Etats-Unis et devient directrice de la Chambre de commerce franco-américaine de Boston. Elle détient un DEA de Droit Européen de l’Université de Montpellier.
Valérie Ferret