Summary: A narrow body of water separates England from the rest of Europe... between Dover and Calais it's only 21 miles wide. Crossing it has become a bit of a right of passage for many forms of transport and aviators, with or without moustaches, have been no exception. These are the stories of some of those early attempts!<br> <br> Jean-Pierre Blanchard rows across the channel in a balloon!<br> <br> <br> <br> Louis Blériot sporting a fine aviator's moustache!<br> <br> <br> <br> Blériot completes the first crossing of the Channel by a heavier than air machine.<br> <br> <br> <br> Harriet Quimby's very fetching flying gear.<br> <br> <br> <br> A captured Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache.<br> <br> <br> <br> Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Jmack361,
