A centennial flight over the Canary Islands

The Blériot XI, the legendary airplane that first took to the skies over the Canary Islands.

Leonce Garnier (Beaumont, 1881-1963), the French aviator who arrived in the archipelago in the second half of April 1913 with his wife and his mechanic, accompanied by the historic aircraft that took to the skies over the Canary Islands, on the ship Reina Victoria Eugenia.

On April 30, 1913, in an improvised airfield on the island of Gran Canaria, located in the area of Guanarteme, the take-off took place as part of one of the events of the festivities of San Pedro Mártir. This feat was witnessed by municipal, civil and military authorities and representatives of several important institutions. In one of the multiple exhibition flights taken during the festivities, Leonce ended up approaching Arucas.

On May 10, 1913, the monoplane took to the skies over the island of Tenerife. Unfortunately, the aviator Leonce Garnier did not have the same luck this time, since, due to a bad management of the landing ground, he ended up having an accident after trying to land successfully, resulting in the aircraft being destroyed and not being able to continue with the exhibitions.

In 2013, on the occasion of the centenary, the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria took the decision to place an exact replica of the aircraft in the traffic circle near the Plaza de la Música, in the Rincón area. Today, 11 years after its placement, the Department of Strategic Development, Sustainability and Energy has removed the engineering work due to the poor condition caused by the salinity and humidity of the place where it is located. Due to the poor protection caused by being outdoors, the pieces ended up very damaged and full of rust, even with irreparable damage, so many of them will have to be replaced. Once its restoration is completed, it will be placed in the same place where it was located.

In conclusion, the story of Leonce Garnier and his aircraft becomes an important legacy for future generations. The centennial commemoration in 2013 reflects the recognition of his contribution to aviation and the decision to highlight his feat by placing a replica. However, the current removal of the work due to deterioration highlights the need, to properly preserve and protect these historical legacies so that they continue to inspire the next generations, underlining the importance of conservation and care of cultural heritage to ensure its legacy over time.

A centennial flight over the Canary Islands

A centennial flight over the Canary Islands

CAAC