Originally Posted by 75Sv1

There was an attempt by a Frenchman or duo. It is speculative, but they may have crossed the Atlantic, but not successfully. They did find a French made radial engine in VT or ME.
As for the crossing of the English channel, there was an article in the American Molders Association about a lost diary, as I remember.. It was an English Lord. He was the second son, so he could do what he wanted. He took up flying airplanes. In his diary, he flew across the channel to France. He was held under guard there. Then he escaped, but France didn't recognize that he was there. He's older brother tried to take off in the airplane and died. So, he became the Lord.