1910 London to Manchester Flight In a challenge to make the first flight between London and Manchester and win a £10,000 prize LoLouis Paulhana Frenchman, landed his Farman biplane in a field near Lichfield Trent Valley Station on 27 April. He stayed overnight at the George Hotel before flying on to Manchester to win the prize. Claude Grahame-White, his English rival, abandoned his attempt at Streethay near Lichfield on 28 April. His earlier attempt on 23 April was also abandoned near Lichfield at Hademore.