Harriet Quimby was the first woman pilot to fly across the Channel, and a centenary project in her memory is up and running in Dover to carry on her legacy.

The American died at 37, just months after she had crossed the strait by aircraft in just under an hour – a day after the Titanic sank.

It is believed that the publicity surrounding the vessel took all shine away from her success.

The chairman of the project, Martin Young, feels that with the help of volunteers, more people will delve deep into her story and the project will be able to reach the wider community.

He said: “She has been forgotten by historians, she is linked to the history of Dover and Kent.

“We need volunteers to help run the project, run stands that we put up at local fairs and to raise our profile.”

Before Harriet, Frenchman Louis Bleriot had flown over the Channel in July 1909 in the plane named after him, the Bleriot XI-2.

Dover resident Peter Paine, who is a member of the Bloobirds model flying club, has built a sculpture of the craft which will be displayed in Dover Transport Museum until November.

It has been built specifically for the centenary of the First World War.

The model boasts a wing span of 8ft and Mr Young has said it is an exact replica of the original design.

He hopes that school children will see it when they come to hear of the stories surrounding flight over the Channel.

The project aims to erect an 8ft statue of Harriet on the White Cliffs.

A statement on the website reads: “We’d like to erect a statue in memory of Harriet Quimby and to tell her story to people young and old all around the world so that she becomes recognised for the brave hearted spirit she was.”