"You can now fly at South Shore ..."
Name Flying Machine Other Name(s) Flying Machines, Airplanes, Hiram Maxim Captive Flying Machine Opened 1 August 1904 Designer Sir Hiram Maxim
The Flying Machine is the park’s oldest and perhaps, most iconic ride. Introduced in 1904, it was the creation of Sir Hiram Maxim, an American-born British inventor, most famous for inventing the Maxim machine gun.
Maxim was fascinated by the concept of flight and attempts to achieve it were one of his key interests in the 1890s.
To fund his research and development, Maxim created a ‘captive’ flying machine for amusement parks, comprising of a large structure where cars circle at high speed, ‘swinging out’ as the speed increases.
The concept was devised in 1902 and first exhibited in May 1904 at the Italian Exhibition at Earl’s Court. The Pleasure Beach ride opened later the same year. Other examples operated at Southport, New Brighton, the Crystal Palace and a number locations in the USA.
❓Did You Know❓
Early in its existence, guests would board the Flying Machine via archways, meaning that the ride had to 'park' accurately to ensure that the vehicles were accessible.
Maxim’s original intention was to make the ride interactive, allowing riders to control aspects of their flight, using levers and pullys in the vehicle. However, after testing, these were deemed to be impractical and potentially dangerous. Maxim was evidently not impressed by this development and is said to have dismissed the final product as “Simply a glorified merry-go-round”. Seemingly, millions of riders don’t share his view of his enduring creation.
In 1929 the original vehicles were replaced by new ones resembling bi-planes. In 1952 these were replaced by the present day rocket ships, as interest in the space race intensified.
The ride remains extremely popular and operates almost exactly the same as it did when introduced in 1904.