Press Cutting – Flying Machine – Successful send off yesterday (1904)

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE & HERALD

TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 1904

The Hiram Maxim flying machine, which has been erected at South Shore commenced its flight yesterday, and the results of the opening day show that it had the most encouraging send off. It is only a month last Saturday, since the first pile of the erection was driven into the ground and on Saturday the first trial took place.

The machinery when started, worked perfectly, and not a single hitch has occurred. The driving shaft is 100 feet long, and weighs 10 tons and is 3 feet in diameter. There are 10 boats, capable of carrying 250 people, and the full compliment was carried nearly all day yesterday. No sooner were the boats unloaded than crowds of visitors were waiting to go on board. Splendid arrangements have been made to cope with the crowds, and they were successfully carried out.

The machinery is propelled by two 50 hp motors but they are capable of developing 100 hp. The boats are driven at a speed of about 55 miles an hour, but a much greater speed is attainable if desired.

There is absolutely no fear of an accident owing to the construction of the boats, and they move very smoothly and gracefully through the air. The motion is bird-like and as the speed increases the boats describe a wider circle. When they reach the speed desired and begin to slow down the circle gradually lessens, until they stop altogether. Thousands of sightseeres have admired the machine and its working yesterday, and all who made the journey said that it was certainly a sensational and exhilarating trip.