Hiram Maxim's fairground ride still operates

Hiram Maxim, best known for inventing the machine gun, also designed a fairground ride that has been running at Blackpool Pleasure Beach for over 120 years. The attraction, called the Captive Flying Machine, was installed in 1904 and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating fairground ride in Europe.

Maxim's early flight experiment

Before creating the machine gun, Hiram Maxim aimed to build a heavier-than-air flying machine. In 1894, he tested a steam-powered biplane in Kent. The machine, weighing over 3.6 tonnes, briefly lifted off the ground but only for a few seconds before breaking free from its restraints.

From flight to fairgrounds

After his failed flight attempt, Maxim shifted his focus to creating a fairground attraction. He designed the Captive Flying Machine in 1902, which was first displayed in London in 1904. It soon became a permanent feature at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where it has operated with only brief interruptions.

Early electric technology in the ride

The Captive Flying Machine was one of the first public attractions to use mercury vapor rectifiers, a new electrical technology from 1902. This innovation powered the ride's electric motor, making it a pioneer in fairground engineering.

Historic recognition and design changes

In 2017, the ride was officially listed as a Grade II historic structure by Historic England. While the original design has seen some modifications, such as a concrete canopy added in 1934, much of the original structure remains intact.

Modern updates and historical legacy

Despite the park's recent name change to Pleasure Beach Resort and the addition of new attractions like the Aviktas gyro swing, Maxim's ride continues to operate. It stands as a unique intersection of early aviation, military innovation, and entertainment history.