number among the ranks of the early inventors of heavier-than-air
machines Sir Hiram Maxim, who, though an American by birth, has
spent most of his life in Britain and may therefore be called a
British inventor.

Perhaps to most of us this inventor's name is known more in
connection with the famous "Maxim" gun, which he designed, and
which was named after him. But as early as 1894, when the
construction of aeroplanes was in a very backward state, Sir
Hiram succeeded in making an interesting and ingenious aeroplane,
which he proposed to drive by a particularly light steam-engine.

Sir Hiram's first machine, which was made in 1890, was designed
to be guided by a double set of rails, one set arranged below and
the other above its running wheels. The intention was to make
the machine raise itself just off the ground rails, but yet be
prevented from soaring by the set of guard rails above the
wheels, which acted as a check on it. The motive force was given
by a very powerful steam-engine of over 300 horse-power, and
this drove two enormous propellers, some 17 feet in length. The
total weight of the machine was 8000 pounds, but even with this
enormous weight the engine was capable of raising the machine
from the ground.

For three or four years Sir Hiram made numerous experiments with
his aeroplane, but in 1894 it broke through the upper guard rail
and turned itself over among the surrounding trees, wrecking
itself badly.

But though the Maxim aeroplane did not yield very practical