In July of 1894, in a London borough and in front of many specially invited guests (Prince of Wales, Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells) the above steam powered vehicle created by Hiram Stevens Maxim accellerated up to 42mph and with the help of the ‘aeroplanes’ (or wings as we refer to them – but the first mention of the aeroplane word) the Maxim Flyer did indeed lift it’s own weight from the ground – restrained as it was 9 inches off the ground by the safety rail. Wondering if it could have gone higher if the rail wasn’t there? Well, the rail broke and it indeed DID go higher! Admittedly it was fairly out of control at this point, but it had lift to spare.

While it was uncontrolled and did eventually crash, it’s up there in the hotly contested realm of claims to the first powered human heavier than air flight title. (Which a previous post also addressed – with the Éole from Clement Ader). Note that the page here about the Maxim flyer, states as fact that Maxim was first. I advise that you decide for yourself.