8:40am Friday 10th July 2009
A BLUE plaque has been unveiled in memory of the 19th century aviation pioneer Sir Hiram Maxim.
On July 31 in 1894, and 10 years before the Wright brothers, Maxim became the first person to get a heavier-than-air machine off the ground as well as a man into the air.
To mark the landmark event’s 115th anniversary, a microlight aircraft flew along the flight path that the American inventor used to fly his 105 foot-wide and 3.5 ton steam-powered aircraft, known as The Flying Machine.
The plaque was put up at Maypole Primary School, Franklin Road, Dartford, which lies beneath Maxim's flight path.
Leader of Dartford Council Jeremy Kite, who spoke at the event, said: “Dartford has many heroes and people of historic interest, more than many residents realise.
“Hiram Maxim was one of those people where his role was overshadowed by more famous inventors in aviation.
“He brought together all the elements of modern flight, which weren’t practicable at the time.”
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