William Frost

William Frost born 28 May 1848, and was the designer of an early flying machine, in the 1890s.

Despite poverty he managed to construct the 'Frost Airship Glider', which seems, in principle, to have resembled a vertical takeoff airplane, with gas-filled tanks. From the Patent description: The flying machine is propelled into the air by two reversible fans revolving horizontally. When sufficient height is gained, wings are spread and tilted by means of a lever, causing the machine to float onward and downward. When low enough the lever is reversed causing it to rise upward & onward. When required to stop it the wings are tilted so as to hold against the wind or air and lowered by the reversible fans. The steering is done by a helm fitted to front of machine.

Frost reportedly made a flight, presumably using these techniques, on or about 24 September 1896. Observers said the machine flew about 500 metres, then crashed into bushes, outdistancing the 120 feet in 12 seconds by the Wright brothers in their first powered flight, which did not feature a vertical takeoff

To Frost's misfortune, the event, apparently witnessed, was not recorded except in local memories. Although a poor