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a workshop. He strongly advised the Dixons not to use a gasoline engine for motive power, as he was certain with would result in serious trouble. Knowing that some small airships had previously been operation satisfactorily by foot pedal power, he suggested that this method be used and they finally agreed. [[crossed-out]]
This turned out to be good advice in Kay, 1907, at age 15 Dixon made his first ascension on the Columbus Driving Park in his homemade pedal-powered airship. [[crossed-out]]
Called the "Sky-Cycle", [[crossed-out]] it [[crossed-out]] the airship was 32 foot long and 17 feet in diameter. The bag was made of Japanese silk cut from patterns [[crossed-out]] he [[crossed-out]] Cromwell had made. [[crossed-out]] and [[crossed-out]] His mother did all the stitching on her sewing machine. Suspended underneath the bag was a light basswood frame with a large, very slow turning, 3-blade tractor propeller [[crossed-out]] in front [[crossed out]], with wide sheet-aluminum blades attached to a small hug. A large cloth-covered rudder was [[crossed-out]] attached [[crossed out]] hinged to the rear of the frame. [[crossed-out]] and [[crossed out]] Near the center a bicycle frame was attached, without fork [[crossed-out]] and [[crossed out]] or wheels, but with 
 a seat, handle bars, main sprocket and pedals. The tubular propeller shaft running forward was driven by a chain from the main sprocket. [[crossed-out]] and [[crossed out]] Dixon rode the seat and pedaled. [[crossed-out]] bicycle fashion [[crossed out]] Knabenshue conducted the inflation of the airship with hydrogen. 
Mrs. Dixon insisted that ropes be attached at either end of the bag which would limit [[crossed-out]] his height [[crossed out]] altitude to 200 feet and that assistants holding these lines would walk or run with him to avoid [[crossed-out]] the risk of [[crossed out]] an accident. Dixon pedaled [[crossed out]] and got nowhere.[[crossed out]]furiously but the airship did not rise. At the first opportunity, Cromwell removed the restraining lines [[?]] from the Columbus Driving Park [[crossed out]] he took off [[crossed out]] on the free flight and actually pedaled himself over the city at 2,000 feet. He was 15 years old. Naturally, he made headlines, other local flights followed and [[crossed out]] his work [[crossed out]] these soon gained him international publicity. The astounding story of a most remarkable boy and his no less remarkable mother brought warm letters of congratulations and encouragement from aeronauts and aviation celebrities everywhere [[crossed out]] and [[crossed out]] requests for him to appear at Fairs and resorts came in thick and fast. He invented and built a quickly collapsible tent to house the airship, [[crossed out]] and [[crossed out]] His mother at all times acted as his business manager. 
This first "Skycycle" apparently was not quite large enough to give the performance he desired so an 8-foot-wide band was inserted [[crossed out]] it was reworked [[crossed out]] to 40 feet [[crossed out]] long with [[crossed out]] lengthening it. A larger propeller and rudder were substituted. with this [[crossed out]]enlarged[[crossed out]] ship Dixon made several exhibition appearances 

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