In 1910, Lilian Bland, a trailblazing Anglo-Irish sports journalist and photographer, took to the skies with a contraption that defied convention. Her aircraft, the Bland Mayfly, was one of the first designed, built, and flown by a woman. But before it could soar, it needed fuel—something that was in short supply.

With the official petrol tank delayed, Bland's solution was as ingenious as it was unconventional. She transformed an empty whiskey bottle into a makeshift fuel tank. To connect it to the engine, she borrowed her deaf aunt's ear trumpet, creating a fuel line that was as peculiar as it was effective. This ad-hoc system allowed Bland to conduct early ground trials, proving the engine’s mettle before the Mayfly's maiden flight over Co. Antrim, Ireland.

This quirky combination of a whiskey bottle and ear trumpet wasn't just a stopgap; it was a testament to Bland's resourcefulness and determination. Her improvisation enabled the Mayfly's historic powered hops, cementing her place in aviation history.

Lilian Bland's story reminds us that sometimes, the sky's the limit when you think outside the box—or in this case, the bottle.