Take to the skies — Chicago Coin’s Blue Max is an electromechanical four-player wrapped in an adventure-and-combat aviation theme, named for the famous flying-ace medal, designed by a team including Jerry Koci, Albin Peters, and Wendell McAdams. With reel scoring, it’s a characterful woodrail-era piece from one of the industry’s pioneering manufacturers, celebrating the derring-do of the wartime aviator.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread with a distinctive feature: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, two spinning targets, two drop targets, and a kick-out hole. Those twin spinning targets are the machine’s standout scoring element, offering satisfying, high-value shots for a player who keeps the ball moving, while the two drop targets give a clear objective to clear and the two pop bumpers keep the ball lively up top. The kick-out hole offers a captured-ball award to chase. It’s a clean, well-balanced design in the classic Chicago Coin mold, rewarding accurate shooting and keeping the ball alive, all in service of the combat-aviation theme.
Blue Max is a fine example of Chicago Coin’s electromechanical craft, pairing an exciting wartime-flying theme with a satisfying, spinner-driven playfield. Chicago Coin was one of the industry’s foundational manufacturers, and its machines carry a real piece of pinball’s deep history. The aviation-combat theme, evoking the legendary flying aces and their medals of valor, captured the era’s fascination with aerial heroism. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and its pioneering companies, it’s a rewarding find. Rip those twin spinners, work the drops, and earn your wings. Some machines connect you to the deep roots of the hobby, and this Chicago Coin aviation classic is one of them. Take to the skies and drop a coin.