FLYING FLEAS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21907, 7 October 1936, Page 13

FLYING FLEAS

to WM *aa*4* o* tbs mw,». Sir.— Ytm subheader regarding “flymg fleas’* win have 9 depressing effect upon the “young men of vision” who have turned their eyes upon this small aeroplane. Were it not for the efforts of men like Mr Owen, who have devoted yeers of experimental work to 2 y i? g !, ew Ze® 1 *®* would be farther behind the rest of the world than it is. The young man of to-day In hi* experimental work want* financial assistance; his progress is dependent upon the pubfic. local bodies, and the Government Should these factors lag behind. then it becomes necessary for him 8 hiS abimi6B It is Ouite common knowledge that had perfected a similar craft to the flying flea,” embodying floating wmgsln 1995 before the “flea” was invented. But although representation was made to the authorities, no official recognition was given, nor were the patent rights retained for the benefit of New Zealand. . The Government has materially' Increased its air force, but where does it give encouragement to those men In New Zealand who devote so much ■time, ingenuity, and thought to overcoming the problems of the air. The Rt. Hon. M, J. Savage might well set up a Department of Research lor this class of small commercial aeroplane, because it is only a question of time when these small machines will be flying all over the country. In France the “flying flea” has passed all the tests and is recognised by the flying authorities. I understand that Mr Owen is exhibiting the “flying flea” he has built and it' behoves all people to see this product of a Christchurch man's brain. —Yours, etc.. AIRMINDED NO.' 2.

tOur correspondent’s remark that “In France the ‘flying flea’ has passed all the tests and is recognised by the flying authorities” indicates that he has not read the cable message referred to in our sub-leader. The message read: "The (French) Air Ministry’s report on the ‘flying flea,’ based on full-scale tests in a wind tunnel, says that even with a fairly powerful engine, the ‘flying fleahas a performance only just satisfying the requirements for a certificate of navigability. The report adds that a machine built exactly to the design of the inventor, M. H. Mignet, has a centre pressure always more than 45 per cent, to the stern. This is dangerous because the machihe cannot be levelled up when the longitudinal instability causes a dive. The ‘flying flea’ alsp suffers from lateral instability and ooor handling qualities.” Ed,. “The Press.”]