LITTLE SUPPORT FOR “FLYING FLEAS”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 15

LITTLE SUPPORT FOR “FLYING FLEAS”

Aero Club’s Attitude The movement in favour of the small aeroplanes known as “flying fleas” received little support from the New Zealand Aero Club yesterday when members discussed the matter and decided to leave it in the hands of the Civil Aviation Department. Mr. P. R. Climie (Canterbury) said that he had been asked by enthusiasts in Canterbury to bring before the club a proposal that the Government should be asked to give the “flying fleas” similar encouragement to that given in Great Britain. Mr. C. Weinstein ('Wellington) said that Wellington was not greatly concerned with “flying fleas.” The craft had become a problem in Great Britain where the regulations were having to be reconsidered. "Too many people apparently had the idea that they had only to hammer a couple of packing-cases together to get off the ground,” said Mr. 'Weinstein. "and the trouble is that they come down again too quickly. We as a club have always stressed the safety of flying, and ‘flying flea’ crashes would undo much of the work that has been done.” Personally he did not think they should encourage the machine, but they did not want to stand in its way. Mr. H. L. Patterson (Otago) said that his club had two constructors, but they would not allow them to fly off their aerodrome unless their machines were passed by the Director of AitServices.