THE “FLYING FLEA”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 100, 8 April 1936, Page 15

THE “FLYING FLEA”

Napier Aero Club to Exhibit Midget Plane

COMING TO HASTINGS LATER

New Zealand’s first “flying flea,” a model of the midget aeroplane which took Europe by storm a lew months ago and which is rapidly becoming popular in England, will be exhibited in Napier over Easter. The distinction of building this Dominion’s first “flying flea” goes to the Hawke’s Bay province, and to the town of Waipukurau ig particular. Interesting packages arrived in Napier last evening: They contained the dissembled parts of the plane, sent from Waipukurau. As soon as they arrived, the parts were taken out of the boxes and the “flying flea’’ was assembled, all in readiness for exhibition for a week as from to-morrow in a shop in ttio Hawke’s Bay Chambers, Emerson street. A charge for admission will be made, the funds collected to go to the Napier Aero Club. This “flying flea’’ was built by the Hawke Aviation Co., Ltd., in Waipukurdu. It was completed about a month ago and attracted great interest when it was on exhibit in Now Plymouth recently. Xt was built to the. design of the French model, with the exception of one modification: tha rear wing has been shifted back 10 centimetres. It is driven by a Douglas horizontal opposed twin-cylinder engine, has a wing span of only 20 feet and a length of lift. 6in.iWhen empty it weighs 226 pounds. It is a single-seater plane, with gold ■wings and blue fuselage. The manufacturers estimate that it will fly for one hour on one gallon and a-quarter of petrol, and will have a maximum speed of about 70 miles per hour. Its cruising speed is estimated to be 60 miles an hour. The piano has not yet been approved by New Zealand’s flying authorities, for which reason it has not yet taken the air. But it is to undergo its trials shortly and it is hoped that permission will be given for it to bo flown. In that event, the Hawke Aviation Co., Ltd., will make more “flying fleas’’, five orders being to hand already. In England they cost £l5O, but, considering exchange, the price in New Zealand will be more than that. The outstanding feature of the “flying flea” is simplicity of control. The rudder bar is eliminated and all controls are operated by means of the joystick. The Napier Aero Club was responsible for the plane’s presence this Easter in Napier, having put in a prior claim against Wellington, which also wanted it on show this Easter. After being on exhibit in Napier for a week, it will be shown in Hastings. Considering that not many months have passed since news was received of the Frenchman’s midget plane, tho first "flying flea” to appear in modern aviation, New Zealanders are entitled to bo proud of tho fact that a model has been produced at this early stage.