BUILDER OF FLYING FLEA

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 2

BUILDER OF FLYING FLEA

Waipukurau Man Still Experimenting

SEARCH FOR PROPELLER From Our Own Correspondent. WAIPUKURAU, Mav 22. i-wmcuity in securing a propeller With suitable pitch has held up tho experimental work of Mr E. R. Perkins, of Waipukurau, who, with the co-opera-tion of Mr L. Hawke, built a “Flying Flea.” He is now waiting to receive a propeller from Australia, and on its arruval in Hawke’s Bay he will carry ca with his work oi scheming out further improvements.

Mr Perkins admitted this morning that he did not think that the “Flying Flea” was a. practical proposition at the present time, mainly because with the type of construction sufficient power could not bo generated to make i flying perfectly safe. “1 definitely think that it would be exceedingly dangerous for amateurs to build them, for unless a designer has sound experience in aeroplane-building there is a grave danger of faulty construction, resulting in fatal crashes,” he said. He himself has built half a dozen aeroplanes of various deeigns and claims to know something of the dangers of faulty designing by inexperienced amateurs. His “Flying Flea” is at present housed at Waipukurau. His search for a suitable type of propeller has so far been fruitless. Three were made for him in Christchurch, but none wa© of any use. Since writing to Australia, he has learned that one can be secured in England, but meanwhile he will wait and see what Australia can do for him in the matter. When this problem is overcome, Mr Perkins intends to fly his plane locally for demonstration and experimental purposes. Under the existing legislation, he may not fly hie machine for a greater distance than three miles from the aerodrome. While he thinks that at present there is little practical value for the “Flying Flea,* he has hopes of further development along lines which will make midget plane-flying much safer. With this in view he intends to carry on with his experimenting.