FLIGHT MADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 14

FLIGHT MADE

FIRST " FLYING FLEA" TESTING AT MANGERE CIRCUITS OF AERODROME A successful test flight ill the first New Zealand-built " Flying Flea " aeroplane to take the air, was made by Mr. A. McGruer, an Auckland pilot, from Mangerc aerodrome yesterday morning, in the presence of an interested crowd. The little machine, built by Mr. R. D. Downey, a ground engineer, and Mr. McGruer, at Penrose, made two circuits of the aerodrome after preliminary ground testing, and flew Bplendidly for about two miles at a height of 60 feet. Before taking off, Mr. McGruer carried out further tests on the ground, to familiarise himself with the unorthodox controls of the "Flying Flea" type of machine. Although the surface of the aerodrome was very rough for so small a craft, it was handled well on the ground, and as a result of the success of these tests, Mr. McGruer decided to take off.

The direction of the wind made it necessary to start on a very short runway. After a very short run, the "Flying Flea " took the air with remarkable steadiness, and made a circuit of the aerodrome.

The second time round, the engine commenced to oil-up, but even under this disability, the machine maintained its height, and Mr. McGruer _ completed his second circuit without trouble. He then side-slipped into an excellent landing. Sceptical observers were surprised at the performance of the little blue and silver craft/ which should be considerably better when the tendency of the motor to oil-up the sparking plujjs has been overcome. Bench tests will be undertaken immediately to rectify this trouble.