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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jul 22, 2008 21:12:06 GMT 12
A Flea with a jet would probably have had the same sort of capabilities as the BD5J! Albeit probably only slightly safer. ;D |
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Post by hairy on Jul 23, 2008 21:36:05 GMT 12
Hot off the scanner, looks ready to go to me...............   |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 23, 2008 22:00:54 GMT 12
That's a great pic to see.
Yes it was ready to fly, and did so.
Built in Railway Workshops at Otahuhu. ABC Scorpion III ex-Dunlop & Eriksen. F/f Mangere 20May36 by Alan McGruer.
An investment in a professional sign writer may have added something to the looks, though.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 23, 2008 22:38:51 GMT 12
You'd have thought railway workshops would have had a decent painter,
Great photo though.
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Post by sleemanj on Jul 24, 2008 15:59:27 GMT 12
After restoration, this Flea flew across the channel to France and returned at a later date. Depending on the engine fitted, the Flea had a range of around 200 miles at 60mph, so this was well within capabilities. <SIDEBAR> Isn't it interesting how even in modern times when you say "fly across the channel" people think of some arduous marathon distance attempt sure to result in death or at least serious adventure. When in fact it's roughly 35 kilometers in a straight unobstructed line at the narrowest point (Dover - Calais) and you can see the other side on a clear day. Going over Cook Straight is probably a more risky journey than the channel in real terms, not too many out landing spots in the Sounds which increases the required endurance significantly. Perhaps it's just New Zealanders (maybe antipodeans in general) who think like this, we are so far removed from other countries that "going to another country" will always sound like a journey of real adventure. |
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Post by philip on Jul 27, 2008 12:26:28 GMT 12
Dave, one wonders if the Flea had remained popular how long it would be until someone would have attempted to fit one with a jet engine.  something like this maybe   this is pretty cute too, even if it looks a bit like the sigma microlight in the yak/aliens thread www.machdiamonds.com/caproni.html |
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Post by vp2andrew on Nov 26, 2008 15:43:58 GMT 12
i would not fly in them
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2008 16:49:06 GMT 12
But they're not much smaller than your VP2 though Andrew, and probably more powerful. |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 28, 2008 12:43:03 GMT 12
I'm with Andrew on that.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 19, 2009 22:02:57 GMT 12
I have tracked down details of seven Fleas that were built and flown in the 1930s in New Zealand: ZM-AAA by E Roy Perkins & Leonard Hawke, Waipukerau - now at MoTAT ZM-AAB by Richard D Downey & Allan McGruer, Auckland - burnt 1950 ZM-AAC by William L Notman, Oamaru - now at Wanaka unreg by Owen & Arthur Jackson (Christchurch? - Cr Fairview, near Timaru, 28Sep42 unreg by Brian & Ian McMillan, Stratford - now at Taranaki Transport Aviation & Marine Museum unreg by Cyril Aitken, Marton - fate untraced unreg by Angus Denize, Waikawau Bay - built 1930s, Cr on first test flight Waikawau Bay beach summer of 1947 Plus of course the latter day ZK-FLE/2 HM-16 by Robert J Germon, Ngatea - now with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island. I have noted that the Ashburton Museum have a Flea painted as ZM-AAM. I am guessing that this is a fake registration (think about it) but as for the airframe - is it all a replica, or is the basis an original? |
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Post by kiwi172 on May 19, 2009 8:45:02 GMT 12
ZM-AAM was built up on a patially constructed fuselage plus engine, prop, and drawings gifted to the Ashburton Aviation Museum.
A team lead by Ray Chalmers completed it as a static aircraft.
Reported to be on show during an open day in March 2005.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 6, 2012 20:17:13 GMT 12
To bring this ancient thread up to date: Flea ZM-AAA now on display in the new MoTAT hangar  Flea ZK-AAM on display at Ashbuton  |
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Post by ilangoldberg on Apr 4, 2013 13:47:07 GMT 12
"synchro plane" flea: stick backward front wing increases incidence and back wing decreases incidence. This was an early solution to the design problem of the original HM-14. The problem of inexperienced and stupid builders and pilots has another solution. The design problem of the original Flea can also be solved by a higher front wing and different airfoil. today people are mostly building HM-293 and HM-360/80 which never had a design problem and fly very well indeed.
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Post by No longer identifiable on Apr 7, 2013 15:13:56 GMT 12
ilangoldberg, I saw Rob Germon's flea being built when he lived in Auckland, and it was not the original design. Would it have been one of the improved designs that you mention? I know Rob was in contact with Henri Mignet's family, and I also thought he was quite involved in the newer designs.
I'm sure that for most (earth-bound) people, the whole concept of Henri Mignet's Flying Flea had huge appeal. I read an english translation of his book in the 1960's and I can see why so many people embraced it - it promised cheap and easy flying to the man in the street, and of course Mignet himself had hours of safe flying around France. It was not until others tried to emulate him without any flying experience that accidents began to happen. His book is still a good read if you can find a copy.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 7, 2013 18:46:01 GMT 12
Germon's Flea is a HM-16G.
As it is now on static display at Rangitata Island, I assume that it did exhibit some problems.
It's registration as ZK-FLE/2 was cancelled by CAA 12Apr2006.
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Post by 701driver on Apr 7, 2013 20:35:26 GMT 12
I think FLE is near enough airworthy just needs that special person (with no regard for their life) to taxi it a little faster than when I last saw it racing down the strip.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2015 15:59:45 GMT 12
Something bothers me when reading about newer Fleas - if it's built to the original plans, how is it a replica?
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Post by lumpy on Mar 13, 2015 20:04:53 GMT 12
Something bothers me when reading about newer Fleas - if it's built to the original plans, how is it a replica? Because it wont be the original plans , it will be a copy of the original plans , which makes the aircraft built to these plans also a copy - pretty much the definition of a " replica " . ( okay , so I just made that up with the help of some Bourbon , but it really is a question with no right answer )  |
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Post by TS on Mar 13, 2015 21:01:09 GMT 12
Sooo the Mosquito is a replica then........................... Boom Boom  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2015 11:09:59 GMT 12
So all the Jodels and Turbulents etc in NZ are also classed as replicas?
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