Dear friends,
Here below is a short “témoignage” of my grappling with my
machine. You are free to use it
as you please. As for the slide
show of the building process, I had prepared it for a presentation to my Ulm
club. There again, use it as you
think fit. Of course you will
miss my spoken commentaries, but I am ready to answer your questions.
Since I met you, I have taken my Flea
back home (less expensive than renting a space in a hangar), I have made the
new tail-wheel (it looks very fine, see photo), have collected the necessary
parts to build new more efficient shock-absorbers, but still have to make
them. As part of an aviation
exhibition, I have been asked to present it in a shopping mall in Avignon (see
photo). Then I will buy a new
trailer (mine is out of order), and will go to another quieter airfield than
Courbessac for my next confrontations. And
of course you are welcome to visit us next year.
Best regards from me.
Etienne MARADENE
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A WAYWARD MACHINE
(Photos of the building process are visible by clicking here).
Then, pregnant with expectations, I went one evening to the airfield. I was indeed very pleased to experience for the first time
the pulling action of the propeller, to make the plane truly roll.
I was also very surprised to make my first “chevaux de bois” (=spin
turns), so-called because merry-go-round’s wooden horses can only
turn. One year ago however, after
many “chevaux de bois”, I managed to take off.
A short flight at 500 hundred feet was an exhilarating moment indeed.
My landing was good, but, while I was still taxiing fast without paying
any attention to a supposed danger, I made a violent “cheval de bois” and
nearly capsized. Results: one
broken wheel, two notches at the tips of the propeller, extended riggings, and
the back wing slightly displaced! But
I was so happy to have actually flown my own plane, that I was not really
upset.
I soon repaired everything and back to the airstrip for more … “chevaux
de bois”! I tried twice to take off but could not!
I was discouraged indeed. It
is then that I phoned to mister Pierre Mignet, who told me that my problems
were “normal” ones. But he
also told me that it was possible to master the dragon and gave me some pieces
of advice. By following them I managed to make several hops.
Unfortunately the last one ended with a spectacular landing, first on
one wheel and then on the other, before I could make the two of them touch the
ground at the same time! Most
unfortunately, this made me develop a “fear” of the machine.
It is in this mood that I went this year for the first time to a flying
flea meeting in Montpezat d’Agenais. For
the first time I saw flying fleas in the air, and was able to speak to actual
pilots of this type of aeroplane, which was very encouraging.
I also took technical advice and I have now adopted “their” tail-wheel.
I still have to make new
more efficient shock absorbers and then my intention is to go back to the
airfield where, I hope, I will be able to at last master this wayward machine
and reap the harvest of my work.
So, to build a flying flea and actually fly with it, can be a long and
eventful adventure, mine is not finished.
Etienne MARADENE