Maradene
Etienne Maradene
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
Five years ago I started building a « Flying Flea ». It took me three years and a half to complete it.
(click on images for larger views)
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