It would be difficult to find someone who is less qualified to

comment on flying the Cmelak than myself. I got to it completely by accident. I had flown almost nothing on the type, and I

learned nothing from the experience I did have. In spite of this,

or maybe because of it, I will build up the gall to write something about it. The experience from it is, for me, strong and

positive.

The Bumble Bee was, as I had long suspected, not in the cards

for me. Way back when, I was supposed to take a ride in one,

specifically in a two seat version that my friends had on loan at

the time. But, luck wasn’t on my side then, bad weather put

a strain on the budget, and the opportunity just never seemed

to come up again.

Not for several years, anyway. And this time, it wasn’t a two-seater. It was a solo bird. It wasn’t much to look at…nothing

fancy, just a workhorse. With spray booms. And it wasn’t yellow,

but red. And with Otto Smik’s kill markings on it, below the cockpit, and the No.312 Squadron unit badge. Was it even a Bumble

Bee, or was it a ‘BumbleSpit’?

I don’t recall all that much from the preparations for the flight.

The start up of the engine went about the same as when a general would show up at the base to take a MiG out for a spin. Run

it up, and I’ll take her out. So, with some assistance, the engine

was brought to life, and I took off for a few rounds between Line

and Erpuzice.

A Bumble Bee flying up high was a suspicious site. Especially one

equipped with the spray booms. But my experience told me that

in order to get a true feel for the plane, some height would be

a good thing. And with a bit of luck, I wouldn’t attract too much

attention at the 500m I was flying. The plane shuttered in the

air when trying to keep it from falling. The circuits were about

three minutes in length each. It wasn’t like I was trying, but

a little voice was telling me to not fly so wide. This wasn’t

a Constellation. So, why not?

As my old instructor told me, an empty Z-37 is a completely

different aircraft from one that is loaded up. It flies well. And

it really did. The view out the cockpit for a tail dragger was

excellent. I was not used to having the nose as low as it was

INFO Eduard - April 2021

on a three point landing like this. I was not used to being able to

see over the nose so well that I ended up overcompensating and

setting down on the tailwheel first. Damn! Sorry ‘bout that!

There was no crosswind, so I couldn’t grade the aircraft on landing under such conditions, with its tendency to veer off the direction of landing. Three circuits were enough, and hop on back

home. I thought maybe that I would try it at a lower altitude, but

my intuition told me to not push my luck. But I tried it at 150m….

and nothing went awry.

After forty minutes and five take-offs, I returned the red and

yellow Bumble Bee OK-AKP with thanks. Nice airplane. I liked

it. Something completely different from what I am used to. And

perhaps my buddies who own the two seat version will give me

another opportunity to take it for a spin, too. And why not? It’s

coded OK-BFC, and I am a member of the BFC!

Radim Vojta

eduard

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