Mignet "Pou Du Ciel" ("Flying Flea")
| Type
| Ultra-light sports aircraft
|
| Manufacturer
| Home-built
|
| Designer
| Henri Mignet
|
| Maiden flight
| 1933
|
| Retired
| (modern versions still in use)
|
| Primary users
| Aviation enthusiasts
|
| Variants
| Numerous, variously with enclosed cabins, two seats, steel framing, etc
|
|
Some views of the display:
|
|
The Aircraft On Display
The Museum's Flying Flea is a modern version, known as the H.M.290, made by Bob Draper. However
(as the "Cockpit and controls"" photo demonstrates clearly) it retains the emphasis on simplicity
of the very first Flea.
Type History
The Flying Flea arose from Henri Mignet's ambition to create an aircraft that was simple to manufacture
and easy to fly. Its tandem-wing configuration with high dihedral gave it a measure of stability,
but it was found that as builders installed more powerful engines, that stability could be lost in a stall,
leading to several accidents. Later modifications to the design overcame these faults.
In spite of its age, the design has remained popular with flying enthusiasts.
Specifications (H.M.290)
General characteristics
| Length: | 14 ft (4.27 m)
| | Wingspan | 20 ft (6.1 m)
| | Powerplant: | McCulloch 72 HP (54 kW)
| | Weight: | empty 410 lb (186 kg), max loaded 700 lb (317 kg)
| Performance
| Maximum speed: | 85 mph (138 km/h)
| | Service ceiling: | 16,400 ft (7440 m)
| | |
References / Links
Wikipedia
Youtube video of Henri Mignet with his original "Pou du Ciel"