Mignet Pou-du-Ciel - Canadian Museum of Flight - Langley, BC
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N 49° 05.954 W 122° 37.559
10U E 527302 N 5438554
The Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (AKA the Flying Flea) was one of the early home builts and also one of the first ultralights. The design was created by furniture designer Henri Mignet.
Waymark Code: WMGCWD
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 02/15/2013
Views: 3
Very much an unconventional design, this airplane had no horizontal surface at the tail. Instead, it had tandem wings and vertical control was accomplished by tilting the upper wing up and down. Though it gained a reputation as being somewhat unstable, design changes through the years enabled it to remain a favorite with homebuilders well into the 1960s.
From the Canadian Museum of Flight:
Furniture designer Henri Mignet's ultra-light Pou du Ciel (Flying Flea) tandem-wing light plane created considerable controversy in the 1930's. It was built in vast numbers all over the world in more than 300 variants, with a variety of engines. Unstable flying characteristics initially gave it a well-deserved bad reputation.
Development has continued since World War 2, the basic post war single seat version being the HM-290 with a 25 hp Poinsard engine. Recently developed models seat two, and are powered by a 100 hp engine.
It is a very simple design with the rudder providing directional control and by the upper wing pivoting up and down for vertical control. Mignet claimed that anyone who could build a packing case and drive a car could fly a Flying Flea.
The Museum’s aircraft was built locally by John Sayle in 1962. Due to the unavailability of European engines, John substituted a 75 hp McCulloch engine that was readily available as surplus from target drones.
John displayed RFH at airshows and generated considerable interest in the type. It made at least one flight, which resulted in damage to the aircraft. RFH was repaired and donated to the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association who in turn donated it to the Canadian Museum of Flight in 1982.
Technical Details:
Registration: CF-RFH
Manufactured: 1962
Engine: 75 hp McCulloch horizontally opposed
Maximum speed: 91 mph (146 km/h)
Empty weight: 421 lb (191 kg)
Maximum weight: 643 lb (292 kg)
Span: 18 ft 2 in (5.5 m)
Length: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m)
Wing area: 108 sq ft (10 sq m)