Flying Flea Light Aircraft - Avions Henri Mignet HM 14
Production date
1935
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail
Description
Flying Flea Light Aircraft (Avions Henri Mignet HM 14), small, single seat light aircraft incorporating a plywood frame with doped canvas surface and repurposed motorcycle engine. The plane has two wings, a single tailfin, a forward mounted engine with propeller and two large front wheels with two smaller rear wheels. The plane is white with no markings except the maker's logo on the wooden propeller blade.
Classification
TRANSPORT Aviation ultra light
Maker
Production date
1935
Production place
Measurements
L 4300 W 6200 H 1950mm
Fuselage: L4280 x W1200 x H1630 (H1840 on sitllage)
Fuselage: L4280 x W1200 x H1630 (H1840 on sitllage)
Media/Materials description
Plywood, canvas, rubber, steel
Signature/Marks
[red circle with propeller blades on either side] Perfectus
History and use
The ultra-lightweight Flying Flea was designed in France in the 1930s by Henri Mignet. The design plans were intended for hobby builders, and considerable numbers were constructed throughout the world. Flying Fleas were home built and driven by whatever engine the builder could obtain.
Flying Fleas are essentially biplanes with a staggered wing arrangement, the lower wing set well behind the upper. They have a vertical moveable tail, but no horizontal tail surfaces and no elevators. Pitch control was instead provided by tilting the upper wing to change its angle. Steering was achieved by manipulating the tail via the same joystick that controlled the wings. The propeller was mounted on the front of the engine, which itself was mounted at the front of the plane, forward of the upper wing.
This example was built by members of the Roberts family of Ipswich in 1935. Made predominantly from plywood and canvas, this example of the plane is powered by a 23 horsepower (17 kW) four cylinder in-line Henderson motorcycle engine. Due to the large numbers of crashes of Flying Fleas, particularly in Britain, the Roberts’ aircraft was not officially allowed to fly. After one unofficial test it was stored under the Roberts’ home until they donated it to the Queensland Museum in 1982.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Flying Fleas are essentially biplanes with a staggered wing arrangement, the lower wing set well behind the upper. They have a vertical moveable tail, but no horizontal tail surfaces and no elevators. Pitch control was instead provided by tilting the upper wing to change its angle. Steering was achieved by manipulating the tail via the same joystick that controlled the wings. The propeller was mounted on the front of the engine, which itself was mounted at the front of the plane, forward of the upper wing.
This example was built by members of the Roberts family of Ipswich in 1935. Made predominantly from plywood and canvas, this example of the plane is powered by a 23 horsepower (17 kW) four cylinder in-line Henderson motorcycle engine. Due to the large numbers of crashes of Flying Fleas, particularly in Britain, the Roberts’ aircraft was not officially allowed to fly. After one unofficial test it was stored under the Roberts’ home until they donated it to the Queensland Museum in 1982.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
H41730.1
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