The Original Flying Flea

[flatcoat2]

In the 1960's there was a garage in Doncaster, S Yorkshire, UK (Claybourns,- BMC & Singer dealer, Waterdale) had one of these or one very similar hung up under the roof of the showroom. It was always called The Flying Flea.

[Dunroamin2]

I have my grandfather's copy of Mignet's book, which includes the instructions on how to build and fly it. However, I also met Bernard Collins, who held the long distance record for the Flea, and swore never to go near one again. I've never been tempted!

[repawnd]

Wow, flying with only 10 horsepower, that's not bad even by today's standards.

[TurbineDogSevenFour]

Huh, that flea has the same rocking sway my little RC one does. hrm.

[freeman8128]

When & were did the last one fly?

[BDNeon]

Remarkably crash prone plane.

As one observer noted "The flying flea had the potential to bring the airplane to the everyday man on the street, usually by falling on him"

[zarquon53]

@BDNeon The Front wing proved to be too small - you can see that in the film of Mr A in the dark aeroplane , you can see it struggling for lift as he takes off .

Later " Fleas " were modified to have the wing about 4 feet wider which made them much better .

WW2 intervened to stop all this fun , and flying as sport recreation never recovered from that in the UK .

As a youth , i read a book which set out how to build , and fly , one of these - main thing was , it said you couldn't stall them .

[homebuiltindoorplane]

@BDNeon hahahahah!!!

[tomasperry]

What a wonderful museum piece - I mean the voice of the commentator. 

[wonderfulcat]

There's one at the Science Museum collection at Wroughton aerodrome. On the information card one wag states that it's amazing that Henri Mignet died in his bed! Rather than at the controls of this aircraft.

[dopenhagen2009]

early ultralight

[marcuspinson]

@dopenhagen2009 ultralight can't fly over 70mph and still be classified as an ultralight

[dopenhagen2009]

@marcuspinson ah, so

[marcuspinson]

@dopenhagen2009 im pretty sure that ultrlights also have a weight limit (the flying flee didn't meet any of those requirements so its just a regular plane with an odd design)

[francoisericco]

Hello,

In France, Saint Amand les Eaux History museum, we have a 1935 "Flying Flea".

Indeed, the Flying Flea motor was manufactured in Saint Amand les Eaux by Aubier & Dunne Company.

I'd like to use the video to present the plane in the museum exposition. Is it possible ?

[nipperscona]

huffing exhaust fumes the whole way!

[applesweeter]

Dear All,

I have some question about psychology:

(1) Why do we love to design and to build new aeroplanes?

(2) Why do we love to fly fast?

(3) What will be our most desire shape for future jets?

(4) What are the new features that we expect in the cabin of future aeroplanes?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for yourcreative ideas adn brainstorm!!! :)

[danielwills93]

£70 XD i'll build one then XD

[ksandom40]

I didn't know about this. It's really cool! :D

[emforty2]

50mpg wow better than most Hybrid cars

i want one ! fly above traffic

but with its reputation i think i need airbags all around

[mig15fan]

@emforty2 funny commentt hahaha. Problems started with overpowered versions others made.Plane was just perfect for its 17 HP.check wiki article.reghards

[kevinmeehan71]

@emforty2 the plane should be an airbag

[tjblues01]

@emforty2

50mpg -- but for one person only. If you take passenger to your "Honda Accord" a fuel economy will drop, but for sure not in a half. When you do those kind of calculations you have to thing about 3 factors: payload mass, distance and used fuel.

BTW. I want one too! but not b/c it is fuel efficient :-)))

[MilesB1975]

Note the wobbly upper wing at around 1:03, shortly followed by the crash.

Coincidence?

[TheRooster602]

Voice of H. Mignon was recreated for this video by Mel Blanc.

"Plunged headlong"? He means, "arrived going forward". Looked like the pilot failed to flare.

[SonarWavePulse]

I built one, crashed on third flight, it was horrible and I am absoluteley never flying that thing again!

[skyhawk1720]

Did you build it to the plans in the original book?

That original version had a fatal flaw that could create an uncontrolled dive- the pilot didn't fail to flare- but a slight redesign cured that on all subsequent aircraft of this type. I've flown the HM1000 Balerit and the HM1100 Cordouan and though they feel slightly strange compared to a conventional aircraft well designed Mignet formula aircraft are very easy and safe to fly. They are very popular with French homebuilders.

[SonarWavePulse]

Yes, I built it by the original book...

[kn1ghtstemplar]

There is one in the Malta aviation museum if you come on holday in the summer

[chrismofer]

ha ha. he said giant stick.

[TheRooster602]

@chrismofer , he said "joystick"

[chrismofer]

@TheRooster602 yea, i know.

[GreenAce92]

tandem wing thats what it is

[GreenAce92]

listen to that lol, air motorcycle of the future... huh... where is the elevator on that thing? its a crap... whats that called 1 wing behind another its a configuration for the wings... cant remember the name right now...

[spitfireJEJ]

There was no conventional elevator. The front wing rotated on its spar to produce the required pitch control.

[CMPerry]

I tried one of these in my X-Plane flight sim someone had created - it was horrible - uncontrollable.

[joshmoss108]

thems must have been the days..

[MartinVPache]

my have 12 hp

[MartinVPache]

i have one!! ;)

[oversoulseven7]

I want one!

[Brough1111]

This aircraft has been known to be unstable

[bullthrush]

The stability problem was solved a long time ago. Fleas built to the "improved" formula are completely safe.

[archerrobinhood]

i really like it...the aerial motorcycle!!

[tomterahedrob]

10HP!?

[Auggie56]

There was one at the museum at Willow Run. But there was a fire a couple of years ago.

[DartDakota]

There's a 'Pou' in almost every aircraft museum in the UK. Can they all have been real ones? They have all sorts of engines, the one closest to me at Elvington has a Scott twin cylinder 600cc motorcycle engine. It is aircooled but the Scott bikes were water cooled. I don't think it can be a spoof, it's too well executed.

[Syd1940]

Scotts certainly were usually water cooled, but there was a lightweight 300cc air cooled one, so perhaps the 600cc air-cooled engine used some of the same components?

The Flea's were death traps. IIRC they're still outlawed in the UK because of it.

[DartDakota]

I think the air-cooled motor would have been especially produced for aircraft use. It looks especially crafted, not a conversion. There is also one at Newark air museum.

The fault could have been eradicated by limiting the amount of movement on the mainplane. Lots and lots of them flying in France including all enclosed passenger versions.

[Syd1940]

I'm sure it's a Scott engine. Just that they probably used components from the 300cc motorcycle engine. I've also seen a Scott engine somewhere - Old Warden? Not sure.

A model flying buddy of mine loves Fleas. He has a tiny one that flies OK. He also fies big DH2 so he is a bit odd :)

[denberg2]

Keep 'em coming, Bomberguy!