HM 293 Flying Flea (Pou du ciel) in action

Holger Van Gent made this beautifull video of his very nice HM 293 (better known as Flying Flea or Pou du Ciel). First he demonstrates that it is easy to transport on a trailer and very quickly made ready for flight. Then ... pure enjoyment of the flight.
You can read more about his Flying Flea on his personal site at www.vliegendevlo.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• flying
• flea
• pou
• du
• ciel
• hm
• 293
• holger
• van
• gent
• airplane
• small
• little
• avion
• petit
• henri
• mignet
• flight
• fly
• homebuilt

[buzzy1147]

I would like to know if you have ever had any issues with the plane when put into a dive? Is it stable or does the front wing act like a spoiler?

[nestofdragons]

@buzzy1147 I am sure you heard about the black reputation of the Flying Flea, but ...the teething problems were already solved in 1936! Sadly nearly nobody knows that. Just go see my website (see link at my channel). I try to explain in easy words how it works and what the history is of the Flying Flea. It sure has a bright future. Revival in USA is going on strong.

[buzzy1147]

@nestofdragons Yes I had heard that. I had a friend that built one way back when and he loved it although he only flew 5 feet up, now it is hanging in a bar as a decoration. Having built planes for some time now I see how the front wing could act as a slat in a dive, the fix makes sense and it sure looks like fun. I liked your site. Maybe a flea is in my future afterall, and what an easy to build bird too. Anyone could build one of thoes!

[nestofdragons]

@buzzy1147 Many experienced pilots give beginning pilots advise. Sadly ...those experienced pilots have habits that are different to what you do in a Flying Flea. You can read the differences in my site. So ...many people are discouraged when they are listening to what others say about their Flying Flea. All i would say is just follow the advise of the expert (not me, but all the others that give me tips from experience) AND ... make the testflights on a slow rate of getting higher. Go see site.

[cobrachoppergirl]

How much does it cost to build one of these.. my guess is... still way too damn much to put them in the hands of the common poor man. Get it under $1000

[nestofdragons]

@cobrachoppergirl i know a guy who builds his airplane only using the money of ONE pack of sigarettes a day. Ok, he build a few years, but ...he has his airplane. Now ...i call it a good reason to stop smoking. ;)

[nestofdragons]

@zarquon53 Hallo, go see one of my lesson videos about the flying flea on my channel, i explain in easy word how to steer a turn. Many about this type of airplane can be read on my renewed website. Go see link on my channel. Cannot place it here. By the way ...you are pretty close to the truth. But there is more to it. I guess my site has not the data about turning but it has a lot of data. :)

[zarquon53]

@iRenaatsouvagie Yes , no ailerons .

There was a book to advertise this plane in the 1930s , many years since I saw it but one thing has stuck , the inventor wrote " To turn is to bank , to bak is to turn " .

I think the technique was to apply rudder , the plane skids sideways , the wing that is relatively forward is travelling slightly faster = more lift , the trailing wing = less lift , the plane banks . Centring the rudder allows the wing dihedrals to level you out again ....... I think !

[nestofdragons]

@owenowen321 Do not worry. Those problems were already solved in 1936. Sadly those first two years of teethingproblems did damage the reputation so much you can still feel its black reputation today. If you would like to read more about the true story go see my Flying Flea section at (3xw) . nestofdragons . net . I guess you will see the full story there. Thanks anyway for your comment.

[owenowen321]

When these aircraft were first developed there were many accidents due to a fault in the design, some very good pilots were killed. Hopefully the problem has been corrected.