flying flea aerodynamics question

mignet's flea had an aerodynamic problem due to an unpredicted slot
effect.

this is from a british museum web site....
"Following a series of fatal accidents involving this type the French
authorities banned its use in 1936 and wind tunnel tests revealed an
aerodynamic flaw that could result in an uncontrollable and ever
steeper dive. The Air Ministry subsequently issued a ban in the summer
of 1937 and GAEEH was dismantled and stored in the owner's garage."

the wind tunnel tests referred to were in the RAE tunnel at
farnborough and made the flea the first full size aircraft ever tested
in the tunnel (because it was small enough to fit).

the result of the work done in farnborough actually saw a number of
mods to the flea that actually fixed the problem.

has anyone ever seen an aerodynamics report from the wind tunnel
testing. I am presuming that there would have been a formal report
written up and while the nasa web search engine gives us access to the
naca aerodynamics work, I've never encountered similar from the
british.

does anyone have a link to a report of the 1936/7 flying flea
aerodynamics investigations?
I'd sure appreciate one.

Stealth Pilot

Stealth Pilot schreef:

has anyone ever seen an aerodynamics report from the wind tunnel
testing. I am presuming that there would have been a formal report
written up and while the nasa web search engine gives us access to the
naca aerodynamics work, I've never encountered similar from the
british.


Searching the web I found the 1936 tests mentioned he
http://pou.guide.free.fr/construire/..._direction.htm
which also mentions one Frank Easton, apparently a US-an advocate of the
Mignet designs.
No mention of report or analysis, though.

in yahoo groups there's at least one flying flea group. Pat

On Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:43:55 +0000, jan olieslagers
wrote:

Stealth Pilot schreef:

has anyone ever seen an aerodynamics report from the wind tunnel
testing. I am presuming that there would have been a formal report
written up and while the nasa web search engine gives us access to the
naca aerodynamics work, I've never encountered similar from the
british.


Searching the web I found the 1936 tests mentioned he
http://pou.guide.free.fr/construire/..._direction.htm
which also mentions one Frank Easton, apparently a US-an advocate of the
Mignet designs.
No mention of report or analysis, though.

I've had a look through that site.
what prompted this was a book published in england.

Arthur Ord-Hume has published a neat book reprinting the Flying Flea,
'how to build one' articles in practical mechanics and recounts the
english experience related to the flea.
he also has the articles on building the Luton Minor which was
published as a safer aircraft to build.

quite an interesting book to read and has just been published.
"The first Home-built aeroplanes" Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume.
Pounds Sterling 9.95
published by stenlake (www.stenlake.co.uk)
isbn 9781-84033-449-4
I got mine through a rellie who got it through amazon for me.

Stealth Pilot

"Stealth Pilot" wrote

I've had a look through that site.
what prompted this was a book published in england.

Arthur Ord-Hume has published a neat book reprinting the Flying Flea,
'how to build one' articles in practical mechanics and recounts the
english experience related to the flea.
he also has the articles on building the Luton Minor which was
published as a safer aircraft to build.

quite an interesting book to read and has just been published.
"The first Home-built aeroplanes" Arthur W.J.

I am wondering about your interest in this plane. Are you planning to
build
it, or just interesting information to put into your brain?

I understand about new information for the brain, and seem to have run
across an opportunity like that lately... Thanks again, for that. g
--
Jim in NC

On Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:20:28 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Stealth Pilot" wrote

I've had a look through that site.
what prompted this was a book published in england.

Arthur Ord-Hume has published a neat book reprinting the Flying Flea,
'how to build one' articles in practical mechanics and recounts the
english experience related to the flea.
he also has the articles on building the Luton Minor which was
published as a safer aircraft to build.

quite an interesting book to read and has just been published.
"The first Home-built aeroplanes" Arthur W.J.

I am wondering about your interest in this plane. Are you planning to
build
it, or just interesting information to put into your brain?

I understand about new information for the brain, and seem to have run
across an opportunity like that lately... Thanks again, for that. g

I'm interested in the history of homebuilding and home built designs,
and understanding the engineering.
as a kid in highschool a little book on homebuilts that featured,
among others, a blue cassutt racer and a sectioned view of a flying
flea first piqued my interest in aviation.

my own building efforts I have decided will resurect some of the
classic wooden homebuilt aircraft. current target is the Turbulent.
a little jodel d9 might be next.

if anyone was to build a flea I think they'd be taking their life in
their hands flying it on anything other than a windless balmy spring
or autumn day. every other aeroplane has ailerons for a bloody good
reason. when I read of all the condemning of the design it flagged
something in my head beside the sectioned image of the flea.
years later I read the english translation of 'the flying flea- how to
build and fly it' by mignet and I was surprised to find that it had a
competent structure. mignet's hm14 is structurally ok imho.
the current search is just to read the original source document of the
aerodynamic investigations.

one thing I discovered from the library list was an online article in
the Flight magazine archives. 11th april 1935 pages 385 and 386 is an
interesting description with drawings of the Aubier et Dunne 17hp two
cylinder geared engine built in france for the Flea. an interesting
little engine.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%200806.html
the link points to the second page.
Stealth Pilot

Originally Posted by Stealth Pilot[_3_]

mignet's flea had an aerodynamic problem due to an unpredicted slot
effect.

this is from a british museum web site....
"Following a series of fatal accidents involving this type the French
authorities banned its use in 1936 and wind tunnel tests revealed an
aerodynamic flaw that could result in an uncontrollable and ever
steeper dive. The Air Ministry subsequently issued a ban in the summer
of 1937 and GAEEH was dismantled and stored in the owner's garage."

the wind tunnel tests referred to were in the RAE tunnel at
farnborough and made the flea the first full size aircraft ever tested
in the tunnel (because it was small enough to fit).

the result of the work done in farnborough actually saw a number of
mods to the flea that actually fixed the problem.

has anyone ever seen an aerodynamics report from the wind tunnel
testing. I am presuming that there would have been a formal report
written up and while the nasa web search engine gives us access to the
naca aerodynamics work, I've never encountered similar from the
british.

does anyone have a link to a report of the 1936/7 flying flea
aerodynamics investigations?
I'd sure appreciate one.

Stealth Pilot

Hello Stealth Pilot.

It's good to see another discussion about the Mignet Flying Flea. There is a very good blogs that offers a great deal of factual detail about what has been going on in the Flea movement post WW2 . Its worth a read of the whole material to get the big picture.One article covers the veteran Flea disciple and builder Yves Milliens who was a close friend of Mignet's and in his 90,s has decided to speak out. A very interesting letter.
http://flyingfleaaircraftfacts.blogs...and-pilot.html
with thanks

Springhill