This article is about the French engineer. For the French journalist and historian, see François Mignet.
Henri Mignet, (October 19, 1893 – August 31, 1965), was a French radio engineer who became well known as an aircraft designer and builder.[1][2] His most famous design is the Flying Flea family of aircraft.
Mignet was born in Charente-Maritime. In 1911, when he was 18 years old, he started corresponding with Gustav Lilienthal (the brother of Otto Lilienthal) about aviation. In 1912, he built his first aircraft, the HM.1-1 model. It was a monoplane inspired by the creations of Otto Lilienthal.[1]
Service in the First World War
Between 1914 and 1918, Mignet served in the French army. He was a radio operator during World War I. In 1918, he was hospitalized with malaria.[1]
Post World War I designs
In 1920, Mignet finished his first powered aircraft prototype, the HM.2. This bore many similarities to, and took inspiration from, the designs of Louis Blériot Later in describing this aircraft he said, "All the components worked, but not together..."[3] In 1922, he constructed the HM.3 "The Dromedary", the HM.4 parasol, and airplane with no rudder and an Anzani 10 CV engine, and the HM.5, a sailplane. In 1924, he sold the HM.5 sailplane for a large sum of money.[3]
In 1925, he was forced to start raising chickens to finance the development of his HM.6 project, a pusher propeller aircraft, and a helicopter, designated the HM.7.[3]
In 1926, Mignet married Annette Triou, who was later murdered by Communist gunmen in 1944.[3]
The HM.8 Avionnette
Mignet HM.8 at Cologne, Germany
In March 1928, Mignet wrote an article in the magazine Les Ailes ("Wings" in English), describing his HM.8 Avionnette. It was a parasol monoplane that he built in 1928 using parts from his HM.6, including a modified 10 hp Anzani engine. In 1929, the first amateur-built HM.8s made their maiden flights. In 1931, he published a book, Comment j'ai Construit mon Avionnette (How I built my Avionnette), containing the plans for the HM.8. Mignet encouraged amateurs to build HM.8s while he continued his research towards a new concept that became the "Pou du Ciel". About 200 HM.8s were built, with various engines, including 17 hp (13 kW) 540 cc Aubier et Dunne, 500 cc Chaise, 24 hp Harley-Davidson, 35 hp ABC Scorpion, 40 hp Salmson. Some of those directly drove the propeller, others employed a chain drive.[1]
On 10 September 1933, Mignet made his maiden flight in the HM.14, the first of his Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea) designs. In 1934, he published Le Sport de l'Air and playfully called the aircraft Pou du Ciel (literally "Louse of the Sky" in French) with the intention that it would be built by amateurs.[4]
In 1936, after a number of fatal accidents, the HM.14 was tested in wind tunnels in France and in England, and a design fault was identified and corrected. The Flying Flea subsequently became a great, if controversial, success in the aviation world. The fatal accidents due to the initial, flawed, design meant that professional aircraft manufacturers were very reluctant to produce versions of the Pou.[4]
Mignet encouraged amateur-builders to construct the HM.14, but he also carried on designing further models into the 1960s, all of them based on the Flying Flea concept.
Bowers, Peter M. 1984. Guide to Homebuilts - Ninth Edition, Chapter 7 Shattered Dreams, pages 73–78. TAB Books ISBN0-8306-2364-7
Ellis, Ken; Jones, Geoff. 1990. Henri Mignet and his Flying Fleas. Haynes Publishing ISBN0-85429-765-0
External links
Media related to Henri Mignet at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Mignet aircraft at Wikimedia Commons
February 25, 2023
henri, mignet, this, article, about, french, engineer, french, journalist, historian, françois, mignet, october, 1893, august, 1965, french, radio, engineer, became, well, known, aircraft, designer, builder, most, famous, design, flying, flea, family, aircraft. This article is about the French engineer For the French journalist and historian see Francois Mignet Henri Mignet October 19 1893 August 31 1965 was a French radio engineer who became well known as an aircraft designer and builder 1 2 His most famous design is the Flying Flea family of aircraft Henri Mignet in 1935 Contents 1 Early interest in aviation 2 Service in the First World War 3 Post World War I designs 4 The HM 8 Avionnette 5 The HM 14 Pou du Ciel 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEarly interest in aviation EditMignet was born in Charente Maritime In 1911 when he was 18 years old he started corresponding with Gustav Lilienthal the brother of Otto Lilienthal about aviation In 1912 he built his first aircraft the HM 1 1 model It was a monoplane inspired by the creations of Otto Lilienthal 1 Service in the First World War EditBetween 1914 and 1918 Mignet served in the French army He was a radio operator during World War I In 1918 he was hospitalized with malaria 1 Post World War I designs EditIn 1920 Mignet finished his first powered aircraft prototype the HM 2 This bore many similarities to and took inspiration from the designs of Louis Bleriot Later in describing this aircraft he said All the components worked but not together 3 In 1922 he constructed the HM 3 The Dromedary the HM 4 parasol and airplane with no rudder and an Anzani 10 CV engine and the HM 5 a sailplane In 1924 he sold the HM 5 sailplane for a large sum of money 3 In 1925 he was forced to start raising chickens to finance the development of his HM 6 project a pusher propeller aircraft and a helicopter designated the HM 7 3 In 1926 Mignet married Annette Triou who was later murdered by Communist gunmen in 1944 3 The HM 8 Avionnette Edit Mignet HM 8 at Cologne Germany In March 1928 Mignet wrote an article in the magazine Les Ailes Wings in English describing his HM 8 Avionnette It was a parasol monoplane that he built in 1928 using parts from his HM 6 including a modified 10 hp Anzani engine In 1929 the first amateur built HM 8s made their maiden flights In 1931 he published a book Comment j ai Construit mon Avionnette How I built my Avionnette containing the plans for the HM 8 Mignet encouraged amateurs to build HM 8s while he continued his research towards a new concept that became the Pou du Ciel About 200 HM 8s were built with various engines including 17 hp 13 kW 540 cc Aubier et Dunne 500 cc Chaise 24 hp Harley Davidson 35 hp ABC Scorpion 40 hp Salmson Some of those directly drove the propeller others employed a chain drive 1 The HM 14 Pou du Ciel EditMain article Mignet HM 14 Mignet HM 14 The first Pou du Ciel On 10 September 1933 Mignet made his maiden flight in the HM 14 the first of his Mignet Pou du Ciel Flying Flea designs In 1934 he published Le Sport de l Air and playfully called the aircraft Pou du Ciel literally Louse of the Sky in French with the intention that it would be built by amateurs 4 In 1936 after a number of fatal accidents the HM 14 was tested in wind tunnels in France and in England and a design fault was identified and corrected The Flying Flea subsequently became a great if controversial success in the aviation world The fatal accidents due to the initial flawed design meant that professional aircraft manufacturers were very reluctant to produce versions of the Pou 4 Mignet encouraged amateur builders to construct the HM 14 but he also carried on designing further models into the 1960s all of them based on the Flying Flea concept Mignet died aged 71 in Pessac in Gironde citation needed References Edit a b c d Ellis amp Jones 1990 Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory page 142 Werner amp Werner Corp Santa Monica CA 1977 ISBN 0 918312 00 0 a b c d Pontois Paul July 2002 Biographie d Henri Mignet pouguide org Archived from the original on 12 January 2018 Retrieved 14 September 2018 a b Bowers 1984 Bibliography EditBowers Peter M 1984 Guide to Homebuilts Ninth Edition Chapter 7 Shattered Dreams pages 73 78 TAB Books ISBN 0 8306 2364 7 Ellis Ken Jones Geoff 1990 Henri Mignet and his Flying Fleas Haynes Publishing ISBN 0 85429 765 0External links Edit Media related to Henri Mignet at Wikimedia Commons Media related to Mignet aircraft at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henri Mignet amp oldid 1067663790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
