Photograph:
Mignet & Byron HM-290 Flea 10-1438 (c/n not known) at Watts Bridge, QLD in August 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Single-seat ultralight sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 54 kw (72 hp) McCulloch 4318 four-cylinder two-stroke air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.1 m (20 ft)
- Length: 4.27 m (14 ft)
- Max speed: 138 km/h (85 mph)
- Cruising speed: 130 km/h (80 mph)
- Stalling speed: 57 km/h (35 mph)
- Service ceiling: 7,437 m (16,400 ft)
- Rate of climb: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Range at 2,438 m (8,000 ft): 446 km (275 miles)
- Power mass: 5.9 kg/kw (9.72 lb/hp)
- Empty weight: 186 kg (410 lb)
- Loaded weight: 317 kg (700 lb)
History:
Known as the Flying Flea, this series of aircraft was designed by Henri Mignet, the first model built in any numbers being the HM-14 (dealt with separately) and was followed by a whole range of variations. The HM-14 was demonstrated to the public in 1934 and plans and building instructions were published in Le Sport de l’Air in France. This was translated into English in Britain and published in the magazine Practical Mechanics in the United States. The original prototype was powered by a 13 kw (17 hp) Aubier-Dunne 500 cc two-stroke motor-cycle engine. However, there were problems with the design.
Development of the design continued for many years, from the HM-18 in 1937 through to the HM-290 in 1945, this being a single-seater with an enclosed cockpit, and became very popular with amateur builders. Engines ranging from 19 kw (25 hp) to 42 kw (70 hp) were installed. Plans were made available to builders by Falconar Avia. Further models were the HM-293 enlarged for larger pilots with a converted Volkswagen engine, the HM-310 Estafette, HM-320 in 1955, HM-330 in 1954, the HM-350 etc right up to the HM-1100 Cordouan in 1996, this being a two-seat factory-built model with a 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax engine.
In recent years further examples of the series have been built, builders making their own changes to the original HM-14 design. These usually adapt the aerofoil and rigging of later Mignet models, such as the HM-360. In 2011 plans for the HM-293 were still available in France.
Three HM-290s have been registered in Australia under RAA regulations and these have been: 10-3280 registered on 18 January 2000 with a Rotax 503 engine; 10-1027 (c/n F-315) registered on 15 September 1988 with a converted Volkswagen engine; and 10-1438 registered on 5 August 1994 with a Rotax 503 engine. However, a number of others are known to have been built or work commenced on construction. One is on display at the aviation museum at Ballarat, VIC with a JAP engine; and a modified HM-293 (10-0718) is on display at the Bull Creek Museum in Perth. Construction in Australia of some 55 examples of the Pou de Ciel series are known to have been commenced in the 1930s .
Construction of examples of the HM-293 have commenced over the years, with three in Victoria, three in South Australia, one in Western Australia, one HM-290 and two HM-293s in NSW, but none appeared on the RAA register as at 2014.