The Pouchel (also known as the Ladder Flea) is a single-seat

ultralight aircraft Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and Aircraft flight control system, conventional three-a ...

designed by Daniel Dalby and produced by APEV. The aircraft was designed for amateur construction and first flown in 1999.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 122. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

Design and development

The Pouchel I was conceived in 1997 by French engineer Daniel Dalby. The aim was to design an easy-to-build ultralight aircraft based on the formula, principles and writings of

Henri Mignet Henri Mignet (19 October 1893 – 31 August 1965) was a French radio engineer who became well known as an aircraft designer and builder.Ellis & Jones (1990)Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', page 142. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Mon ...

. The core of the construction employed commercial aluminium ladders in the fuselage and as spars in both wings. The wings were assembled using styrofoam ribs, and were fabric-covered. It was powered by a Fuji engine, developing less than 15 hp. Controls were similar to

Mignet Pou-du-Ciel The Flying Flea () is a large family of light homebuilt aircraft first flown in 1933. The odd name comes from the French nickname for the Ford Model T automobile: ''Pou de la Route'', or "Louse of the Road", because Henry Ford's economy car ...

designs, with a pivoting front wing and rudder, both operated by the control column via control rods and no foot pedals. After test hops and modifications, on 26 June 1999, Daniel Dalby piloted the Pouchel on its first true flight at Salon Eyguieres.APEV website
/ref> In 2002, after many plans had been sold to other amateur constructors, the ladder manufacturer refused to sell its products for this purpose, due to concerns about liability and

insurance Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect ...

. The aircraft was then redesigned to replace the ladders with rectangular-section aluminium tubes (100 x 50 mm), becoming the Pouchel II, with a

Rotax 447 The Rotax 447 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catalog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995. Design and developme ...

engine and an empty weight of about . Subsequently, the Pouchel II was superseded by the

APEV Pouchel Light The APEV Pouchel Light () is a French amateur-built aircraft, designed by Daniel Dalby and produced by APEV of Peynier. The aircraft is supplied as plans or as a kit for amateur construction.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World D ...

, with an empty weight of about . A closely related aircraft in the same family is the

APEV Demoichelle APEV (''Association pour la Promotion des Echelles Volantes'', English: ''Association for the Promotion of Flying Ladders'') is a French aircraft manufacturer, founded by Daniel Dalby in 1997 and based in Peynier. The organization specializes ...

. Plans and kits are distributed by the APEV (Association pour la Promotion des Echelles Volantes, or in English, Association for the Promotion of Flying Ladders).

Variants

;Bipouchel :tandem two-seater ;HydroPouchel :the Pouchel seaplane, still at the prototype stage ; Pouchel II :Version of the original Pouchel, but built without ladders ; Pouchel Classic :with a fuselage made of woodBayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 93. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X ; Pouchelec :with 12 kW

electric motor An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a electromagnetic coil, wire winding to gene ...

, also at the prototype stage. ; Pouchel Light :In 2012 the principal production version

Specifications (Pouchel Light)

External links

Official website of the APEV

References

{{APEV aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Pouchel Tandem-wing aircraft Homebuilt aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1999