Pouchel Classic

 

The original design, the Pouchel, was based upon the 1930s Henri Mignet-designed Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea), but constructed using three commercial household aluminium ladders to save construction time, cost and weight. The aircraft first flew on 14 March 1999 and 120 sets of plans were quickly sold.

 

When the ladder manufacturer no longer wanted to sell ladders for aircraft construction, due to liability concerns, Dalby redesigned the aircraft to use aeronautical rectangular aluminium tubing instead, which resulted in a lighter and cheaper aircraft, the Pouchel II.

 

Pouchel II

 

The Pouchel II replaced the original APEV Pouchel in production. The original Pouchel was constructed using three commercially available aluminium ladders, hence APEV is the Association pour la Promotion des Echelles Volantes, or in English, Association for the Promotion of Flying Ladders. Later the ladder manufacturer grew concerned about liability and refused to supply any more ladders. The Pouchel was then re-designed to use aeronautical rectangular aluminium tubing in place of the original ladders and the new aircraft was designated the Pouchel II. The Pouchel series are all derivatives of the classic 1930s Henri Mignet-designed Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea).

 

The Pouchel II features a cantilever rear wing with a strut-braced parasol front wing, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 6 m (19.7 ft) span front wing and 4 m (13.1 ft) span rear have a combined area of 12 m2 (130 sq ft) and both employ NACA 23112 airfoils. The prototype used a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 two-stroke powerplant, but the 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 is also recommended. The 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-33 has also been fitted.

 

The Pouchel II sold for €4,000 in 2003. The APEV Pouchel II was supplied as plans or as a kit for amateur construction, but is no longer available. It has been replaced in production by the APEV Pouchel Light.

 

The Pouchel II was further refined into the Pouchel Light and an electric powered version, the Pouchelec.

 

Supplied as plans or as a kit for amateur construction, the Pouchel Classic is derived from the APEV Pouchel and features a cantilever rear wing and a strut-braced front parasol wing, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

 

The Pouchel Classic differs from the earlier Pouchel in that it has a newly designed wooden fuselage to replace the aluminum ladder and rectangular tube design of the Pouchel and the Pouchel II. The Pouchel Classic's fuselage is also longer. Its 6 m (19.7 ft) span front wing and 4 m (13.1 ft) span rear wing have a combined area of 12 m2 (130 sq ft) and employ NACA 23112 airfoils. Flying surfaces are covered in Dacron sailcloth. Standard engines recommended are the 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 or the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 two-stroke powerplants. The Pouchel Classic kit sold for €5,000 in 2011.

 

A gasoline powered Pouchel (foreground) and a Pouchelec (background)

 

 

Seats: one

 

Engine: 1 × Hirth F-33, 21 kW (28 hp)

Propeller: 2-bladed wooden

Upper wingspan: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)

Lower wingspan: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)

Wing area: 12 sq.m (130 sq ft)

Airfoil: NACA 23112

Empty weight: 150 kg (331 lb)

Gross weight: 275 kg (606 lb)

Fuel capacity: 12 litres (2.6 imp gal; 3.2 US gal)

Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph; 49 kn)

Stall speed: 40 km/h (25 mph; 22 kn)

Never exceed speed: 120 km/h (75 mph; 65 kn)

g limits: +4/-2

Rate of climb: 2.5 m/s (490 ft/min)

Wing loading: 18.75 kg/m2 (3.84 lb/sq ft)

Crew: one

 

Engine: 1 × Rotax 447, 30 kW (40 hp)

Upper wingspan: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)

Lower wingspan: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)

Wing area: 12 sq.m (130 sq ft) total

Airfoil: NACA 23112

Empty weight: 150 kg (331 lb)

Gross weight: 250 kg (551 lb)

Fuel capacity: 30 litres (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal)

Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph; 49 kn)

Stall speed: 40 km/h (25 mph; 22 kn)

Never exceed speed: 120 km/h (75 mph; 65 kn)

g limits: +4/-2

Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)

Wing loading: 20.8 kg/m2 (4.3 lb/sq ft)

Crew: one

 

Crew: one

 

Engine: electric

Crew: one

 

Crew: one