Dalby Pouchel
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=APEV Pouchel | image=Snow pouchel.jpg | caption=Pouchel }} {{Infobox Aircraft Type |type=Single-seat homebuilt aircraft |manufacturer=APEV |designer=Daniel Dalby |first flight=26 June 1999 |introduced= |retired= |status= |produced= |number built= |unit cost= |developed from= |variants with their own articles= }} |
The Pouchel (also known as the Ladder Flea{{cite web |title=Exhibits |url=https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/rally-for-the-lane-cars/67-events/exhibits |website=Lane Motor Museum |accessdate=1 September 2020 |language=en-gb}}) is a single-seat ultralight aircraft 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. 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 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.[http://www.pouchel.com/english/index_eng.php?p=pouchel_eng.htm APEV website]
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. 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 engine and an empty weight of about {{convert|150|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. Subsequently, the Pouchel II was superseded by the APEV Pouchel Light, with an empty weight of about {{convert|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. A closely related aircraft in the same family is the APEV Demoichelle. 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
File:Pouchel pouchelec.jpg (background)]]
;Bipouchel
:tandem two-seater
;HydroPouchel
:the Pouchel seaplane, still at the prototype stage
:Version of the original Pouchel, but built without ladders
: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
:with 12 kW electric motor, also at the prototype stage.
Specifications (Pouchel Light)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|crew=
|length m=4.4
|length note=
|span m=6
|span note=
|height m=1.7
|height note=
|wing area sqm=12
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=100
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=250
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 377
|eng1 type=2-cylinder air-cooled 2-stroke in-line piston engine
|eng1 kw=26
|eng1 note=(or Rotax 447 - {{cvt|41.6|kW|1}})
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=120
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=90
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=40
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
}}
External links
- [http://www.pouchel.com/ Official website of the APEV]